The Next Wave of Wearables: Proactive, Personalized, and Built for Women
Wearables are evolving from passive trackers to proactive problem-solvers in women’s health—so why are the biggest names in tech pivoting to this space, and what does it mean for the future?
I just listened to Kathrin’s webinar on "A Wearable Revolution: The Next Chapter in Women's Health Tech in 2025", and it reinforced a key point: women’s health isn’t a niche pocket, it’s a strong market for the future of wearable innovation.
My takeaways
1️⃣ Women’s health is an untapped market that could drive the success of the wearable industry.
2️⃣ Exceptional user experience—both in hardware and software—is non-negotiable.
3️⃣ Wearables are shifting from retroactive insights to proactive solutions.
Let’s dive in.
Takeaways explained
1️⃣ Women’s Health: The Untapped Market Powering Wearables
When Oura and Whoop launched, they focused on sleep tracking and fitness performance. But as they gathered data, they realized they had unlocked a much bigger, high-demand market: women’s health.
📊 Oura’s user base is now majority women.
📢 FemTech article: “WHOOP Unveils Novel Digital Biomarker for Menstrual Cycle Monitoring in Nature Study.”
While I’m usually bullish on women-first solutions, I think it’s valuable to have women-specific datasets within the broader health data ecosystem. Wearables are bridging the gap in missing women’s health data, which benefits both research and personalized healthcare solutions.
🔥 My hypothesis: We’ll see a new segmentation of wearables focused exclusively on women’s health. I’m tracking emerging research—like Samir Akre’s work on mental health and wearables—for trends in sleep, fitness, and beyond.
But what if a wearable company focused on women’s health from the start instead of pivoting later?
2️⃣ UX is Non-Negotiable: Hardware + Software Must Deliver
A company that tried to do this was Movano’s Evie Ring, which positioned itself as a women-first wearable. But it failed to include basal body temperature tracking, a key feature competitors already offered.
Other issues:
❌ Ring design caught in hair when running fingers through it.
❌ Short battery life, limiting tracking capabilities.
The takeaway? Being "for women" isn’t enough—wearables must provide real, meaningful value. The companies that win in this space won’t just collect data—they’ll connect it, generate insights, and drive impact.
3️⃣ The Shift from Retroactive to Proactive Solutions is Here
Wearables have evolved from step counters (like early Fitbit) to problem-solvers. The next wave will actively address health challenges, not just track symptoms.
Some exciting innovations already leading this shift:
Embr Labs, a thermal wellness company, recently launched Wave 2, a wearable wristband to help with physical and emotional well being. The wristband provides personalized relief for sleep, hot flashes, stress, night sweats, chills, and more.
Aviation Medical’s Vivally System helps with bladder control for urinary incontinance. It’s an FDA-cleared wearable at-home treatment for the symptoms of Overactive Bladder (OAB), including Incontinence and Urgency.
Samphire Neuroscience’s Nettle is a neurotechnology headband that delivers PMS and period pain relief.
The Future of Women’s Health Wearables
The companies that invest in research, develop real solutions, and prioritize women’s health from the start will be the ones to unlock the next wave of innovation and success.
🚀 On your mark, get set, go!