New AI femtech competition in Portugal aims to fast-track women’s health innovation

Portugal Hosts Groundbreaking FemTech Competition to Catapult AI-Driven Women’s Health Innovation

In a bold move set to reshape the future of women’s health, Portugal is preparing to host an unprecedented competition for femtech startups and research labs this spring. The event, spearheaded by the scientific platform EmbryoNet-AI in collaboration with FemTech Real Money Talks Media, promises to be a game-changer, uniting visionary innovators at the dynamic crossroads of artificial intelligence and women’s health.

This isn’t just another tech contest—it’s a mission to accelerate real-world breakthroughs by transforming early-stage ideas and pressing clinical questions into fully operational AI solutions. The stakes are high, and the potential impact is immense.

The call for applications is already live, with a deadline set for April 28, 2026, at midnight CET. The competition is open to both Portuguese and international teams who bring a strong hypothesis and access to critical imaging or time-series data. Whether you’re working on drug discovery, diagnostic support, or cutting-edge clinical research, this is your moment to shine.

But it’s not just established startups that are invited to participate. Early-stage ventures in women’s health—those still in the idea phase without a minimum viable product—are encouraged to apply. As Elena Lipilina, co-founder and CMO of EmbryoNet AI, puts it, “Women’s health has long been underfunded and under-researched. With this competition, we want to change that and bring light to talented teams that are moving this field forward.”

The contest is laser-focused on clinical and drug discovery challenges where AI can make a meaningful difference in women’s health. This includes pioneering projects that leverage time-series phenotyping to unravel the mysteries of drug response and disease mechanisms in areas like gynaecological cancers, endometriosis, and fertility research.

Lipilina further elaborates: “We are also interested in teams that want to accelerate medical image pre-labelling for datasets derived from mammography, pelvic MRI, ultrasound, or pathology slides, as well as solutions that combine phenotypic and clinical data to support decision-making in clinical trials, biomarker discovery, and treatment stratification.”

The selection process is rigorous. Up to 10 companies will be shortlisted based on their potential impact on women’s health, data readiness, alignment with EmbryoNet-AI’s capabilities, feasibility within the program timeframe, and the strength of their business case—all while considering ethical and sustainability factors.

Those who make the cut will advance to the next phase: the Mentor Sprint, scheduled for early May 2026. Here, participants will collaborate closely with experts spanning technology, marketing, and clinical domains, refining their project scope and fortifying their approach.

The program reaches its climax with a Live Pitch Day in May 2026, where finalists will present their groundbreaking solutions to a panel of investors and experts in women’s health, AI, and biotech. The winning team will then embark on an intensive 8 to 10-week build period, running from May to July 2026. During this time, EmbryoNet-AI will deliver a fully developed, services-first pilot—completely free of charge.

According to Lipilina, this represents a potential saving of between €65,000 and €100,000—the typical cost of developing an MVP, depending on the product’s complexity. But the benefits don’t stop there. The winner will also gain direct access to investors active in women’s health and AI-driven biotech, as well as enhanced public credibility through investor-ready materials, including pitch decks and media exposure.

This competition is more than just an opportunity—it’s a clarion call to innovators worldwide. It’s a chance to be part of a movement that’s not only advancing technology but also addressing long-standing disparities in women’s health research and funding. With the power of AI and the collaborative spirit of the global femtech community, the possibilities are limitless.

As the countdown to the application deadline begins, the excitement is palpable. Portugal is poised to become the epicenter of a revolution in women’s health, and the world is watching. Will you be part of the next big breakthrough?

Tags:
AI, women’s health, femtech, startup competition, Portugal, EmbryoNet-AI, innovation, medical research, drug discovery, diagnostic support, clinical trials, endometriosis, fertility, gynaecological cancers, time-series phenotyping, medical imaging, mentorship, biotech investment

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