WoW Woman in FemTech I Victoria Schöffel, co-founder and CEO of Belle Health
Victoria Schöffel is the co-founder and CEO of Belle Health, a pioneering FemTech startup on a mission to personalize healthcare for women.
She has a rich interdisciplinary background, holding degrees in philosophy and medicine from LMU Munich, Columbia University (as a Fulbright scholar), and the University of Cambridge. Victoria’s unique blend of expertise in the humanities and sciences fuels her innovative approach to health technology. Under her leadership, Belle Health launched a mobile app in 2024 that helps women track their cycles and manage hormonal health, and the company is developing the Belle Ring wearable to advance precision medicine for conditions like PMDD. She is passionate about closing the gender data gap in medical research and making sure women’s health is prioritized in tech innovation. Victoria is also a vocal advocate for diversity in STEM, often speaking at international conferences about the power of combining science and technology to improve women’s well-being. Based in Munich, she continues to collaborate with leading researchers and mentors as she pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in digital health.
Belle Health is a women’s health technology startup advancing precision medicine for female health. Founded in 2024 and based in London, Belle Health focuses on hormonal wellness and premenstrual disorders like PME and PMDD. Its flagship product, the Belle App, is a digital health companion that offers cycle tracking, symptom logging, and personalized self-care exercises to help women manage their health. Belle Health is also developing the Belle Ring, a smart wearable that captures real-time biometrics and syncs with the app for continuous insights. By combining science and technology, Belle Health empowers women to take charge of their hormonal health.
Tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.
My journey has been anything but conventional. I started with a BA in Philosophy at LMU Munich, which taught me to question assumptions and think critically about knowledge and ethics. That curiosity led me to pursue a Master’s in Philosophy of Science at Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar, where I explored how scientific innovations shape society. To ground my theoretical insights in practice, I then studied medicine at the University of Cambridge. This unusual combination – philosophy, science, and medicine – has given me a truly holistic perspective on health and technology.
Armed with this interdisciplinary background, I’ve been driven to bridge the gap between abstract ideas and real-world health outcomes. That drive led me to co-found Belle Health while I was at Cambridge, alongside my partner, who is an engineer. Our flagship project is the Belle App, launched in 2024 as a digital companion for women's hormonal health. The app allows women to track their menstrual cycles and symptoms, and it goes further by offering personalized self-care exercises and even cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques for managing premenstrual disorders like PME and PMDD. Seeing the app go from an idea to something that women use daily to understand their bodies has been incredibly rewarding.
Building on that success, we’re now developing the Belle Ring, an innovative wearable device that will further support women's health. The ring is packed with sensors – measuring things like body temperature, heart rate, and movement – all within a sleek band less than 5mm wide. It will sync with the Belle App to provide continuous, personalized health insights throughout a woman’s cycle. By combining the ring’s real-time data with the app’s supportive content, we hope to give women an unprecedented understanding of their bodies. This project, like my journey, is all about weaving together philosophy’s big-picture thinking, science’s rigor, and medicine’s empathy to create smarter health solutions.
How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?
My entry into the FemTech industry was driven by a realization during my medical studies that women's health needed a radical update. I remember learning about conditions like PMDD and being shocked at how little most people—even doctors—talked about it. With my philosophy background, I was primed to question why half the population’s health issues were often brushed aside as “just part of being a woman.” I got into this industry out of a mix of curiosity and frustration – curiosity about how technology could fill these gaps and frustration with the status quo that motivated me to create change. Founding Belle Health felt like the natural step to address a problem I simply couldn’t ignore.
It hasn’t been an easy industry to break into. FemTech is still emerging, and I encountered a fair share of challenges along the way. Some of the hurdles I faced include:
Breaking taboos: Talking openly about menstrual and hormonal health can still raise eyebrows. Early on, I found I had to educate people that issues like severe PMS or PMDD are real medical concerns, not just “mood swings” to be shrugged off. Changing mindsets and getting others to take these issues seriously was a challenge I faced from day one.
Bridging disciplines: Coming from academia into a startup environment meant learning business and technology skills very fast. I often had to translate medical needs into tech solutions and vice versa. It was thrilling to connect those dots, but it wasn’t easy – I was essentially learning two “languages” (medicine and engineering) and figuring out how to make them work together.
