Founder spotlight: Rachel Bartholomew on advancing femtech and women’s health

For Global Entrepreneurship Week, we're spotlighting some incredible University of Waterloo entrepreneurs making a difference for humanity and our world.

Rachel Bartholomew (MBET '14) is founder and CEO of Hyivy, a femtech startup focused on creating therapeutic and remote monitoring devices for gynecological conditions with the mission to transform women's health care with modern innovations. She is also founder and a lead advisor for Femtech Canada, an advocacy organization for women working in the innovation space.

Bartholomew, a Waterloo alum from the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, shares her entrepreneurial journey and how her experiences shaped the company.

What's your elevator pitch for Hyivy?

Hyivy is creating the first remote therapeutic and monitoring device for gynecological conditions that one in three women will face in their lifetime. Our device targets issues such as pelvic floor conditions, various cancers and chronic illnesses. It's fully remote, so patients can use it at home, and the data is sent through our mobile app to a system that clinicians can access. Think of it like a CPAP machine, but for gynecology.

What inspired you to start Hyivy, and how did your experience at the University of Waterloo influence your entrepreneurial journey?

Hyivy was born from my own experience with cervical cancer at age 28. The standard care for gynecological cancers is about 84 years old, so I felt it was time for innovation.

My journey at Waterloo, while doing my master's, set the foundation for my entrepreneurial mindset. I didn't want to take the traditional MBA route. Instead, I opted for the MBET, which at the time was one of the only entrepreneurship programs in this space. My first company helped me learn the ropes of incubators, startups and innovation - which eventually led me to start Hyivy.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a founder, and how did you overcome them?

One of the hardest parts is sharing your vision early on and being confident. Getting feedback, even criticism, can be scary, but it's essential. Since I don't have a medical or tech background, navigating both worlds was a steep learning curve. Regulatory challenges, quality control and manufacturing for a med-tech device are daunting, but having a strong team and validating assumptions through research helped us move forward.

How has your vision for Hyivy evolved since its inception, and where do you see the company going in the next five years?

Initially, we were just focusing on a therapeutic device and were considering going direct to consumers. However, after researching and speaking to clinicians and patients, we pivoted towards making it a medical device with remote monitoring capabilities. In the next five years, we aim to bring our product to market after clinical trials, improve access to care and dive deeper into the data we collect to enhance diagnostic capabilities and provide more personalized solutions for complex cases.

How has your experience as a founder and participation in incubator programs influenced your approach to building Hyivy?

My experiences with my previous startup and working in corporate roles have taught me that people are at the core of every business. Communication and relationship building are key. Whether you're an introvert or extrovert, you must talk to people, listen and solve the right problems. Over time, I've grown into this mindset, which has greatly influenced how I lead Hyivy.

We've gone through several programs, including Velocity at Waterloo, Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) and others like mHUB. Velocity's hands-off but supportive approach was great when we needed guidance, while CDL was intense. They both pushed Hyivy to really hone in on our strategy. These programs helped us gain investors, get international reach and depth and navigate the complexities of scaling a health-tech startup.

Can you talk a bit about your work with Femtech Canada?

Femtech Canada supports Canadian innovators in women's health by providing resources and fostering collaboration. Co-founding Femtech Canada stemmed from my experience with Hyivy, where I faced barriers in the women's health sector. This motivated me to create a community for entrepreneurs to collaborate and advocate for more investment in femtech. Currently, Femtech Canada is petitioning for government funding to boost innovation in this space.

Bartholomew's work with Hyivy reflects the resilience needed to drive change in health tech. Her Waterloo background and dedication have positioned both Hyivy and Femtech Canada to reshape women's health care globally. Health care is rapidly evolving, driven by innovative technologies. At Waterloo, fostering disruptive advancements is in our DNA, which is why we're proud to host the Digital Health Summit 2025, uniting thought leaders, researchers and innovators to shape the future of health care.

Following Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Tech Horizons Executive Forum will equip senior leaders with the insights and strategies needed to stay ahead in a tech-driven business world.

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