Prickly Pear Health to Reveal Women’s Brain Health Breakthrough at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

Prickly Pear Health is set to unveil a groundbreaking innovation in women’s brain health at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, introducing a voice-first AI companion designed to support women navigating hormonal changes that impact cognitive function. The platform represents a significant advancement in personalized healthcare technology, specifically addressing the unique biological needs that have historically been overlooked in medical research and product development.

Iman Clark, founder and CEO of Prickly Pear Health, traces her inspiration back nearly a decade. After relocating from Tunisia to pursue graduate studies in the United States, she joined a company developing gamified therapeutic experiences for individuals with neurodegenerative conditions. Through this work, she observed that elderly patients typically managed multiple chronic conditions simultaneously, presenting complex care challenges. Her perspective shifted dramatically when research revealed that women constitute approximately 70% of all Alzheimer’s patients.

Further investigation uncovered additional disparities: women face double the risk of depression and anxiety diagnoses and are three to four times more likely to experience migraines. Clark recognized that these statistics pointed to a fundamental problem in healthcare. “We’re not accounting for women’s distinct biology, and that oversight carries tremendous costs in both human lives and healthcare dollars,” she explained.

This realization sparked the creation of Prickly Pear Health, which offers medical support specifically for women’s brain health. The platform serves as an AI-powered companion for women aged 30 to 50, helping them manage the hormonal fluctuations that affect cognitive well-being. Users record brief voice reflections throughout their day, and the company’s proprietary technology analyzes language patterns and context to monitor cognitive changes over time.

The system integrates data from popular health trackers including Apple Health, Oura, and Garmin, incorporating metrics like sleep quality and heart rate variability to deliver personalized health insights. This comprehensive approach enables women to better understand and manage their wellbeing.

Clark initially conducted focus groups at Arizona State University, where she discovered that women in their late 30s to early 50s frequently reported symptoms like brain fog and mental fatigue. Many didn’t connect these symptoms to hormonal changes, menopause, or underlying health issues until their 60s. “Women often face dismissal or misdiagnosis when symptoms like cognitive fog, mood changes, or irregular cycles first emerge,” Clark noted. “These midlife years are crucial for brain health, yet conventional healthcare frequently misses the connections.”

The company’s distinctive name emerged from Clark’s fascination with desert cacti, particularly their ability to thrive in harsh conditions while producing nourishing fruit. “The prickly pear fruit that grows on cactus trees became our symbol of joyful resilience, flourishing despite challenging circumstances,” she shared.

Clark distinguishes her platform from existing menopause applications, which she characterizes as primarily symptom trackers. “While understanding symptoms matters, those approaches remain reactive. Our technology aims to detect changes proactively,” she emphasized.

Securing $350,000 in pre-seed funding proved challenging, particularly as a woman of color in the startup ecosystem. “We had to achieve such excellence that we became impossible to overlook,” Clark reflected. She built relationships with potential investors well before seeking funding, following the adage that “requesting advice often leads to business opportunities, while directly asking for business sometimes yields only advice.”

Friends encouraged Clark to apply for TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield, advising her to confidently showcase her company among the newest startups pitching at the competition. “Disrupt represents the premier platform for innovative concepts,” Clark stated. She looks forward to highlighting women’s brain health needs, learning from fellow entrepreneurs, and connecting with investors and partners who recognize that women’s health innovation represents healthcare’s future rather than a niche market.

A free version of Prickly Pear Health launched in May, with a premium offering scheduled for October release to coincide with both Mental Health Awareness Month and Menopause Awareness Month. The company will demonstrate its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27-29 in San Francisco.

(Source: TechCrunch)