Our Funding Approach

Powering the next wave
in women’s health through ideas, funding, and partnerships.

Despite growing investor interest, innovations in women's health remain chronically underfunded. Closing this gap requires new, diverse funding approaches.
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Opportunity Ripe for Investment and Impact

Historically, health systems have not prioritized research, funding, and innovation for women; therefore, many promising advances fail to scale and reach broader markets — we need different funding pathways to scale innovations and improve market access.

85%

of US women live in a county with low access to mammograms

6%

of private healthcare investment funds women’s health.

$100 Billion +

in tracked women’s health exit value since 2020. An increasing opportunity, no longer a niche category.

Where ideas, capital, and collaboration converge to move women’s health forward.

Our funding program will streamline engagement among capital allocators, investors, fund managers, and women's health organizations to accelerate the flow of capital across the ecosystem.

How Flexible Capital Accelerates Innovation

Flexible, low-cost capital that accelerates innovation and scales market access

Target Program

$50M Evergreen Fund, raised from philanthropic dollars, managed directly by the Milken Institute.

Sector Focus

Women's health (across the lifecycle) to help growth and later-stage companies bridge the gap to commercialization. 

Type of Capital

Grants, no- and low-cost loans, and equity. 

Impact

Accelerate commercialization and catalyze follow-on investment to accelerate diagnostics, expand access to care, and build more robust health technologies.

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Mobilizing $1 billion in New Capital for Women’s Health

The Initiative 

Leverages the Milken Institute’s platform to provide fund managers opportunities to participate in flagship convenings and engage with our network of institutional investors, family offices, and asset managers to channel new, diverse capital to women's health. 

Who should apply? 

Emerging and diverse fund managers with a demonstrated commitment to expanding investments into women’s health. 

Applicant evaluation criteria include: 

  • Fund focus: Existing portfolio investments in women's health, or a demonstrated commitment to expanding into or carving out a women's health allocation 
  • Fund stage: Managers actively fundraising for Fund II or beyond (regardless of whether prior funds were women's health-focused) 
  • Fund size: AUM of up to $250M preferred
  • Sector: Experience investing across life sciences, health, technology, infrastructure, consumer, and/or other sectors
  • Asset class: Can include venture, private equity, credit, and other alternative asset strategies
  • Team: Diversity of management and investment professionals 

 

Apply to Join Elevate
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Investable Areas in Women’s Health

Conditions that are Unique to Women

Pregnancy and maternal health; menopause and perimenopause; gynecologic cancers; endometriosis and fibroids

Conditions that Affect Women Disproportionately

Autoimmune diseases; osteoporosis; depression and anxiety; Alzheimer’s disease; chronic pain and headaches

Conditions that Affect Women Differently

Cardiovascular disease; diabetes; stroke; lung disease

Take the Next Step

Explore Our Two Pathways to Advance Women’s Health

Our Catalytic Philanthropic Fund deploys flexible capital directly to women’s health solutions and innovations. Our Elevate Investment Initiative connects emerging fund managers to the institutional capital they need to effect change.
Learn More About Our Funding Pathways
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Partners

A growing network of leaders shaping the future of women's health

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