All Ripple Challenges are powered by Cogniss, a no-code platform that’s designed specifically to create patient support and therapeutic apps. From learning modules and consent forms to surveys, tracking and notifications, the most common features needed to build patient-facing solutions already exist within the platform. These features can be combined and configured to deliver highly purpose-built apps.

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Ripple Women’s Digital Health Challenge 2025

The Women’s Digital Health Challenge 2025 aims to accelerate the development of patient-facing digital health solutions that address urgent priorities in women’s health. Delivered by Cogniss, the Health Innovation Network and Amazon Web Services (AWS), the 12-month programme will support a global cohort of innovators to build pilot-ready women’s health apps without code, supported with pathways to NHS adoption.

For too long, women’s health has been under-researched, under-funded and underserved. Until the 1990s, women were systematically underrepresented in clinical trials in the UK and globally, leaving diagnosis, treatment and dosing often based on male physiology. Despite women’s unique biology, social experiences and reproductive roles, their health has not received equal attention.
That is beginning to change, as national strategies prioritise women’s health and global organisations like the WHO and the Gates Foundation drive progress. Ripple is proud to be part of this movement, creating pathways for digital innovation that deliver tangible change.
Did you know?
- Women today remain 50% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack.
- Menopause and menstrual symptoms push 23% of working women to consider leaving their jobs.
- Between 10% and 20% of women experience postpartum depression.
- Adverse drug reactions affect women up to twice as often as men.

Meet the Cohort that’s shaping women’s health

The Ripple Women's Digital Health Challenge has selected a Cohort of 26, including clinicians, researchers and public health specialists, each building patient-facing tools that address the most overlooked gaps in women's health. From severe pregnancy sickness and menstrual wellbeing for women with ADHD to menopause support for South Asian communities and breast health awareness for Black women.

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Meet the winners

NVP Minds

University of Oxford
Associate Professor Fiona Challacombe and her team are working on NVP Minds, a support app for women experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition characterised by severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The app will feature wellbeing and symptom monitoring, psychoeducation, evidence-based techniques, and peer support to to address mental health needs during an HG-affected pregnancy.
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HearHer

University of Bath
Dr. Faith Martin is building HearHer, a maternal mental wellbeing app to support more than 2 million mothers in the UK who are caring for children with mental health or developmental challenges. The app will provide evidence-based, personalised psychological support during critical gaps in care, helping mothers to sustain their own wellbeing while supporting their children.
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“Closing these gaps in women's health is key. It is unacceptable that so many women are waiting too long for the care they need, and we are changing this through renewing the Women’s Health Strategy. Through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are also making access to severe morning sickness (HG) medications easier, ending the postcode lottery of treatment. What is so encouraging about the winning solutions is that they bring frontline clinical insight, lived experience and academic rigour together to address real, persistent gaps in care through digital solutions. I am excited to see these solutions coming to life and reaching women that need them.”

— Baroness Gillian Merron, Women’s Health Minister of the United Kingdom

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Delivery partners

Cogniss is a no-code ecosystem that enables healthcare experts and organsations to create advanced patient-facing digital health apps. No coding or design skills required. Its unique point-and-click interface empowers health innovators to build tailored apps, at a fraction of the time and cost required by code-based development.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the trusted technology and innovation partner to the global healthcare and life sciences industry, providing unmatched reliability, security, and data privacy. AWS for Healthcare & Life Sciences provides an offering of AWS services and AWS Partner solutions used by thousands of customers globally.

Health Innovation Network (HIN) is the innovation arm of the NHS, dedicated to improving health outcomes by accelerating the adoption of proven innovations. With deep expertise in evaluation, pathways and health system integration, HIN supports innovators to pilot and scale, and embed solutions into real-world care.

SomX is a leading healthtech communications agency, specialising in strategy, media, design and events. With deep expertise in health innovation, SomX helps founders and organisations tell their story, reach the right audiences, and build engagement to accelerate adoption of technology and amplify their impact.

This programme is further supported by a number of national and regional organisations that have committed to amplifying the reach and impact of this programme. Learn more.

Judging panel

Dr Lale Say

Head of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Integration in Health Systems, World Health Organization (WHO)
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Helen Thomas

CEO, Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
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Tobias Croft

Head of Innovation - Health, Chief Scientist Office, The Scottish Government
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Dr Marina Gerner

Award-winning journalist | Author, The Vagina Business
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Steph Potts

Head of Portfolio, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber
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Jenna Lee

Chief Product Officer, Cogniss
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Kira Levy

Head of Healthcare UK, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
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Jessica Somauroo

Cofounder & CXO, SomX
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