Sonal Pendharkar Kulkarni | Founder of Uvisa Health
At the heart of groundbreaking innovation in women’s health Sonal, a scientist-turned-entrepreneur whose career path has been shaped by both academic excellence and personal conviction. With a Ph.D. in Medical Science from the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sonal’s early research centered on the vaginal microbiome and its critical role in managing recurrent vaginal infections. Her pioneering work exploring the combined effect of probiotics and antimicrobial treatments sparked more than just scientific curiosity; it ignited a mission to bridge the gap between research and real-world care for women.
What began as lab work soon evolved into a broader vision: creating accessible, evidence-based solutions for vaginal health. While based in Copenhagen, Sonal was preparing to launch a startup offering at-home vaginal microbiome screening and health management. During this period, she met Ella, the Founder and CEO of Uvisa Health. Ella brought deep commercial expertise and a clear need for a scientific partner. Their shared passion for transforming women’s intimate care solidified their partnership, and together they began building Uvisa—an ambitious, science-first FemTech company with global aspirations.
Today, Dr. Sonal leads the scientific development at Uvisa, where the team is developing the world’s first home-use, drug-free vaginal phototherapy device to treat common vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). These infections, often chronic and recurring, are typically treated with antibiotics or antifungals therapies that can have side effects and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Uvisa’s novel light-based therapy offers a faster, localized, and side-effect-free alternative, targeting harmful bacteria and yeast while preserving beneficial lactobacilli.
Sonal’s journey into the FemTech space began as early as 2013 during her doctoral research, when she realized that despite a wealth of global studies, actionable vaginal health tools for women were almost non-existent. This disparity pushed her to build her first FemTech model in 2019 while living in Switzerland. Yet, it was far from an easy entry—resources were limited, and support was hard to find outside academic circles. Even after moving to Copenhagen and immersing herself in the startup ecosystem, she encountered significant resistance when seeking investment for vaginal microbiome screening tools. Investors were more inclined toward faster-return fertility tracking apps than deeper, science-driven innovations.
Meeting Ella marked a turning point. While Ella had an initial launchpad through her Master’s in Entrepreneurship & Technology at DTU, the duo quickly learned that being a female-led venture in medical devices came with its own set of challenges: investor bias, lack of understanding around vaginal health, and skepticism toward new therapeutic modalities. Still, Sonal and Ella remained steadfast in their mission to build a company that puts women’s needs at the center.
Over the last three years, Sonal has navigated the complexities of the medical device space from understanding regulatory frameworks to raising capital and assembling the right team. Surprisingly, the hardest part wasn’t the science, it was the system. Gaining regulatory clarity, securing R&D funding, and generating clinical evidence all took time, tenacity, and teamwork. Her personal resilience was also tested, having had to overcome systemic discrimination during her time in Switzerland as an expatriate spouse, mother, and woman striving to reignite her scientific career.
Yet, her accomplishments are profound. Sonal not only designed and led the science behind Uvisa but also played a pivotal role in getting their first-in-human study approved, a remarkable achievement for a first-of-its-kind, drug-free phototherapy device. The ongoing development of a companion digital platform will further empower users by offering a space to track symptoms, engage with the community, and integrate care through a seamless interface.
Sonal views the FemTech movement not just as an industry trend, but as a much-needed revolution. For too long, healthcare systems have ignored or underserved women’s specific needs. She believes FemTech has the power to not only improve women’s quality of life but also drive societal equity and family health globally.
Looking ahead, she predicts key FemTech innovations will focus on decoding the vaginal microbiome and advancing hormone tracking technologies. These tools will pave the way for more personalized, accurate diagnoses and treatment options particularly for conditions that have historically been under-researched and poorly managed.
For aspiring FemTech entrepreneurs, Sonal’s advice: back yourself. Engage with real users, clinicians, and domain experts early on. Tap into grants, accelerators, and mentorship networks. Above all, stay focused and lead with purpose because bold, evidence-based ideas are exactly what FemTech needs.
If there’s one systemic change she hopes to see in the industry, it’s more collaboration and less competition. The potential of FemTech lies not in chasing the same trends, but in working together sharing data, resources, and learnings to create truly impactful solutions for women everywhere.
Through Uvisa and beyond, Sonal is proving that science, when placed in the right hands, can shift paradigms and that women’s health deserves nothing less.
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.
