In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Sam Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Amissa Health, to unpack the massive gaps in women’s healthcare, the business opportunity behind menopause care, and the reality of building a startup in an industry most people still feel uncomfortable talking about.Angela and Sam dive deep into the emotional reality of entrepreneurship, startup failure, fundraising as a female founder, healthcare innovation, AI in medicine, the hidden burden women carry in leadership, and why the future of healthcare depends on better data, better workflows, and better listening.They also explore the business case for women’s health, why symptom tracking matters, how healthcare systems are failing both patients and clinicians, and what founders need to understand about resilience, timing, and learning through failure.Learn More About Sam Smith:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amissa_inc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-c-smith52415/Website: www.amissa.com Mentioned in this Episode: Seed the South: https://www.seedthesouth.com/ Techstars AI Health BaltimoreNIH (National Institutes of Health)Epic SystemsOura RingMenopause Society certification (formerly NAMS)Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM)The discussion also tackles questions…Why is women’s health historically underfunded and overlooked?What are the most common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause?How can wearable data improve menopause care?Why do so many women struggle to get diagnosed during menopause?How does symptom tracking help doctors make better decisions?Why are healthcare startups so difficult to build?What do investors look for in healthcare startups?What is it really like to raise money as a female founder?How can AI and wearable technology improve healthcare outcomes?Why do so many startups fail even when the idea is strong?What lessons do entrepreneurs learn from failure?How do healthcare systems handle menopause care today?Why are women leaving the workforce during menopause?What makes a good founder or startup leader?How can founders protect their mental health during high-growth periods?Why is timing so important in startups and innovation?What role does data play in improving patient care?How can clinicians better support women navigating menopause?Themes:Entrepreneurship & startup resilienceWomen’s health innovationMenopause & perimenopause careHealthcare technology & AIWearable data & symptom trackingStartup failure & rebuildingFemale founders & fundraisingLeadership under pressureHealthcare system inefficienciesFounder mental healthProduct-market timingData-driven healthcareHealthcare workflow innovationBuilding mission-driven companiesThe business opportunity in women’s healthLeadership, motherhood, and ambitionHealthcare accessibility & patient advocacyProductionProduced by: The AGN GroupHost: Angela Gill NelmsProducer: Katie HartTagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.comAbout The AGN Group:At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.Social Media Channels:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2Want to be a Podcast Guest?If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/

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