Harvard Neuroscientist Built a Hairband to relieve menstrual pain & PMS

90% of Women Need This  and No One Built It Until Now.

For decades, the standard PMS “treatment” has been:
💊 Take a painkiller and push through.

London Tech Week was in full swing: a blur of innovation, panels, and back-to-back networking. In the middle of it all, Devi, our London-based Head of Partnerships, and I jumped on the Tube, bound for Emilė’s office.

It was one of those “no overthinking, we’re making this happen” days. And that’s exactly the energy this episode brings.

I’ve spent my entire life popping painkillers to get through period headaches, trying everything anyone ever told me might help (even eating carrots every day ) because someone in India swore it would work. I was even considering Botox and many women use it for headache relief. It could help if your period headaches are frequent and severe, but it’s not a first-line treatment. Doctors usually recommend it only for chronic migraine when headaches occur 15 or more days a month and typically after other preventive treatments have been tried, ideally under the guidance of a specialist.

And then… I finally came across a drug-free approach that every woman should know exists.

Meet Emilė Radytė a Lithuanian-born neuroscientist, Harvard and Oxford alum, and founder of Samphire Neuroscience. 

Emilė is pioneering a new wave in women’s health with Nettle, the world’s first wearable brain-stimulation device designed to relieve menstrual pain and PMS. Backed by the NHS and recognized by Forbes, Nettle is part of a wellness tech revolution reshaping healthcare as we know it.

This non-invasive brain stimulation targets menstrual pain and mood symptoms. Unlike traditional painkillers or temporary fixes, Nettle addresses the root of the problem. Emilė explains it’s like giving your brain the tools to manage pain naturally, a concept that feels revolutionary for a space long dominated by pills and patches.

Nettle comes with a 90-day return guarantee and personalized plans, ensuring women get real results, not just promises. It’s about trust, science, and empowerment.

The problem she is solving :  

The market Emilė is entering isn’t just underserved, it’s massively undervalued😀

• Up to 90% of women experience menstrual pain.

• Over 30% say it’s debilitating, affecting work, focus, and life quality.

• That translates to $9B in lost productivity annually—and that’s a conservative estimate.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and PMDD aren’t just minor annoyances; they're part of a $1 trillion global productivity crisis that’s been largely ignored. 

The market Opportunity 

Women are investing in their health more than ever. Think of the booming wellness tech market LED masks, Dyson airwarps, wearable fitness trackers, skintech apps. Emilė points out that the same energy women put into these products should and can be redirected toward science-backed solutions for menstrual health.

Women’s health remains largely untapped despite high demand. Historically, research favored male biology because women’s health was considered “complex” with multiple interacting cycles (menstrual, circadian, gestational, perimenopausal). But as Emilė notes, science and tech have matured enough to tackle these harder problems, opening a frontier that’s been waiting for innovation.

Let this be your reminder this week:

To every young woman dreaming of changing the world through science and tech: Back yourself. Don’t accept the status quo. Passion, energy, and proactiveness open more doors than you imagine. Yes, constraints exist, but they should never define your potential.

This isn’t just a story about a headband or a tech startup. It’s about reclaiming control over women’s health, challenging outdated norms, and creating solutions that actually work. Whether you’re a FemTech founder, an investor, or someone tired of suffering in silence every month, this is the episode and this is the moment you need to know about.

Full episode highlights : 

• How Nettle works and how it’s different from traditional pain relief methods. 

• Botox for period migraines - myth or solution.

• The real impact of PMS on productivity.

• The rise of wellness tech and why women are investing in their own health more than ever 

• Natural ways to cope with the PMS

• Why PMS and menstrual pain demand better solutions and how brain stimulation offers new hope. 

• Why women’s health has been historically overlooked and how that’s changing. 

  DISCLAIMER: The content presented in this podcast is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It's always advisable to consult with your doctor or qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 

About the Guest

Emilė Radytė is a Harvard- and Oxford-trained neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder & CEO of Samphire Neuroscience. In 2021, she launched Samphire to address women’s brain and reproductive health, leading the development of Nettle™, a CE-certified neuromodulation headband that relieves menstrual pain and mood symptoms. Recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 (Healthcare, 2024) list and winner of Medical Innovation of the Year at Medica 2024, Emilė has raised over $7M in funding to scale Samphire globally and is redefining women’s health through science-driven, non-invasive solutions.

And hey, if this sparked an idea or made you think differently, share it with someone who needs to hear it. 💬✨

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