Bias in funding: As a young female founder working on a women’s health product, I sometimes faced skepticism from investors. Convincing predominantly male investors that a wearable for menstrual health is a game-changer requires solid data and unshakeable conviction. I had to prove that our idea wasn’t just a “niche women’s issue” but a significant market with real demand. Each challenge taught me something and ultimately made me more determined to succeed.
How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle?
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how long it took to get here because, in many ways, I feel like I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. The formal journey was about a decade of intensive learning – from my undergrad days through my master’s and medical studies. Belle Health itself went from a spark of an idea to a founded company over the last couple of years (we officially started it in 2024). So you could say it took a few very intense years of building the startup, on top of many years of education and observing gaps in healthcare that needed solving.
My biggest obstacle along the way was making the leap from theory to practice. I had to step out of my comfort zone as an academic and become an entrepreneur, which was a completely new terrain for me. This meant quickly learning everything from writing a business plan to hardware prototyping on the fly. There were moments of uncertainty – for example, pausing my traditional medical career path to focus on the startup was a tough decision. Overcoming that fear of the unknown was absolutely necessary. Another obstacle was convincing others that an issue like PMDD deserved a cutting-edge solution; early on, not everyone understood the magnitude of the problem we were trying to solve. I often had to articulate why something that happens “every month” for women could be debilitating and life-altering if not addressed properly.
Being in the health tech industry, especially focused on women's health, comes with its own set of challenges. One big challenge is navigating the intersection of healthcare and technology. In tech, you’re encouraged to move fast and “break things,” but in healthcare, you have to move carefully and make sure you fix things with evidence and safety. Balancing innovation with responsibility is something we constantly manage — for example, we run clinical studies to validate our app’s effectiveness even as we rapidly iterate on the product. Another industry-wide challenge is the historical gender data gap: there’s simply less research and data available on female-specific health issues. That means we often have to generate new data ourselves and be pioneers in uncharted territory. Despite these challenges, I find them motivating. They remind me that we’re breaking new ground that’s truly needed, and that keeps me pushing forward every day.
What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?
The FemTech industry, while full of opportunity, presents several unique challenges:
Regulatory Hurdles: Developing health-related technology means navigating complex regulatory environments. Ensuring our product meets medical-grade standards while still moving quickly enough to stay competitive is a delicate balancing act.
Limited Research and Data Gaps: Women’s health has historically been underfunded and under-researched. Many conditions affecting women, such as PMDD and endometriosis, have significant gaps in clinical data, making it challenging to build evidence-based products. In many cases, we must conduct our own studies to validate our technology.
Investment Disparities: While FemTech is growing, the sector still receives less funding compared to other health tech fields. Many investors view women’s health as a niche market, even though it directly impacts half the population. Securing capital often means extra effort in proving market viability.
Public Awareness and Stigma: Conversations around menstrual health, menopause, and female-specific conditions are still evolving. Overcoming societal discomfort and ensuring our technology reaches users who need it most requires ongoing advocacy and education efforts.
Interdisciplinary Challenges: FemTech sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and consumer markets. This means balancing the demands of clinical validation with user-friendly design and commercial viability—each with its own constraints and requirements.
Despite these challenges, the potential impact of FemTech keeps me motivated. The more we push for better solutions, the more we contribute to breaking barriers and reshaping the future of women’s health.
What are your biggest achievements to date?
My journey has had a few milestones that I consider significant achievements. Some that stand out are:
Academic distinctions: Earning a Fulbright scholarship for my graduate studies at Columbia University is something I’m very proud of. It not only recognized my academic work but also broadened my international perspective on science and health experiences I draw on in my work today.
Launching Belle Health: Co-founding Belle Health and successfully launching our Belle App in 2024 ranks high on my list. Seeing the app go from an idea sketched on paper to a live product that women use daily for their well-being is incredibly rewarding. It affirmed that the problem we set out to solve is real and that our solution can make a difference.
Innovating with the Belle Ring: Developing the prototype of the Belle Ring and winning 2nd place at the 2025 Advanced Electronics Challenge was a huge moment for us. Competing in an electronics innovation challenge (outside the usual FemTech circles) and still standing out showed that our hardware innovation can hold its own on a broader tech stage. It was validation for our team that we’re on the right track with our wearable technology and that other people see the value in it.
