In honor of Women’s Day, FemTech India is spotlighting female trailblazers driving innovation in women’s health with our global community until March.This special series highlights pioneering women driving innovation in FemTech and beyond, amplifying their voices and contributions to the industry.
Interview with Saki, US-Based Partner at NEXTBLUE
We are honored to feature Saki, a US-based Partner at NEXTBLUE, Asia’s first investment Born and raised in Tokyo, Saki relocated to the United States in 2016 to pursue business school. She later joined Scrum Ventures, a US-Japan sector-agnostic VC, where she spent six years engaging with inspiring female founders and investors in women’s health. In 2024, she became NEXTBLUE’s first US-based investor, focusing on backing American startups innovating in women’s wellbeing.
“Growing up in Japan, I saw gender inequality firsthand and questioned my own path to financial independence,” Saki shares. “I realized that women’s health and economic empowerment are deeply interconnected, which fueled my passion to support this space.””
Breaking Into the FemTech Space:
Saki’s entry into the FemTech industry began with a simple but bold step: She shares how a cold LinkedIn message to a women’s health founder in 2020 set her on this path. “I was curious about the space but didn’t know where to start.
A pivotal moment was a conversation with my friend Akash Bhat, founder of the Desi VC podcast, who built a successful founder-VC community from scratch. He encouraged me to focus on what I could do instead of what I couldn’t.
I leveraged two key advantages: my VC background, which allowed me to invest in early-stage founders, and my strong connections in Japan, where the women’s health ecosystem was still emerging. This led me to actively source women’s health deals and launch Femtech Community Japan.
“Self-doubt was my biggest hurdle—I kept wondering if I was qualified enough to contribute. But I realized that my VC background and strong network in Japan gave me unique advantages.”
Championing Women’s Health Through Investment :
At NEXTBLUE, Saki has already invested in five women’s health startups, including Teal Health, which is developing an at-home cervical cancer screening device. “Japan’s cervical cancer screening rate is just 43%, far behind the US rate of 77%. Innovations like Teal Health can bridge this gap and improve women’s healthcare globally,” she explains.
NEXTBLUE stands out as Asia’s first dedicated fund for women’s wellbeing, investing in seed and Series A startups across the US, Europe, and Japan. With backing from major Japanese corporations such as ASKA Pharmaceutical and JERA Corporation, the fund not only provides capital but also facilitates strategic partnerships and market entry opportunities in Japan.
The Future of FemTech: Trends and Insights :
Looking ahead, Saki predicts the FemTech industry will see increased consolidation and expansion beyond fertility.
“Startups that deeply understand end-user pain points will succeed, but scalability will require engaging key stakeholders like payers, doctors, and employers. A pure D2C model will be increasingly challenging, at least in the US.”
She also foresees the rise of more regional organizations and investment funds dedicated to women’s health, reinforcing the industry’s long-term sustainability and impact.
Advice for Aspiring FemTech Professionals :
Saki encourages aspiring FemTech professionals to identify their unique value and leverage platforms like LinkedIn to build their brand.
“It’s important to form genuine connections rather than approach networking in a transactional way. The FemTech community is collaborative—engage, learn, and contribute.”
Driving Late-Stage Investment in FemTech :
One of Saki’s long-term goals is to drive more late-stage investments in the FemTech sector.
“Investing in women’s health isn’t just an ethical decision—it’s a high-ROI opportunity. We need to bring more diverse investors into the space, including men, by educating them on the financial and societal impact of these investments.”
Inspired by WHAM’s High-Impact Investment Collaborative, Saki aims to create a similar initiative in Japan. She has already taken the first step by hosting an informational session for Japanese investors, building awareness and momentum for the industry’s future.
As we celebrate Women’s Day, FemTech India continues to honor and amplify the voices of women like Saki, who are pioneering innovations that shape the future of women’s health worldwide.
About FemTech India – Ecosystem for Women’s health tech startups
FemTech India, India’s first and largest industry network of founders and investors in women’s health, supports companies with market access and growth strategies to drive innovation and partnerships.As a Member of UNFPA, supporting companies in science and technology, across South Asia.
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If you’re a trailblazer in women’s health or FemTech, we’d love to hear your story! Share your journey and insights with us at info@femtechindia.com. Together, let’s amplify the voices driving positive change.
