Paris-based healthtech startup Solence has secured €1.6 million in seed funding to improve the lives of women suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
The round included backing from Impact Shakers Ventures, Céline Lazorthes (founder of Leetchi, Mangopay, and Resilience), Berthe Latreille (formerly of JP Morgan), Stephane Mardel of Systemanova VC, and BPI France.
Founded in 2022 by Clara Stephenson, a former corporate lawyer at Ernst & Young and PCOS patient herself, Solence delivers a science-based, digital lifestyle program aimed at tackling chronic symptoms of the hormonal disorder. After spending nearly a decade undiagnosed, Stephenson turned her personal struggle into a purpose-driven company.
Digital Tools to Address Gaps in Women’s Healthcare
PCOS affects up to 20% of women globally, yet 85% reportedly receive inadequate care. Solence’s app provides a 12-week interactive program grounded in peer-reviewed science, targeting symptom reversal through personalized, non-pharmaceutical interventions. The app includes monthly assessments, lifestyle guidance, and AI-driven care adaptation to individual needs.
Professor Michel Pugeat, part of the company’s scientific board, emphasized the importance of innovative solutions, stating that PCOS “justifies management by all health professionals, but also the search for new innovative and essential therapeutic approaches, such as that of Solence.”
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A Platform Built Beyond the Pill
Solence is determined to fill the gap where traditional PCOS treatment—often limited to medications—falls short. “PCOS is one of the great blind spots in women’s healthcare. It’s time to change that,” said Stephenson. She aims to leverage data and environmental insights to prevent chronic hormonal conditions and improve women’s life expectancy.
What’s Next
The funding will be used to enhance the app’s features, expand the Solence team, and build clinical partnerships. The company is also focused on broader distribution efforts to reach millions of underserved patients.
“Clara brings a unique perspective, experience, and network to solving this challenge,” noted Yonca Braeckman, Founding Partner at Impact Shakers Ventures. “Solence has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of women.”
