WoW Woman in FemTech I Olivia Orchowski, founder of Femtek
Olivia Orchowski is a women’s health coach, doula, and founder of Femtek - the first menstrual health-focused smart ring on the market. Olivia has worked with hundreds of women through all aspects of their health and life journey, and is now hoping to reconnect the next generation of women to their cycles, and give back a level of cycle literacy that has been lost for so many women who were thrust on the pill from their first cycle.
Femtek and the Basal Body Ring is the first menstrual health-focused smart ring on the market. Femtek’s Cycle Tracking App Femtek’s goal is to create a generation of women who have been handed back their body literacy and are able to take control of their flow with data that drives them forward.
Tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.
My history and background lie predominately in the health sphere and industry. My first venture into the tech world was in 2015 when I created an app called Instasnoop that was a viral success and listed as one of Mashable’s top 5 apps. Over the last 8 years, I worked as a women’s health coach and personal trainer, opening my own studio in 2019. Living in Melbourne, Australia, meant that once covid hit we were hit with the longest and worst lockdowns in the world - which led to completely pivoting and flipping the business model to an online one. It was through having this flexibility in my work hours that Femtek was birthed into the world in 2020!
How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?
Entering into the tech industry didn’t come with me wanting to create or run a tech start-up; it came from having pain points with clients and wanting to help them, and knowing what device I need to do that. So needless to say, being the founder of a tech start-up with no tech experience - is one of the most difficult and naive things I could have done. There is an extremely steep learning curve in the tech industry, with ever-evolving concepts and technology. Just as you think you’ve gotten a handle on one concept, there’s a new leap and you’re back to scratching your head; particularly when you’re still spending the majority of your time in the health and science sphere, and only have so much time to dedicate to learning more (unless you plan on sleeping 20 minutes a day). Arguably, this has been one of the most challenging things I’ve done, which has riddled me with imposter syndrome every other day. But the beauty of imposter syndrome is that once you overcome the hurdle which made you feel that way, you don’t come across it again - and eventually there’s nothing left to feel like an imposter over!
How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle? What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?
It has been almost 3 years since the birth of Femtek, and it has taken a shockingly long time. The biggest challenge of the industry was (unfortunately) learning that a lot of people that you will hire in the tech sphere aren’t able to follow through on what they promise to deliver (as I learned the very hard way with the first engineers brought on for the development of the BBRing). When there’s, unfortunately, a gap between founder and engineer in terms of knowledge, there will be professionals who don’t deliver the caliber of work you think they’re delivering.
What are your biggest achievements to date?
My biggest achievement to date has been making it through these 3 years of R&D while virtually bootstrapping the entire process. Creating a piece of hardware from the ground up, with a temperature sensor configuration that has become patentable, has been nothing short of amazing.
What are the projects you are currently working on?
Currently, my only focus is launching and getting the Basal Body Ring out on the market; with all the future R&D for our next devices being highly guarded IP.
Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?
Absolutely it is! Starting this process with men has been amazing, but ther’re just as there was a steep learning curve for me from the tech side, there has been an even steeper learning curve for the men to learn about the menstrual cycle and then code for that. So for me and Femtek, the #womenintech movement is not just important - it’s needed!
What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?
Women’s health is still in its infancy, with the global market set to increase significantly by 2027. I foresee a LOT of software and wearables coming to the party, and it is so exciting to be among the first pieces of tech developed exclusively for women!
What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?
If you’re like me and had an idea based on a pain point you experienced in a different industry; take your time to do your research to find the right people. You will lose more if you hire the wrong people at the start; and losing some time, in the beginning, is the smallest price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire?
Dr. Carrie Jones
Lara Briden
Dr. Sarah Hill
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This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, founder, and CEO of Women of Wearables. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic and read her stories for Forbes here.