In 2019, a chance connection on LinkedIn between two scientists, Gayatri Muthukrishnan and Sanjana Rao, ignited a transformative journey. Both passionate about science and health, they discovered a shared concern: a significant lack of information and support for women navigating midlife health and menopause, particularly in India. Together, they co-founded Miyara Health, a digital health platform offering innovative solutions to help women manage menopause symptoms and promote healthy aging.
The Founders: A Synergy of Expertise
Sanjana Rao and Gayatri Muthukrishnan both bring extensive scientific backgrounds to Miyara Health. Rao, who worked at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, later pursued a PhD in Biotechnology at the University of Freiburg, Germany. She followed this with postdoctoral research at the ETH Zürich and the University of Zurich, and experience in a medical device startup.
Meanwhile, Muthukrishnan’s academic and professional journey spans across India, the United States, and Switzerland. After earning a BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT-Madras and a PhD in Bioengineering from Penn State University, she completed her postdoctoral work in Bengaluru, specializing in cell biology and engineering. Her career further expanded in Switzerland, where she worked in health communication at Karger Publishers.
When Muthukrishnan and Rao connected on LinkedIn, they bonded over a shared desire to address the health communication gap surrounding women’s health. This mutual concern eventually led to the founding of Miyara Health.
Addressing a Gap in Women’s Health
The founders began their venture by surveying women in their late 30s and 40s as part of an entrepreneurial course. What they uncovered was striking: many women had little understanding of their bodies as they approached perimenopause and menopause. The lack of resources and conversations around these topics, especially in India, left many feeling unsupported.
“Women were shocked to realize how little they knew about the changes their bodies were undergoing. They felt dismissed and unheard, particularly when it came to issues beyond fertility,” Muthukrishnan explains. While there is a wealth of information and resources related to pregnancy and fertility, the same cannot be said for menopause.
Globally, 1.1 billion women will experience menopause by 2025, representing a $600 billion market, according to Rao. Yet, even though women may experience over 34 disruptive symptoms during perimenopause and postmenopause, there is often a lack of specialized care. Healthcare providers frequently lack menopause-specific training, and women are left searching for answers in overwhelming online forums filled with inconsistent or inaccurate information.
Miyara Health: A Digital Companion for Midlife Women
Recognizing the urgent need for better support and resources, Muthukrishnan and Rao launched Miyara Health in 2022. The Chennai-based platform is remote-first, with team members from India and around the globe, while Rao and Muthukrishnan manage operations from Zurich.
Miyara Health’s key offering is a digital companion designed to guide women through menopause. This platform includes an AI-driven chatbot for symptom awareness, personalized health assessments, and self-paced programs for symptom management. These programs, accessible 24/7, are tailored to fit into a woman’s busy schedule, addressing issues such as insomnia, hot flashes, stress relief, and incontinence.
“Our digital companion not only helps women manage symptoms but also reduces the long-term risk of chronic diseases by promoting overall health,” says Rao.
In addition to the AI-powered health assessment and symptom management programs, Miyara Health also offers a community feature, enabling women to connect with others experiencing similar issues. This fosters a supportive environment where users can share their experiences and learn from one another. Importantly, the AI-chatbot and health assessment are offered for free, making the platform accessible to all women.
Business Model and Market Reach
Miyara Health operates on a B2B and B2B2C business model. In the B2B space, it offers corporates awareness sessions, expert-led workshops, and access to the digital companion, aimed at improving midlife health for female employees. The B2B2C model involves partnerships with healthcare providers to offer digital health programs alongside prescriptions, providing a holistic approach to women’s health.
The platform primarily targets women aged 35-60 in India and globally. In just a year, Miyara Health has made significant strides, reaching over 8,000 women through corporate awareness sessions. Their digital companion has garnered an impressive 4.75/5 rating, with an 83% improvement in users’ ability to manage their menopause symptoms.
Competition and Differentiation
Miyara Health competes with several companies in the menopause care space, including Elda Health, Miror, and Menoveda in India, and Peppy, Stell, and Midi Health internationally. However, the founders believe their emphasis on validating both the chatbot and health programs will set them apart. “We plan to scale our digital companion rapidly by leveraging different go-to-market strategies,” Rao says.
Overcoming Challenges in a Male-Dominated Market
Like many female entrepreneurs, Muthukrishnan and Rao have faced challenges in securing funding, especially as first-time founders in a male-dominated investment landscape. “We are often perceived as too young, or the market is seen as too niche,” Muthukrishnan notes. There is also a stigma around menopause, and the lack of awareness surrounding this issue poses an additional barrier to raising funds.
Despite these challenges, the founders remain determined. “Starting a business is a tough journey with immense learning opportunities. It cannot be taught; it has to be experienced. If you have a brilliant idea and the drive to see it through, take the plunge,” advises Muthukrishnan.
The Future of Menopause Care
Miyara Health is bootstrapped and currently raising a pre-seed round of funds to continue its mission of supporting women through midlife health and menopause. By offering accessible, personalized care through digital health solutions, Muthukrishnan and Rao are not only breaking the silence around menopause but also empowering women to take control of their health.
Their work underscores the importance of addressing midlife health holistically, acknowledging that menopause is not just an inevitable stage of life, but an opportunity for women to prioritize their well-being for the years ahead.
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