Femtech Innovation Hub for Pakistan - FIHP
Pakistan Launches First Femtech Innovation Hub to Address Women’s Healthcare Crisis
By Kathrin Folkendt
The Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) has launched the country’s first Femtech Innovation Hub for Pakistan (FIHP) at LUMS, in collaboration with the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship . Funded by the Gates Foundation , this initiative aims to support femtech startups through incubation, mentorship, and specialized training with a focus on technology-driven healthcare solutions for low-income communities.
The launch addresses a critical need in Pakistan where women constitute 49% of the population, yet 67% face significant barriers to accessing essential healthcare. Limited healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints, and lack of awareness have created a situation where over 45 million women lack adequate medical support. Despite the growing global femtech industry, Pakistan currently has fewer than 10 Femtech companies, highlighting a substantial gap in women’s health innovation.
FIHP is now accepting applications from startups developing femtech solutions tailored specifically to low-income communities. The program will provide expert mentorship from industry leaders, investor access, regulatory guidance, and market linkages to help startups scale their solutions. Selected companies will receive office space at the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship, hybrid incubation, acceleration support (both online and in-person), and access to CERP’s Global Research Fellows and data-driven research support.
The innovation hub welcomes startups at any stage and founders of all genders from across Pakistan who are working in key women’s health areas including maternal health, menstrual health, mental health, chronic and non-communicable diseases, digital health, and AI applications.
To mark the program’s launch, FIHP hosted an event that brought together industry experts, innovators, and key stakeholders from the startup and healthcare ecosystems. Following this launch, FIHP has begun a nationwide outreach campaign to ensure maximum participation, actively collaborating with key players in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem and health-tech sector to spread awareness.
Applications for the program are open until March 30, 2025. Interested startups can apply at https://gust.com/programs/lce-x-cerp-female- ‘innovation-hub-program . - Femtech Insider
