What if the hormonal health of women finally entered the Digital Therapeutics era? It is the bet of Solence, a French startup founded in 2022, which develops a mobile application dedicated to the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (SOPK). This chronic pathology, which affects up to 20 % of women around the world, remains largely ignored by classic care devices. With its personalized digital program, Solance is attacking this structural failure of the health system.
His approach is part of the trend of digital therapies, or Digital Therapeuticswhich combine technological tools, scientifically validated protocols and patient monitoring to improve the management of chronic diseases. In the case of SOPK, clinical recommendations recommend behavioral and hygieno-dietetic interventions, however rarely implemented in the classic course. Solence comes to fill this void by offering a structured program of twelve weeks, designed from scientific publications, to support women on a daily basis.
The application offers interactive modules on triggering symptoms, good eating practices, stress management or physical activity. A monthly score makes it possible to follow the evolution of symptoms and to identify the most effective levers for each patient. “Our vision is to take advantage of data and environmental factors to better send chronic hormonal disorders, with a logic of prevention and improvement of healthy life expectancy,” explains Clara Stephenson, founder of Solance.
The project finds its roots in the personal history of its founder. Former lawyer at Ernst & Young, Clara Stephenson suffered for more than ten years of symptoms typical of sopk without diagnosis. It was not until an infertility course that she finally puts a name on what she describes as “an incurable and chronic condition”. During confinement, she launches the blog The nativeswhich quickly federates an active community around hormonal health, it is this growing success that becomes the base of Solence.
The project is later supervised by a scientific committee composed in particular by Professor Michel Pugeat, endocrinologist specializing in SOPK since 2003, and the researcher in neuroscience Nour Mimouni.
In the background, Solance is tackling the company problem that is the under-careing of female pathologies in research, care and innovation. Classic treatments often remain drug, not very personalized, and often very expensive. In some cases, patients paid up to 3,500 euros for a fragmented course, when they do not fall into the pseudo-solutions trap promoted by unscrupulous influencers.
Solence has lifted 1.6 million euros in priming with Impact Shakers Venturesas well as Céline Lazorthes (Resilience), Berthe Latreille ,, Stephane Mardel And BPI France. This fundraising will make it possible to deepen product development, strengthen clinical partnerships and accelerate the distribution strategy. The company was founded in 2022 by Clara Stephensonalso at the origin of the blog The natives.
