AIP Seed invests 1 million PLN in “Ona”, the AI-powered femtech app
Category: Investment / FemTech / Artificial Intelligence Tags: FemTech, Healthtech, AI
Polish startup “Ona” secures nearly 1 million PLN from AIP Seed to transform women’s hormonal health diagnostics with AI
In a major step forward for Poland’s growing FemTech sector, AIP Seed has invested nearly 1 million PLN in Ona, a next-generation mobile application that uses artificial intelligence to support women in identifying and managing hormonal health issues. The investment reflects both a strategic bet on personalized health technology and an urgent push to close the diagnostic gender gap — a challenge that continues to undermine health outcomes for millions of women globally.
Co-founded by Tomasz Bachosz, a Forbes 25 under 25 laureate and Y Combinator alum, and Wojciech Basiński, co-founder of Warsaw Startup Club, Ona is not just another menstrual tracking app. It is a machine-learning–enhanced diagnostic companion, trained on the latest clinical research and vetted by medical experts like Lara Briden, renowned author and women’s health specialist, and Katarzyna Bednarska, a practicing gynecologist.
“80% of women will experience significant hormonal disruptions in their lifetime,” said Bachosz. “Yet diagnostic delays often stretch for years. Ona is here to change that — not by replacing doctors, but by helping women gather and understand the data that leads to better conversations with them.”
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Beyond Cycles: AI for Health Autonomy
Unlike many cycle-tracking tools that simply record menstruation dates, Ona uses AI to analyze symptoms, mood changes, nutrition data, and physical responses to identify possible patterns consistent with disorders like PCOS, thyroid imbalances, endometriosis, and others. Users receive personalized recommendations — all rooted in peer-reviewed clinical research — and nudges when it may be time to consult a physician.
“This is not AI as hype,” said Basiński. “This is AI as empathy. We built Ona to listen to the symptoms women often feel ignored about — pain, fatigue, anxiety — and structure those into actionable insight.”
Each insight is reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of women’s health professionals, and the app makes clear it does not deliver formal diagnoses. Rather, it empowers users with context-rich, medically grounded documentation, which significantly enhances the clinical consultation experience.
A Strategic Bet on FemTech’s Rise
The timing of AIP Seed’s investment aligns with a surge in global FemTech growth. The market, valued at $18 billion in 2019, surged past $50 billion by 2021, and is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030, according to industry analysts.
“Ona fits squarely into one of the most promising frontiers of AI and MedTech,” said Dariusz Żuk, founder of AIP Seed. “It’s not just a healthtech product; it’s a social corrective. We believe Tomasz and Wojtek are building something truly transformative — and long overdue.”
Joining the round is Jarek Oleszczuk, a physician-turned-executive who has held senior roles at AbbVie, AstraZeneca, and Novartis, and co-founded biotech ventures such as ExploRNA and nCage Therapeutics. His involvement provides both validation and strategic depth in navigating regulatory, R&D, and pharma partnerships.
Why This Matters
Studies show that less than 4% of global pharmaceutical R&D is directed at diseases uniquely or predominantly affecting women. Conditions like endometriosis, despite impacting 1 in 10 women, take an average of 7 to 10 years to diagnose. This systemic neglect has fostered a culture of silence, dismissal, and misinformation.
“For years, women were told to ‘toughen up’ or ‘stop overreacting.’ Ona is about reclaiming data, language, and control,” added Bachosz. “The AI helps translate feelings into patterns — and patterns into action.”
User feedback from early testers underscores its value: “My doctor was impressed by the symptom logs” and “Finally, someone — even an AI — who doesn’t dismiss my pain.”
What’s Next
Ona is now available on App Store and Google Play, and the team is actively expanding its partnerships with universities and health clinics to improve data quality and train models on more nuanced hormonal pathways. There are also plans to integrate genomic data, wearable sensor input, and real-time chat with health advisors in future versions. The team is also exploring regulatory approval as a digital health device — a move that would elevate the app’s standing in the clinical ecosystem and open the door to insurance reimbursements and public health integration.
Final Thought
At a time when AI’s role in healthcare is being hotly debated, Ona offers a model that is both scientifically rigorous and socially aware. It doesn’t promise to replace doctors, but to augment the system — beginning with one of its most underserved populations.
As Poland’s FemTech ecosystem matures, Ona may well become a flagship product, showcasing how AI can heal not just bodies, but decades of diagnostic neglect.
