Femtech: The Future is Sexy

Podcast Summary

• Exploring Pleasure and Intimacy in Summer: Discover tools like Promescent's delay spray and warming arousal gel, the magic wand sex toy, and Femtech innovations to enhance pleasure and intimacy during summer.

  Summer is the season of passion and exploration, and there are tools and products available to enhance the experience. Promescent's lineup of pleasure enhancing products, such as their legendary delay spray and warming arousal gel, can help individuals last longer and enhance pleasure for both men and women. Additionally, the magic wand, a cult icon in the world of sex toys, offers powerful vibrations and various models to fit different lifestyles. Femtech, technology focused on women's health, is a rapidly growing industry and can enable better management of safety, consent, and pleasure. The Future of Femtech panel at South by Southwest featured female founders and entrepreneurs discussing the impact of technology on women's health and relationships. Overall, these tools and discussions can help individuals make the most of their summer and explore new dimensions of pleasure and intimacy.

• Embracing Technology for Sexual Health and Wellbeing: Normalizing conversations about sex, sharing STD status privately, matching users based on sexual compatibility, and creating sex toys with partners in mind are some ways technology is revolutionizing sexual health and wellbeing for women.

  The discussion revolved around the importance of addressing the taboo surrounding sex and the role of technology, specifically femtech, in improving sexual health and wellbeing for women. The speakers, Emily, Lauren, Adrienne, and Alex, shared their personal experiences and innovations in this field. Emily, the host of the Sex with Emily podcast, highlighted the need to normalize conversations about sex and the influx of funding in recent years towards femtech companies. Lauren, the founder of SAFE, introduced an app that allows users to privately share their STD status. Adrienne, the CEO of Lolli, presented an AI dating app that matches users based on sexual compatibility. Lastly, Alex, the CEO and co-founder of Dame Products, discussed their sex toy company's focus on creating products with partners in mind. Overall, the conversation emphasized the significance of embracing technology to enhance sexual health and wellbeing for all.

• Technology enhances sexual pleasure and compatibility: Sex toys designed for both genders, AI dating apps matching based on sexual compatibility, and addressing sexual health through technology are revolutionizing the industry, creating a more enjoyable and transparent sexual experience for all.

  Technology plays a significant role in enhancing sexual pleasure and improving sexual compatibility in innovative ways. For instance, a company creates sex toys designed with both genders in mind, providing additional clitoral stimulation during sex to address the orgasm gap and increase overall satisfaction. Additionally, an AI dating app, Lolly, matches users based on sexual compatibility in a non-awkward way, reducing the number of incompatible matches and increasing the likelihood of satisfying connections. Furthermore, addressing sexual health through transparency and ease is another way technology is revolutionizing the industry, empowering individuals to prioritize their sexual health and well-being. Overall, these technological advancements aim to create a more inclusive, enjoyable, and transparent sexual experience for all.

• Open communication, safety, and education for sexual health: Tools like the app facilitate conversations, reduce fear, and promote openness about herpes infections. Low-carb hero bread offers health benefits and enables enjoyment of favorite foods. Consent and sexual health awareness drive demand for resources.

  The discussion emphasizes the importance of open communication, safety, and education when it comes to sexual health. The speaker highlights the prevalence of herpes infections and the stigma surrounding them, emphasizing the need for tools like their app to facilitate conversations and reduce fear. Additionally, the speaker discusses the benefits of hero bread, which offers low-carb alternatives to traditional bread products, enabling individuals to enjoy their favorite foods while maintaining health goals. The speaker also shares positive feedback from users who have experienced improved libido and orgasms after quitting hormones and going natural. The ongoing cultural conversation around consent and sexual health, as represented by the #MeToo movement, is having a positive impact on the business by increasing awareness and demand for such tools and resources.

• App Lolly encourages open conversations about consent and sexuality: Lolly is an app that empowers individuals to understand their desires and boundaries, confidently communicate consent, and fosters healthier relationships through open conversations about consent and sexuality.

  Lolly, an app aimed at promoting consent and safety in romantic encounters, addresses the need for open conversations about sexuality and consent in today's society. The Me Too movement has brought attention to the importance of consent, yet there are challenges in having these conversations publicly. Lolly provides a platform for such discussions and offers educational resources, helping individuals understand their desires and boundaries, and enabling them to confidently communicate their consent or lack thereof. The app empowers women to own their decisions and encourages open communication, ultimately fostering healthier and more consensual relationships.

• Open communication about consent is key to safe sexual experiences: The Me Too movement and sex positive movements emphasize the importance of respecting oneself and others, using technology like consent apps can help facilitate conversations, and prioritizing consent is a positive step towards creating a safer environment.

