Attending The Fix last week was a reminder of just how much is changing, and how quickly, in health technology. The conversations reinforced several themes that are central to the future of the sector, and to the work we do at ThreeTenSevenwith health innovators and health brands.

The role of the founder brand
Investors consistently look to the strength and presence of the founder when deciding where to place their bets. It’s not enough to have a good product, the founder has to embody the mission, tell the story persuasively, and demonstrate the energy to bring others along. For health start-ups in particular, where adoption and trust are everything, this personal credibility matters from the very beginning.

Marketing and the importance of hype
There’s a tendency to think of marketing in health as something that comes later, once products are fully regulated and ready to scale. But the conversations at The Fix pointed to something else: hype really matters, particularly at the early stage. Waiting lists, community-building, referral schemes, and short-form content can all demonstrate market fit and traction to investors. For consumer-facing health brands, showing that momentum is almost as important as the innovation itself.

The medical device question
How a product is classified — and whether it is deemed a “medical device” — is one of the thorniest issues in health tech. For start-ups, the additional regulation this brings can feel overwhelming, but avoiding the classification altogether carries its own risks. The implications for what can and can’t be claimed in marketing, and for patient safety, are significant. We can help you navigate this challenge.

Data access and inequality
Real-time access to health data is a critical enabler of innovation. But it also highlights deep divides. Many of the tools we see today are available only to those who can pay, creating the risk of widening health inequalities: the “worried well” gain ever more insights, while those with fewer resources are excluded. Unless data access and interpretation are addressed inclusively, digital health will compound the very problems it promises to solve.

The persistent gender gap
Every health conference now has a femtech track, and the growth of the sector is exciting. But the fact remains: most of the agenda still centres on men’s health by default, with women’s health siloed to a sub-category. Funding gaps, censorship on social media platforms, and the lack of innovation in areas like birth continue to hold back progress. Change here will require not just new products, but a cultural shift in how women’s health is valued and represented. I look forward to ThreeTenSeven continuing to support female founders and the most promising femtech innovations.

In summary: health innovation is moving fast, but investment, regulation, data, and gender all shape the environment in which it succeeds or fails. For agencies, investors, and start-ups alike, that means recognising that brand and communications aren’t cosmetic — they are central to credibility, adoption, and equity.