Announcing Alfa Charlie's 2026 WomanKind Grant Winners

Choosing winners is hard when the work is this good.

This year, we received over 50 applications for the WomanKind Grant, our second year offering this design partnership to femtech founders building solutions the world desperately needs. Every application represented someone pouring their energy into closing gaps that shouldn't exist in the first place. Gaps in care, in data, in understanding women's bodies. Gaps that cost lives, health, and time.

We couldn't pick just one. So we didn't.

Our 2026 WomanKind Grant Winner: Incora Health

Incora Health is redefining what health tracking looks like for women and what it's designed to do.

Founded by Dr. Lindsey Calcutt, a biomedical engineer, and Theresa Gevaert, a journalist, Incora created the first smart earrings that track core health metrics from the ear. It delivers more accurate, cycle-aware insights without compromising between looking good and getting real data.

Their mission is bigger than the tech itself. Incora exists to dismantle the silence and systemic neglect that have defined women's healthcare for too long. They're building technology actually designed for women's bodies, not adapted from men's. And they're doing it with elegance, so women don't have to choose between style and science.

We chose Incora for their women-first approach, the momentum they've built, and the clarity of their vision. We're excited to partner with them as they step into this next stage of growth and help them build a brand that matches the impact of what they're creating.

Our 2026 Micro-Grant Recipients

Because the caliber of applications was so strong, we're also proud to recognize two micro-grant recipients whose work stood out in ways we couldn't ignore.

Viable Biosciences – Cara Wells, Founder

Cara is advancing technology to improve IVF outcomes, and her path to get there is as unconventional as it is brilliant.

When she had the idea to evaluate embryo health using real-time video with machine learning, she knew it would require massive amounts of data. So she started in the cattle industry: an accessible market with no regulatory barriers, abundant data for training models, and a strong biological parallel to human IVF. It worked. Her company, EmGenisys, improved pregnancy outcomes in cattle IVF from 20% to 80%, depending on application.

That success gave her proof of concept. Now, she's working with five human IVF labs to begin training human embryo models. She created Viable Biosciences as a subsidiary to market human IVF products when the time comes. This brand is in its infancy, and the challenge ahead is translating her cattle success into a credible, compelling presence in human reproductive health.

We're here to help her do exactly that.

Wavelet – Liz Golden, Founder

Liz is on a mission to reduce unnecessary C-sections and address the maternal mortality crisis.

Wavelet provides non-invasive, continuous fetal EEG monitoring, giving clinicians and expectant mothers clearer insight into fetal well-being. The goal is to enable earlier, safer, and more informed decisions during pregnancy and delivery—improving outcomes for both mother and baby.

By detecting fetal neurological issues earlier and more accurately, Wavelet helps clinicians make evidence-based decisions that reduce unnecessary interventions. The device is designed to be comfortable and accessible, aiming to reduce stress for mothers and, over time, expand access to high-quality fetal monitoring for populations with limited prenatal care.

This is life-saving work. And it deserves a brand that reflects the gravity and promise of what Liz is building.

Why We Do This

These founders have the vision and the drive. They're deep in the work of building actual solutions. But there often isn't bandwidth left to step back and craft the story that will help their innovations reach the people who need them most.

That's where we step in. Strong branding ensures that the people who need these innovations can find them. And that investors, hospitals, and communities take notice.

What's Next

Over the next three months, we'll be working closely with Incora Health, Viable Biosciences, and Wavelet to build brands that match the power of what they're creating.

To every founder who applied this year: thank you. Your work matters.