Ovum has raised US$4m in seed funding to address what it describes as a “trillion-dollar women’s health gap”.
The Australian startup secured the funding a year after raising US$1.7m in a pre-seed round.
The latest round was completed at three times the previous valuation, pricing Ovum at US$18m.
Founded by doctor Ariella Heffernan-Marks, the Melbourne-based company is building what it describes as the first AI infrastructure designed specifically for women’s health, with anonymous consent at its centre.
Heffernan-Marks founded the business after seeing first-hand what she described as a “broken” healthcare system for women.
While experiencing chronic migraines during her third year at medical school, she said her concerns were dismissed and she was told the pain was caused by anxiety.
That experience led her to create a women’s health journal combining technology and clinical research to make women’s health “actionable and equitable”.
“I’ve sat on both sides of the desk, as a patient and as a doctor, and that’s why this mission matters so much to me,” Heffernan-Marks said.
“For too long, women have had to navigate healthcare systems that were not designed around their lived experiences or backed by sufficient female health data.
“Ovum exists to help women better understand their bodies, advocate for themselves with confidence, and contribute to research that improves care for future generations.
“This raise allows us to scale that mission responsibly by getting Ovum into the hands of more women and continuing to build a trusted platform grounded in clinical integrity, privacy and consent.”
The company’s AI records symptoms, lifestyle factors, biometric data, every stage of reproductive health, medications, appointments and medical reports in one longitudinal record.
A longitudinal record follows a person’s health information over time.
The system identifies patterns and produces health summaries and questions that users can take to medical appointments, with the aim of helping women speak up for themselves in clinical settings.
Since launching in August 2025, the platform has recorded more than 20,000 downloads and grown by 30 per cent month on month.
Ovum said it has captured more than 60,000 women’s health data insights and hosted more than 113,000 AI health conversations involving women aged from 15 to 84.
The funding will support the growth of its team and further development of its longitudinal women’s health dataset.
Ovum said that while awareness of inequalities in women’s health is growing, their effects on workforce participation, productivity and gross domestic product remain under-discussed in Australian business and policy.
The company said its growth showed how women’s health had been “historically underserved”.
The seed round was led by Admiralty Capital Group, with backing from Antler, Giant Leap, Aviron Investments, Foggy Valley Aotearoa, Brisbane Angels and Think & Grow.
LaunchVic also increased its investment through the Alice Anderson Fund.
Amanda Andriano, founding partner at Admiralty Capital Group, said:
“The most compelling companies are often built around problems society has learned to tolerate but should never have accepted.”
“The gender health gap is one of those problems. Ovum combines mission, market timing and technical capability with an exceptional founder uniquely positioned to lead this movement, and we believe that creates the foundation for a company of global significance.”
Ovum signed Medibank, Australia’s largest private health insurance provider, before launching its product.
It has since formed partnerships with Fernwood Fitness, Sweat and Menopause Friendly Australia, as well as starting a pilot with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
The partnerships support its aim of addressing the US$150bn in annual productivity reportedly lost when women reduce their working hours or leave employment for health reasons.
Earlier in 2026, Ovum launched clinical trials with St George Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Women.
The company said they are the first trials in Australia to assess AI as a preventive health tool designed specifically for women.
The research is examining how women currently manage their health, which digital tools they use and whether AI could improve health confidence, self-advocacy and continuity of care.
