In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge intersection of femtech and medical innovation with Victoria Schoeffel and Rafael Schaider from Belle Health, the second-place winners of the Advanced Electronics Challenge at embedded world.
Belle Health tackles one of the most overlooked areas of healthcare: the impact of hormonal fluctuations on women's health. Their solution combines a therapy app with a smart ring to track physiological data, helping women understand and manage premenstrual symptoms, including the severe condition PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder).
Victoria and Rafael discuss the shocking 12-year average diagnostic delay for PMDD, how their technology can reduce this to months, and why women's physiology remains an afterthought in both medicine and electronics development. They explain how their evidence-based approach brings together psychological interventions with real-time physiological monitoring.
Tune in to discover how this German startup is pioneering a data-driven approach to women's health that could transform diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for millions of women worldwide.
#femtech #womenhealth #smartwearables #iot #wetalkiot #PMDD #hormonehealth
Summary of this week's episode:
02:04 Understanding the Problem: Premenstrual Symptoms and PMDD
05:05 The Evolution of Femtech and Recognizing Female Health as Hormonal Health
07:22 Historical Testing Gap: Medical Research Focused on Men
09:20 The Impact of PMDD: Suicidal Ideation and Misdiagnosis
11:12 Belle Health's Solution: App and Smart Ring Technology
14:48 Analysing Female Data Based on Menstrual Cycles vs. Calendar Days
16:31 Current Sensing Technology and Future Hormone Measurement Goals
18:04 Heart Rate Variability Across the Menstrual Cycle
20:47 Reducing the 12-Year Diagnostic Delay for PMDD
23:18 Data-Driven Approach to Treatment Selection
25:48 Digital Health Access in Remote Areas
29:57 Vision for the Future: AI and Personalized Healthcare
33:23 Why Belle Health Joined the Advanced Electronics Challenge
Show notes:
Victoria Schoeffel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-schoeffel/
Rafael Schaider: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-schaider/
Belle Health: https://bellehealth.co/
An example of a period pain simulator: https://youtu.be/PuiWm2Lb-hk?si=it0kRhe1406_shR_
Advanced Electronics Challenge 2025: https://my.avnet.com/silica/resources/training-and-events/event/baystartup-challenge-advanced-electronics-2025/
Listen to the "We Talk IoT "Soundtrack on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/05MOV4OV2MH2in2txsAGtG?si=ad08112cb8d443f4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-NvQ6VJYtE&list=PLLqgVFfZhDRVYmpEqbgajzDvGL4kACRDp
About Avnet Silica:
This podcast is brought to you by Avnet Silica—the Engineers of Evolution.
You can connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/silica-an-avnet-company/. Or find us at www.avnet-silica.com.
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