KC startup on a mission to show women’s health is more than a niche; a nationwide advocate could help

A women-led Kansas City health startup is among 10 companies chosen for a new innovation cohort from Springboard Enterprises, which made a name for itself locally in recent years through its popular Dolphin Tank pitch showcases.

Victoria Weber, Marma

Marma was selected for the Springboard program — a comprehensive entrepreneurial bootcamp and an expansive workshop series — because the startup is tapping into an unmet need for nutrition during the birthing years, said Meredith McAllister, co-founder of Marma with Victoria Weber.

“We provide personalized nutritional guidance and coaching for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and cycle support to address the critical gap in maternal health caused by nutritional deficiencies in the majority of women during the birthing years,” McAllister explained. “These deficiencies can lead to uncomfortable and even severe side effects. Women are ready to take their health into their own hands.”

“We created Marma out of a need to nourish women when it matters most and in one of the most vulnerable periods of life.”

Click here to learn more about Marma, which was one of 13 companies vying for 2023 LaunchKC funding.

Springboard’s Inaugural 2024 Women’s Health Innovation Program Cohort is expected to pair Marma with a dedicated team of strategic advisors, providing invaluable guidance as they navigate the next phase of their growth journey, the organization said in its cohort announcement.

McAllister had been following Springboard since it entered into the Kansas City market with the Dolphin Tank program in 2022, she said, noting the organization is working toward one of the same goals as Marma: to normalize women’s health as a mainstream industry.

“I’m deeply passionate about improving the health of women, and nutrition is a powerful tool to do so. For so long, women have been ignored or told our health needs to fit within the box of men’s health,” McAllister said. “While nutrition during this window of time in a woman’s life might seem niche, it has the potential to impact millions of women today, and nourishing women during their birthing years has the potential to improve the health of generations to come.”

“Women’s health isn’t ‘niche’ or ‘atypical,’” she emphasized. “Women account for 51 percent of the population, and the femtech market is expected to be $1.1 trillion by 2027.”

Natalie Buford-Young, Springboard Enterprises

That market growth contributes to Springboard’s excitement about welcoming the women’s health cohort — and the companies’ solutions, said Natalie Buford-Young, CEO of Springboard Enterprises.

“Their innovative technologies bear the potential to reshape the women’s health landscape — a domain that … has been significantly underserved,” Buford-Young said. “Through strategic collaboration, mentorship initiatives, and leveraging our extensive industry expert network, we are committed to empowering these companies to drive substantial and lasting transformation within the industry.”

Click here to read more about the inaugural cohort and the companies selected.

Springboard’s most significant value comes from its deep network, McAllister said.

“As a startup, there are many challenges that others have experienced and solved, so reaching out and learning from them is helpful,” she said. “Springboard has been around for 20-plus years, and nearly 900 Springboard companies have gone before us. Their Women’s Health Council includes thought leaders, investors, executives, and strategic partners to drive change.”

“Their dedication to female founders is unmatched,” McAllister added.

Marma launched its initial product in the App Store for pregnancy and postpartum in 2023, she said, and its four-person team is looking forward to launching fertility and cycle support in mid-2024.

Opening a seed round for the company also is expected, McAllister said, noting Springboard offers an opportunity to tap into new networks that are built intentionally around supporting women.