Research and impact: I’m also proud of the research collaborations we’ve built. For instance, our app’s cognitive-behavioral therapy program is now part of a clinical study with two universities. Contributing to scientific research while running a startup is not easy, but it’s an achievement that ensures our product is grounded in evidence. It means our work isn’t just innovative – it’s verifiably effective.
Advocacy and awareness: On a personal note, every time I get to speak about women’s health on a public platform – whether at a conference, in an interview like this, or even on social media – I count that as an achievement. I’ve seen how discussing topics like PMDD openly can validate someone’s experiences or encourage another founder to tackle a women’s health issue. Helping to push the conversation forward and seeing the stigma start to chip away is extremely meaningful to me.
What are the projects you are currently working on?
At the moment, my team and I are juggling a few key projects, all of which I’m incredibly excited about:
Bringing the Belle Ring to life: The Belle Ring is our upcoming wearable, and right now I’m deeply involved in its development and testing. We’re fine-tuning the hardware (all those tiny sensors and chips inside the ring) and making sure it syncs perfectly with our app. It’s in the prototype stage, so a lot of my time goes into working with engineers on design tweaks and running tests to ensure the ring is accurate, durable, and comfortable. It’s amazing to see this device evolving week by week.
Enhancing the Belle App: The app is a living project that we continuously improve. Currently we’re rolling out new features to make it even more useful – things like more personalized insights and expanding the symptom tracking to cover related conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS. We’re also incorporating feedback from our users (they’re great at telling us what they need) and findings from our ongoing research to refine the app’s recommendations and content. Essentially, I’m making sure the Belle App keeps getting smarter and more supportive with each update.
Clinical research and validation: I’m collaborating with researchers on a clinical study to evaluate the Belle App’s cognitive-behavioral therapy program for PMDD. This involves coordinating with our university partners, preparing the app for study participants, and meticulously collecting data. It’s a project that ensures our solutions are not just innovative but also scientifically validated. I spend quite a bit of time on research calls and in strategy sessions because it’s important to me that Belle Health contributes to the scientific understanding of women’s health, not just the tech side.
PMDD Awareness Month initiatives: Since April is PMDD Awareness Month, we’re dedicating extra effort to community outreach and education right now. I’m working on content and campaigns to spread awareness about PMDD – things like informative blog posts, webinars, and collaborations with advocacy groups. This is a project close to my heart. PMDD affects 1 in 20 women, yet too many people still don’t know about it, so we’re using this month to shine a spotlight on the condition. It’s been busy, but knowing that our efforts might help someone recognize their symptoms and seek help makes it absolutely worth it.
Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?
Absolutely – the #WomenInTech movement is very important to me. As a female founder in the tech space, I know firsthand how crucial it is to see and support other women in this industry. When I was starting out, seeing women leading successful tech startups gave me both inspiration and a sort of roadmap that it was possible. In an industry where women are still underrepresented, especially in leadership roles, having a movement that highlights our achievements and pushes for greater inclusion is incredibly empowering. It creates a support network and a sense that we’re collectively breaking glass ceilings and changing the old boys’ club narrative in tech.
For me personally, #WomenInTech is also about visibility for the kinds of problems we choose to solve. Women in tech often tackle issues that have been overlooked or underestimated – women’s health is a perfect example. By amplifying female voices and success stories, the movement helps ensure that innovations addressing women’s needs get the attention, funding, and respect they deserve. It’s encouraging to know there’s a community that has your back, whether it’s through mentorship, networking opportunities, or just shared experiences. And perhaps most importantly, it’s about inspiring the next generation. I want girls and young women to see that there are leaders in this space who look like them. If my journey can show even one aspiring female innovator that she belongs in tech, then being part of this movement has paid off.
What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?
In the next five years, I expect to see some exciting transformations in the women’s health tech space. A few key trends I anticipate are:
Personalized, data-driven health: We’ll see a rise in wearables and apps that provide women with tailored health insights. Devices like smart rings, bracelets, or other biosensors will become more common, giving continuous data on things like hormonal fluctuations, stress levels, and sleep quality. This means healthcare will become more proactive – imagine getting alerts or guidance specific to your unique cycle and biology, helping you prevent issues or optimize your well-being in real-time rather than just reacting when something goes wrong.
