Startup Pivot Targets Perimenopause After Initial Skin App Fails to Gain Traction
Alise Linda Valdheima and Alla Polisjuka, co-founders of the Latvian startup Betterskin, have shifted their business model from a skincare application to a digital health platform focusing on perimenopause, la.lv reported. The new tool consolidates health data from various wearable devices and manual entries to help women track hormonal changes and prepare for medical consultations.
From Furniture Design to Startup Founders
Valdheima previously worked as a furniture designer before leaving her position to explore programming through the Latvian startup and IT education program StartSchool. There, she met Polisjuka, who conceived the original Betterskin idea after struggling with undiagnosed iron deficiency anemia that caused chronic skin issues. Following the initial test phase of their skincare app, the co-founders recognized that the problem they targeted lacked the financial urgency required to sustain user acquisition and funding.
Developing a New Tracking Tool for Hormonal Changes
The proposed platform aggregates information from multiple smart devices and health apps, alongside manual logs of menstrual cycle shifts and blood test results. Instead of immediately building a resource-heavy mobile application, Valdheima and Polisjuka plan to test the concept manually by providing questionnaires to clients, analyzing bodily changes, and generating summaries for doctor visits.
Funding and Future Expansion Plans
Betterskin secured a 50,000 euro investment prize on the final day of the StartSchool program, providing foundational capital for their venture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding did Betterskin secure initially?
The startup received a 50,000 euro investment prize during the final day of the StartSchool education program in Latvia.
What is the focus of the new Betterskin product?
The new tool focuses on perimenopause, collecting data from wearable devices, blood test results, and manual entries to track hormonal changes and assist women during medical consultations.
How do the founders plan to test the new perimenopause tool without an app?
Valdheima and Polisjuka will initially use manual questionnaires to analyze changes in clients’ bodies and compile summaries that users can bring to their physicians.