Could it be that menopause is finally getting its day in the sun? On this episode of the Busine$$ of the V, Dr. Dweck and Rachel showcase the latest example of a femtech product addressing a massive, never-ending, recession-proof market opportunity. Liz Gazda, CEO of Embr Labs, is introducing us to a therapeutic device that disrupts hot flashes at the touch of a button. It’s a welcome solution for menopausal women, who spend an average $2,000 per year on various treatments to ease persistent symptoms.

This conversation underscores the significant loss of productivity associated with women suffering chronic menopausal issues. At what should be the peak of their careers, many are sidelined by a pain cycle with very real social and economic repercussions. The Embr Wave, however, offers a non-invasive alternative that has been a game changer already for more than 100,000 customers in 170 countries.

Liz explains how the thermo-receptor technology was developed, why it differs from other wearable devices and whether we can expect to see its price point come down in the future. We also learn about the specific process through which the Embr Wave disrupts hot flashes by sending a burst of cold through neural pathways uniquely designed to block pain. It essentially breaks the cycles of anxiety and cortisol spiking that compromise sleep and otherwise slow women down.

About 70% of women struggle an average of 7.4 years with untreated menopausal symptoms. It’s a huge, huge market with voracious demand, no expiration date and outsized buying power. With Liz at the helm, Embr Labs is going to be one of the femtech innovators to watch in the years ahead!

Watch the Interview with Liz Gazda, CEO Of Embr Labs

Topics Discussed with Elizabeth Gazda of Embr Labs

Why are 70% of women wrestling with menopausal symptoms lasting an average 7.4 years?

• The result of trans-generational taboos around the subject.
• Women tend to be stoic and just power through the discomfort.
• Menstrual pain and childbirth condition women to suffer in silence.
• Only one in five OB-GYNs are trained in menopause.

How the Embr Wave Works

• Activate the device at the onset of a hot flash (sometimes a sort of aura).
• Deploy manually with the push of a button or through an app.
• A flash of cold is immediately emitted and communicates an impulse that can stop hot flashes in their tracks.
• The device offers different modes, including one for overnight that runs in a slow, prophylactic cooling cycle that’s effective against night sweats and insomnia.
• The Embr Wave has gone from being a cool high-tech gadget to a multi-dimensional response to myriad menopausal symptoms with some 100,000 customers to date in 170 countries.

Is the Embr Wave Expensive?

• Although relatively expensive now, it’s early.
• As further iterations go to market, the price point will come down.
• There’s a possibility of moving to a subscription-based pricing model.

HOT FLASH: Some 20% of the American workforce is in menopause. Think about the productivity loss as a result of related symptoms!

What Customers Are Saying About the Embr Wave:

• I got my life back!
• I slept through the night for the first time in years.
• I saved my job!

An unrelenting pain cycle taking women out when they should be at the height of their careers: Hot flashes trigger anxiety which triggers cortisol spikes that impact sleep and other basic functions.

Who Else Can Benefit From Embr Wave Technology

• Men going through prostate cancer treatment.
• Women going through breast cancer treatment.
• People suffering symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.
• People with Raynaud’s Syndrome.

Does the Embr Wave replace traditional therapies for hot flashes and night sweats, such as hormone therapy, anti-depressants or herbal supplements? Could be an adjunct or replacement in cases where other treatments aren’t well tolerated.

Is menopause finally having its moment? We think so! Liz has seen investment and a higher profile drive a trend line from digital therapeutics to femtech to what was the white space known as menopause.

What are your thoughts on this one of a kind technology disrupting hot flashes for women in menopause?