Ava
“Can a femtech wearable company build a durable digital health platform for women's reproductive and menstrual health beyond the core fertility-tracking device?”
Founded2014
HQZürich, Switzerland / San Francisco, CA
FoundersLea Von Bidder, Pascal Koenig, Philipp Tholen, Peter Stein
Total raised~$52M
Latest roundAcquired by FemTech Health, 2022
IndustryVertical SaaS / Healthcare
The story
Ava was founded in 2014 as a femtech hardware company focused on fertility tracking through a wearable bracelet. The company raised ~$52M in venture funding between 2015 and 2018, growing into one of Europe's leading femtech brands. In 2022, Ava was acquired by FemTech Health, transitioning from an independent VC-backed startup to an operating subsidiary. The embedded finance angle is limited — Ava's known use of Evolve Bank & Trust suggests some BaaS or treasury relationship, but the core product remains a medical wearable device.
Last 12 months
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Product timeline
2014
Founded in Zürich, Switzerland by Lea Von Bidder, Pascal Koenig, Philipp Tholen, and Peter Stein.· pivot
2015
Participated in TechCrunch Startup Battlefield and raised $2.6M seed round.· banking
2016
Began shipping the Ava fertility tracking bracelet to customers; raised $9.7M Series A.· card
2022
Acquired by FemTech Health out of Houston, TX.· acquisition
The stack
1 layer disclosed in Ava’s embedded-finance stack
Banking / BaaS
Accounting gap: none