Samsung Ventures invested in Natural Cycles by bringing Cycle Tracking to the Galaxy Watch5 series

One of the top firms for women's health in the area of birth control and cycle tracking, Natural Cycles, has raised $7 million in a round of funding headed by Samsung Ventures. All of Natural Cycles' current investment firms Heartcore Capital, Headline, Bonnier Ventures, and EQT Ventures contributed to the financing round as well.

Natural Cycles created the first app in history as a Class II medical device, and it uses a proprietary algorithm to ascertain each user's reproductive status using body temperature and other important fertility indicators. The app has received FDA approval for usage in the US and has received certification for use as contraceptives in Singapore, Australia, and Europe. Dr. Elina Berglund, the creator of Natural Cycles, tells me, "While most users still measure their daily temperatures with a mechanical thermometer, our app has gained regulatory clearances to link with third-party wearable technologies.

Fitness and health businesses who want to grow their businesses have, for the most part, passed on a big opportunity to enter the highly lucrative women's health industry. Apple began putting more of a focus on women's health in 2019, but Fitbit only launched its "female health tracking" option in 2018. However, it appears that times are altering.

The Cycle Tracking feature built into Samsung's Galaxy Watch5 series, which will be offered in 32 regions, will be supported by Natural Cycles' fertility technology thanks to this investment and relationship. This will be the first time Natural Cycles' algorithm has been modified for a smartwatch.

Both businesses agree that combining the two technologies intends to provide users with a more in-depth understanding of their menstrual cycle, while women wishing to avoid pregnancy must continue to utilize the Natural Cycles app for the most reliable form of contraception.

According to Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics, "this is another example of Samsung's open collaboration mindset with other industry leaders to develop better health experiences." Hon Pak shared this with me in an email.

Samsung has verified that all collected data would be encrypted and kept on the user's smartphone, allowing them more control over their health information and "improved peace of mind." While the app's Cycle Tracking feature has been certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and conforms with CE Marking criteria, the smartwatch's Cycle Tracking feature has recently received approval from The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for the Republic of Korea.

Without a doubt, 2022 was a trying year for Dr. Elina as a woman, a scientist, and the head of a company focused on women's health, she continued. I was worried that advancements in women's health may see a setback, but given the company's growth and the support we're receiving from partners like Samsung, it's clear that's not the case. She continued by pointing out that January 2023 was the company's best month ever for adding new users to the Natural Cycles app, and that the business achieved revenue for the very first time in 2022.

"I sense a change as more women expect access to high-quality products that meet their specific demands. I'm certain that other businesses will choose the same course, and this year, we'll see greater investment and innovation in women's health.

Dr. Elina has underlined how, as an eHealth company, they needed to take diverse measurements inclinations, and price points into care so they may "reach as many women as possible" with their over two million registered clients worldwide. Dr. Elina is proud, but also realistic.

Natural Cycles' cofounder and co-CEO, Dr. Raoul Scherwitzl, revealed that the business is presently conducting several validations for various third-party devices, including Apple Watch. The Oura Ring is the only third-party wearable with which Natural Cycles is currently compatible, according to him. "Natural Cycles is FDA-cleared to interact with third-party wearables," he continues. According to Dr. Raoul, any additional smartwatches the company partners with — and they do have plans to form a relationship with more, which include wrist devices like the Apple Watch — must pass a series of validation tests, including clinical ones, to determine whether the data quality achieved from the wearable complies with the standards for delivering high-quality and accurate women's health experiences.

But in combining science and technology to treat an underserved - and frequently ignored - an area of women's health, we have just begun to scratch the surface. He emphasized that the funding round the business closed was "in a modest amount," but also "all they needed," considering that the main objective was to enlist key players as Natural Cycles forayed into the devices and hardware development industries.