Advancing Women’s Health Through Collaboration, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

By SBE Council at 22 October, 2026, 9:33 pm

White House initiative connects government, researchers, and private-sector innovators to accelerate discoveries and improve women's health outcomes.

By Karen Kerrigan -

On October 19, I had the opportunity to attend the White House signing ceremony for President Donald Trump's executive order, Advancing Women's Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life, an initiative championed by First Lady Melania Trump.

As someone who has spent decades advocating for small businesses and entrepreneurs, pushing for reforms to make healthcare more accessible, and implementing education initiatives and projects dedicated to improving the health and wellness of my local community, I see tremendous potential in this initiative - not only for improving women's health, but also for accelerating innovation and expanding entrepreneurial opportunity.

It's encouraging that the Administration is addressing longstanding gaps in women's health research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Addressing Gaps and Advancing Solutions

The executive order establishes a new Women's Health Division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a White House Women's Health Task Force to coordinate federal efforts. The initiative recognizes that conditions disproportionately or uniquely affecting women - such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, endometriosis, chronic pain, osteoporosis, menopause-related challenges, among others - often receive insufficient research and clinical attention.

The executive order also emphasizes translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions, better care, and improved outcomes throughout women's lives.

Women Entrepreneurs Are Already Leading the Way

Across America, women entrepreneurs, medical professionals, researchers, and innovators are developing solutions to address these challenges. Their presence in health-related businesses is substantial. According to Census Bureau data for 2023 (released November 2025), women owned approximately 40.7% of classifiable employer firms in health care and social assistance, compared with 23.8% across all industries.

Women-owned businesses are particularly prominent in FemTech, personalized health services, holistic and wellness focused services, home health care, solo medical practices, and various other health-related fields. In fact, healthcare is the fastest-growing sector for women-owned firms with a growth rate of 151%.

And increasingly, women innovators are developing biotechnology products, specialized diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and new approaches to preventive care. Many are responding to unmet needs they have experienced firsthand and developing solutions for conditions and challenges that traditional approaches have overlooked.

From Research to Commercialization: The Entrepreneurial Opportunity

An important aspect of the White House initiative is its emphasis on accelerating the translation of research into treatments and technologies that benefit patients. The executive order connects the expertise and resources of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), other key federal agencies, research institutions, entrepreneurs, and private-sector innovators in order to break down silos and accelerate the development and commercialization of promising discoveries.

For entrepreneurs and startups, a supportive innovation-ecosystem is necessary. One that protects intellectual property (IP), encourages private investment, unlocks capital, and removes outdated or unnecessary regulatory barriers.

Of course, strong IP protections are critical. The Bayh-Dole framework, which allows universities, small businesses and other research institutions to retain rights to inventions arising from federally funded research, has long helped move discoveries from laboratories into the marketplace. Preserving these incentives and strengthening the protection of innovators' IP is essential to advancing not only women's health solutions, but innovative therapies and medical technologies for all healthcare consumers and patients.

The Trump Administration's broader economic policies also support the broader initiative. For example, the "Working Families Tax Cuts Act" restored immediate expensing for domestic research and development and significantly expanded investment incentives. Ongoing regulatory modernization efforts by the Administration will help reduce costs and encourage the risk-taking necessary to bring new medical technologies and treatments to market.

These policies are particularly important for startups and smaller biotechnology firms, where research costs are substantial, development timelines are lengthy, and access to significant sources of capital can determine whether a promising discovery reaches the market.

Turning Opportunity into Results

As the Women's Health Task Force moves forward, we are hopeful that entrepreneurs and small businesses will have a meaningful seat at the table. Their experience, ingenuity, and practical insights can help shape research priorities, regulatory improvements, and public-private partnerships.

Affordable access to health coverage and care must also remain a priority. Scientific breakthroughs deliver their greatest value when women can access and benefit from them.

The executive order is a timely initiative. With sustained commitment along with the ingenuity of America's entrepreneurs and innovators, this important focus can lead to meaningful outcomes for women's health, economic opportunity, and improved care.

Karen Kerrigan is President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and a certified health and wellness coach.