PMA Nepal leadership had the privilege of interacting with Susanne Feldt, co-founder of HerMaid, a Berlin-based startup dedicated to women’s health and empowerment. Founded in 2023 by sisters Anne and Susanne Feldt, HerMaid addresses significant gaps in healthcare services for women in Germany. In 2024, Rajesh Sharma, a Nepali IT professional, joined as the third co-founder to drive technological innovation. The company’s primary focus is on gender-sensitive medicine, providing comprehensive support through various life stages, with an initial emphasis on menopause—a topic often stigmatized and overlooked in medical care.

During the interaction, Susanne shared the challenges and triumphs of launching a startup in the femtech sector. She highlighted the pervasive funding challenges and complexities of legal, financial, and medical sectors in securing investment. Despite the odds, HerMaid successfully secured funding, demonstrating that perseverance and a clear mission can overcome systemic challenges and biases.

HerMaid’s innovative approach includes offering evidence-based information, confidential online consultations with female doctors, courses, and a private chat service to provide individualized and holistic support. The platform is designed as a “Corporate Benefits” offering, recognizing that menopause significantly impacts the careers of many middle-aged women. By addressing issues of work-life balance and equality, her company aims to empower women to actively manage their health and quality of life.

Susanne’s visit to Kathmandu served as an inspiration, highlighting the universal challenges female entrepreneurs face and the innovative solutions they can implement to overcome them. Her insights resonate with PMA Nepal’s mission to support and empower women professionals and entrepreneurs.