In the U.S., about 6,000 women per day reach menopauseMore than 75% of women experience unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes, which usually last seven to nine years.
Ann Garnier, chief executive of Lisa Health, said that many times women feel that there is no cure for the physical and emotional changes they experience at this stage of life, so they choose to stick with it in silence. To address this, she co-founded the Oakland-based company with Chief Scientific Officer Massimiliano de Zambotti.Recently, they cooperating and Mayo Clinic roll out onean app that supports women through menopause.
Lisa Health spun out of veteran tech nonprofit SRI International In 2020, create technology solutions for women going through menopause. The startup got its name because Lisa was at or near the top of the most popular baby girl names for about 50 years ago.
“Every woman knows Lisa, whether it’s their sister, aunt, cousin, or friend,” Garnier said. “The name feels very warm and friendly – like Lisa is your trusted guide at this stage of your life.”
Noon is named after the time of day when the sun is brightest. Garnier said her team chose the name because they wanted women to feel the warmth of midlife and “all the opportunities and commitments that come with it.”
In developing Midday, Lisa Health signed a health licensing agreement with Mayo Clinic. Through the partnership, the startup has access to the menopause care experts at Mayo Clinic who helped develop the app and continue to ensure it uses a scientific and evidence-backed approach.
The app provides personalized insights to help users understand physical and emotional conditions during menopause, provides recommendations for healthy aging and symptomatic treatment, and allows users to request virtual care appointments with Mayo Clinic clinicians.
Midday uses algorithms to locate a woman’s position on the menopause journey and track her progress through each stage so she can better prepare for the symptoms that may arise next. The app also provides guidance on which holistic interventions are best for treating users’ symptoms, whether they’re battling hot flashes, low libido, vaginal dryness or sleep problems.
For women interested in using hormone therapy to treat menopausal symptoms, Midday directs them to Mayo Clinic clinicians who can teach them more about their menopausal symptoms. eligible for this treatment. The Midday team is also developing an advanced version of its app, which Garnier said will include new technology for hot flash detection and other menopause biomarkers.
In addition to launching its app, Lisa Health recently announced the close of its $2.5 million oversubscribed seed round. The round was led by Radical Ventures with participation from SRI International and Broadway Angels. The Mayo Clinic is also an investor in the company.
Although it has secured capital and a partnership with one of the most prestigious health systems in the country, Lisa Health isn’t the only digital health startup focused on menopause.Competitors include forever, Vera Health and alloyFor Garnier, her startup sets itself apart by taking an AI-based approach and “using advanced technology to really understand what’s going on in women physically and emotionally, and then be able to deliver precision treatments.”
Currently available on the App Store, Midday offers users a 30-day free trial. After that, users can choose between a quarterly subscription of $29.99 or an annual subscription of $79.99.
Photo: Forever, Getty Images