  Open and honest communication about consent is crucial in sexual encounters. The Me Too movement and sex positive movements intersect to emphasize the importance of respecting oneself and others, and establishing safe and consensual experiences. The use of technology, such as consent apps, can help facilitate these conversations and ensure safety. However, it's important to consider potential drawbacks and ensure that all parties involved are comfortable with the use of such technology. The cultural shift towards prioritizing consent is a positive step towards creating a safer and more respectful environment for all. Ultimately, creating a space where most people are good and allowing for bad actors to be excluded is essential in promoting healthy and consensual sexual experiences.

• Femtech and Sex Tech: A Culmination of Decades of Work: The surge in funding and support for female-led femtech and sex tech companies is a culmination of decades of work towards expanding awareness and understanding of diverse experiences and their value.

  There is a recent surge in funding and support for female-led femtech and sex tech companies, which can be attributed to a combination of factors including the realization that women make good entrepreneurs, the long-term impact of feminist and civil rights movements, and the Me Too movement providing a platform for women to speak up about their experiences and assert their autonomy. The panelists believe that this trend is not just a recent development, but rather a culmination of decades of work towards expanding awareness and understanding of diverse experiences and the value they bring. The conversation also touched upon the importance of education and the role of good intentions in addressing issues within the dating relationship world.

• Navigating Complexities of Consent and Sexual Harassment in Tech Industry: Women in tech face challenges in expressing their experiences and discussing sensitive topics, but it's crucial for progress towards gender equality and equitable investment opportunities. Investors should recognize the value of female-led businesses.

  The conversation around consent and sexual harassment in the tech industry is complex and nuanced. Women want to be polite and caring, while men are encouraged to be persistent. This can lead to misunderstandings and inappropriate behavior. The lack of clear understanding about appropriate conduct can make it difficult for those in power to invest in female-led businesses, especially when the topic of sex comes up. Despite these challenges, it's important for women to own their experiences and not be afraid to bring up sensitive topics. This can help break down stereotypes and lead to more inclusive and equitable investment opportunities. The tech industry still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality, but progress is being made. Women make up half of the population and have significant spending power, yet they receive only 3% of overall funding for startups. It's crucial that investors recognize the value of female-led businesses and invest in them accordingly.

• Moral dilemmas in tech-driven sex industry: Morality clauses in investment contracts restrict discussion on sex, but it's crucial to address consent and sexual health online

  The intersection of technology, morality, and sex creates unique challenges for businesses in the sex industry. During a conversation with VCs, the speaker noted the presence of a morality clause in investment contracts, which often includes sex as a prohibited topic. This restriction is particularly interesting given that sex is a fundamental aspect of humanity and has contributed significantly to human development. The speaker also discussed the limitations and challenges faced in marketing sex-related products online, particularly on social media platforms. Despite these challenges, it's essential to continue the conversation around consent and sexual health, as these topics are crucial for individual well-being and societal progress. The speaker expressed hope that social media platforms will become more nuanced in their approach to regulating content, allowing for a more open and inclusive conversation around sex and sexual health.

• The sexual wellness industry is evolving and normalizing conversations around sex, consent, and health: The stigma surrounding sex and sexual health is dissipating, with the rise of technology, sex positivity, and natural alternatives in the sexual wellness industry. Discussing sexual health and using sex toys is becoming more accepted, promoting transparency, empowerment, and overall well-being.

  The sexual wellness industry is evolving, with a focus on normalizing conversations around sex, consent, and health. The use of technology, such as vibrators, is becoming more accepted and expected, enhancing relationships and promoting transparency and empowerment. The stigma surrounding sex and sexual health is starting to dissipate, especially with the rise of the sex positive movement and the availability of safe and reliable resources. In the next few years, it is expected that discussing sexual health and using sex toys will become as normal as talking about dinner or other everyday topics. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards natural alternatives to traditional methods of birth control and an increasing interest in understanding one's body. The sexual wellness industry is poised for significant growth as it continues to challenge taboos and provide innovative solutions for enhancing sexual experiences and promoting overall health and well-being.

• The Future of Sex Toys: High-Tech, Natural, and Cool: Sex toys are integrating technology for more control, convenience, and decentralization, offering personalized experiences, enhancing user satisfaction, and addressing important issues like STD prevention.

  Technology is increasingly being integrated into the world of sex toys, offering users more control, convenience, and decentralization. This includes the ability to track battery life, manage vibrations, and even incorporate cryptocurrency for rewards. The potential benefits of this integration are significant, particularly in an industry where traditional institutions may be hesitant to engage. By embracing technology, sex toy companies can offer more personalized experiences, enhance user satisfaction, and contribute to the larger conversation around sexual health and wellness. It's an exciting time for innovation in this space, and it's likely that we'll see more advancements in the near future. Additionally, the integration of technology can help address important issues such as the STD epidemic in the US, which has reached an all-time high, by promoting safe sex practices and providing resources for education and prevention. Overall, the future of sex toys is looking high-tech, natural, and cool.