Startups
pHeraIn 2026, vaginal pH is still measured by eye using litmus paper, a 14th century invention. In the 1980s, vaginal pH above 4.5 was labelled “unhealthy” based on studies of mostly white women, yet we now know higher pH is normal for many women of colour. These outdated pH tests cause high misdiagnosis of conditions like vaginal infections, PCOS, and menopause.
We are building pHera to change that, an ultra-precise, smartphone-readable vaginal pH test designed to reduce diagnostic errors, minimize unnecessary antibiotics, and generate good-quality data for women’s health research.
🧑🤝🧑 We are looking for people to grow the team!
Areas especially seeking support:
💻 App/web development
📈 Business development
🎨 Branding, communications, and marketing
💰 Fundraising and grant strategy
⚖️ Regulatory affairs and compliance
🤝 B2B outreach or partnerships
The founder, Valerie Masete, completed her PhD in HIV research at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and her master’s in Bacterial Vaginosis research at the University of Cape Town
pHera is also supported by team members with expertise in UX design, web development and AI. You don’t need a background in vaginal health - just a drive to help build smarter, more inclusive diagnostics!
📩 Are you interested in collaborating, or just chatting?
Email: valeriemasete@phera.digital
We are building pHera to change that, an ultra-precise, smartphone-readable vaginal pH test designed to reduce diagnostic errors, minimize unnecessary antibiotics, and generate good-quality data for women’s health research.
🧑🤝🧑 We are looking for people to grow the team!
Areas especially seeking support:
💻 App/web development
📈 Business development
🎨 Branding, communications, and marketing
💰 Fundraising and grant strategy
⚖️ Regulatory affairs and compliance
🤝 B2B outreach or partnerships
The founder, Valerie Masete, completed her PhD in HIV research at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and her master’s in Bacterial Vaginosis research at the University of Cape Town
pHera is also supported by team members with expertise in UX design, web development and AI. You don’t need a background in vaginal health - just a drive to help build smarter, more inclusive diagnostics!
📩 Are you interested in collaborating, or just chatting?
Email: valeriemasete@phera.digital