Ovum raises AUD $4 million to expand women's health app

Ovum has raised AUD $4 million in seed funding, led by Admiralty Capital Group.

The Melbourne women's health startup will use the funding to grow its team and expand its longitudinal women's health dataset. Other investors included Antler, Giant Leap, Aviron Investments, Foggy Valley Aotearoa, Brisbane Angels and Think & Grow, while LaunchVic increased its backing through The Alice Anderson Fund.

The raise comes a year after Ovum secured AUD $1.7 million in pre-seed funding. Its valuation has tripled since that earlier round.

Founded by Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks, Ovum is developing an AI-based women's health journal that brings together symptoms, lifestyle information, biometrics, reproductive health records, medications, appointments and medical reports. The system creates a longitudinal record that can generate health summaries and questions for medical appointments.

Since launching in August 2025, the business has recorded more than 20,000 downloads, captured 60,000 women's health data insights and handled more than 113,000 AI health conversations. Users range in age from 15 to 84.

Ovum is focused on what it sees as a major shortfall in women's health research and treatment. It argues the issue extends beyond healthcare, affecting workforce participation, productivity and broader economic output.

The company has also pursued commercial traction through partnerships. It signed Medibank before launching its product and has since added Fernwood Fitness, Sweat, Menopause Friendly Australia and a pilot with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.

Investor view

Amanda Andriano, Founding Partner, Admiralty Capital Group, outlined the investment case for the startup.

"The most compelling companies are often built around problems society has learned to tolerate but should never have accepted. The gender health gap is one of those problems. Ovum combines mission, market timing and technical capability with an exceptional founder uniquely positioned to lead this movement, and we believe that creates the foundation for a company of global significance," said Amanda Andriano, Founding Partner, Admiralty Capital Group.

Heffernan-Marks said the company grew out of her experience as both a doctor and a patient. While studying medicine, she struggled with chronic migraines and felt her symptoms were dismissed.

That experience shaped the product's focus on helping women record health information over time and prepare for clinical conversations. Ovum said 83% of users have agreed to share anonymised data for research.

"I've sat on both sides of the desk, as a patient and as a doctor, and that's why this mission matters so much to me," said Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks, Founder, Ovum.

"For too long, women have had to navigate healthcare systems that were not designed around their lived experiences or backed by sufficient female health data. Ovum exists to help women better understand their bodies, advocate for themselves with confidence, and contribute to research that improves care for future generations.

"This raise allows us to scale that mission responsibly by getting Ovum into the hands of more women and continuing to build a trusted platform grounded in clinical integrity, privacy and consent."

Clinical research

Earlier this year, the startup began clinical trials with St George Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Women. The research is examining how women manage their health, which digital tools they use and how AI may affect health confidence, self-advocacy and continuity of care.

Privacy and consent are central to Ovum's data collection model. Shared information is encrypted and protected to standards including GDPR and SOC 2 II.

The startup also runs a Pay It Forward model that lets users gift access to others. Memberships under that scheme will be provided to women at the Royal Hospital for Women and Pink Elephants who face financial or access barriers.

User feedback in the announcement pointed to demand for tools that help women organise health information and prepare for care. One user said the app had improved her understanding of her body and helped her manage work and mental health.

Australia's digital health sector has attracted growing investor interest, but women's health remains a relatively small segment despite longstanding concerns about underdiagnosis, delayed treatment and poor representation in medical data. Ovum's backers are betting that a product built around personal health records, consented data sharing, and employer and insurer partnerships can carve out a larger place in that market.

Ovum said 83% of users have opted in to share anonymised data to support research aimed at improving understanding, treatment and care for women.