Holistic integration of wellness: The lines between physical health and mental health solutions will continue to blur. I foresee more platforms acknowledging that conditions like PMDD or menopause aren’t just physical – they affect mood, energy, and overall quality of life. So, future women’s health products will likely combine cycle tracking with mental health support, nutrition and lifestyle guidance, and even telemedicine check-ins, all in one. In short, women’s health tech will take a more holistic approach, caring for the whole person (mind and body together) rather than siloing issues.
Destigmatization and mainstream acceptance: I believe the conversation around women's health issues (from painful periods to fertility struggles to menopause) will continue to open up, and that will drive the industry forward. As taboos break down, we’ll see more employers, including women’s health benefits, more doctors recommending digital tools like apps for their patients, and generally wider adoption of FemTech solutions. I also anticipate regulators and healthcare systems starting to formally integrate some of these tools (imagine an approved app or wearable that doctors prescribe as part of treatment). What was once considered “niche” will be seen as an essential part of healthcare.
Focus on all life stages: Thus far, a lot of FemTech innovation has centered on reproductive-age topics (menstrual health, fertility, pregnancy). In the next five years, I expect a surge in solutions for other life stages, especially menopause and post-reproductive health. Menopause tech is already on the rise – everything from apps that track symptoms to solutions for hormonal support. Similarly, we’ll likely see more attention to postpartum support and general hormonal wellness at any age. The industry is heading toward supporting women at every phase of life, not just the fertility years, which is great because women’s health is a lifelong continuum.
What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone entering the women’s health tech space is to stay relentlessly mission-driven. This field exists because there are real problems to solve that have been ignored for too long, so keep the people you want to help at the center of everything you do. If you're passionate about improving women’s health, let that passion fuel you when you encounter obstacles or skeptics. There will be days when progress is slow or when others don’t “get it” – returning to your core mission will keep you going.
Also, don’t be afraid to be interdisciplinary. Some of the best ideas in this industry come from connecting the dots between different fields. Whether you’re coming from engineering, medicine, data science, or something completely different, value that unique perspective and be ready to learn from other disciplines, too. Building a network of mentors and peers is incredibly helpful in this regard. There are amazing communities (like Women of Wearables and other #WomenInTech groups) where you can find support, advice, and even potential collaborators. Take advantage of that – nobody succeeds alone.
Finally, be patient but persistent. Change in healthcare can be slow, and breaking new ground in women’s health can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. But every small step counts. Stay curious, keep learning (from both successes and failures), and remain persistent in pursuing your goals. If you stick with it, you’ll not only carve out a meaningful career, but you’ll also play a part in shaping a better future for women’s health. That impact is worth all the effort.
Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire?
Three inspirational women in my industry that I admire are:
Ida Tin (Co-founder of Clue): Ida not only built one of the first widely-used period tracking apps, but she’s also the person who coined the term “FemTech.” She had the vision to legitimize women’s health tech as its own category. I admire her for being a true pioneer – she started a conversation about menstrual health in tech circles when it was virtually unheard of, and she did it with such passion and authenticity.
Tania Boler (Founder of Elvie): Tania has tackled women’s health needs with innovative hardware products like the Elvie pelvic floor trainer and the Elvie breast pump. I find her journey incredibly inspiring because she proved that women-led companies can bring taboo topics (like postpartum pelvic health or breastfeeding) into the mainstream with elegant, user-friendly tech solutions. As someone working on a hardware device myself, I look up to her ability to merge engineering excellence with a deep understanding of women’s lives.
Kate Ryder (Founder of Maven Clinic): Kate built Maven Clinic into one of the world’s leading digital health platforms for women and families. I’m inspired by how she combined business savvy with a genuine commitment to supporting women through all stages of health – from fertility to maternity and beyond. Under her leadership, Maven became a unicorn (a rare billion-dollar company in FemTech), which shows that addressing women’s health is not just good for society; it can be a sustainable, thriving business model, too. Her success has paved the way for founders like me, proving that investors and the healthcare industry are ready to take women’s health tech seriously.
If you want to share your story with us and be featured on our WoW Women blog, get in touch.