For decades, women’s health has been one of the most historically underfunded sectors in global healthcare innovation. From getting less than 2% in Venture Funding rounds, according to Hustlefund, to relying heavily on a male-default diagnostic system, it has been a case of hook, line, and sinker right from the start.
Before the 21st century, a lack of infrastructure limited the development of general healthcare in the MENA region. In other parts of the world, it was not the same.
In 1977, women of “potential childbearing age” were largely excluded from participating in early-stage (Phase I and II) clinical trials in many regions of the world until the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 in the United States, which pioneered inclusion in early testing phases.
This meant one thing
Before 1993, every drug, vaccine, or procedure ever created was based on an average of men. Women were simply expected to respond to them the way men did, but the reality was that they didn’t.
For millions of women globally, a trip to the doctor’s still means another generalised result, another pending dismissal that depended on a plastic stick. No blood work, culture tests, just the universal “exit strategy” for doctors who don’t have the data, the training, or the tools to treat women properly. And that’s not all. It also means:
- Dosages are “sized down” from male averages rather than tested for female metabolism.
- Women experience adverse drug reactions at nearly twice the rate of men.
- Many lifesaving treatments are still based on symptoms that manifest differently in women.
However, this is starting to change, and the MENA region is positioning itself at the forefront of this change.
Prioritising Women’s Health in MENA: The QSTP × Merck Femtech Accelerator
Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), in partnership with Merck, has launched a regional accelerator to support global founders who are building impressive startups to solve women’s health challenges by leveraging deeptech (AI, material science, robotics) and are looking to scale across Qatar and the Wider MENA region.
Why Qatar?
As the region rapidly transitions toward knowledge-based economies, there is currently a push to build global hubs for clinical solutions and general healthcare innovation.
Not just that, the launch of the accelerator also aligns with a broader macroeconomic shift across the MENA and GCC regions, and the country’s Vision 2030, which aims to create a comprehensive, world-class healthcare system that addresses the specific, localized needs of women.
For founders in Femtech, this means more than a means to scale: it is a means to tap directly into the venture capital chain of the GCC. The QSTP × Merck accelerator serves as a direct gateway to regional venture capital and healthcare goldmines, a way of giving chances to startups to build sustainable products in women’s health and general healthcare.
Where the difference lies
The Femtech Accelerator isn’t just another mentorship program but a targeted, hybrid launchpad for founders looking to build and scale the next big thing in Femtech.
The initiative aims to support up to 30 founders tackling critical, complex challenges in women’s health, such as cardiovascular health, autoimmune diseases, mental health, oncology, and fertility.
It will also feature an intensive 2-week Doha Immersion for founders and serve as a clinical pathway to Doha’s biggest pilot opportunities, investors, and advanced healthcare system for selected founders.
Who should apply for the Accelerator?
The accelerator is open to founders globally, but is limited to founders with proven traction in Femtech or related aspects of women’s healthcare.
What Selected Startups Stand to Gain
- Fully Funded Participation: You bring the product, we bring the resources.
- Clinical Validation: Opportunities to co-design and validate pilot projects directly within Qatar’s advanced healthcare ecosystem.
- Corporate and Healthcare Access: Direct introductions to key regulators, healthcare providers, and decision-makers.
- Market Expansion Support: A curated global network of investors and tailored support for fundraising and commercial expansion across the Middle East and beyond.
Don’t Miss The Info Session
We are hosting an exclusive Info Session on Monday, February 23, 2026, to break down everything you need to know. It is your chance to ask your questions directly and know if the accelerator is the next right step for your startup.
Date: Monday, Feb 23 | 10:00 AM (Standard Arabian Time)
Mode: Hybrid | Physical Location: QSTP
Registration Link: Here
