Ukrainian femtech startup Ovul has landed a major boost. It just secured equity-free funding from Google’s Ukraine Support Fund, putting its AI-powered saliva estrogen tracker one step closer to mass adoption.
It’s a first-of-its-kind device with potential to shake up the $600 billion hormone health market—and now it has Big Tech fuel behind it.
Google Bets on Hormonal Health
Ovul isn’t your typical healthtech company. And this isn’t your typical funding announcement. The startup, co-founded by a team of Ukrainian researchers and engineers, joins an elite group of 30 companies handpicked by the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund.
That backing includes up to $100,000 in equity-free capital. Translation? Ovul doesn’t need to give up a single share of ownership. Add to that $350,000 in Google Cloud credits and mentorship from top engineers, and it’s the kind of support most startups only dream of.
“Our goal is to make hormone insights as effortless as taking a selfie,” said Kateryna Andreeva, CMO and co-founder. “This backing lets us scale faster—without the trade-offs that come with traditional funding.”
A Saliva-Based AI Tracker? Yes, Really.
What Ovul’s building might sound like science fiction. But it’s very real. Using a small lens and AI-powered app, women can now track estrogen levels daily—just by analyzing their dried saliva samples.
No needles. No blood draws. No plastic test strips.
The device snaps an image of dried saliva and uses computer vision to detect estrogen-related crystallization patterns. It’s the first solution of its kind that’s consumable-free, reusable, and—according to its creators—lab-grade in its analytics.
The broader idea? Replace sporadic, expensive blood tests with a daily, smartphone-based system for real-time hormone trend tracking.
A Tool for More Than Just Fertility
Ovul initially aimed its tool at fertility tracking. But that’s changing fast.
Last week, the team rolled out its new Estrogen Trend Indicator on iOS, a feature targeting a much broader demographic—women navigating perimenopause and menopause. It’s already being used to predict mood swings, hot flashes, and sleep issues before they spiral.
That’s not just convenience. That’s quality-of-life improvement, especially for the millions of women stuck with vague symptoms and limited options.
“Our competitors track basal temperature or LH surges,” said Ihor Kovalenko, CTO and co-founder. “We’re focused on daily estrogen—a more holistic hormone with huge impact across the reproductive lifespan.”
Here’s why that matters:
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Estrogen fluctuations affect sleep, memory, mood, bone density, and even cardiovascular health
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Perimenopause can start as early as age 35
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Most apps still treat hormone tracking as a fertility-only tool
Estrogen Monitoring, Without the Waste
Let’s talk money and sustainability. Hormonal disorders—from fertility issues to menopause mismanagement—cost global healthcare systems a staggering $600 billion annually. Ovul thinks it can put a dent in that.
Typical hormone testing involves blood draws and pricey lab visits, or at-home strips that pile up as medical waste. Ovul’s model? One reusable device, one app, and no disposables.
Just one drop of spit. That’s it.
This makes Ovul appealing not just for consumers—but for public health agencies, clinics, and researchers looking for scalable ways to track hormone trends over time.
Why Google’s Cloud Matters So Much
AI doesn’t run itself. The algorithms powering Ovul’s estrogen detection need serious computing muscle—especially as the startup pushes into personalized forecasting.
That’s where Google Cloud comes in. With GPU-accelerated infrastructure, Ovul can retrain its models faster, expand its database of crystallization patterns, and even explore generative AI for hormone prediction.
Serhii Zatsarynin, PhD and CEO, says the new infrastructure is already accelerating product updates.
“It’s about speed. We can now push weekly improvements instead of quarterly ones,” he said.
Ukraine’s Startup Grit Gets a Global Stage
Ovul’s selection is about more than one product. It’s a signal that Ukraine’s startup scene is still punching above its weight, even under the most difficult conditions.
The Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund—run with Kyiv-based 1991 Accelerator—is the largest equity-free program in the region. Its mission is clear: keep Ukraine’s innovation engine running and prepare it for post-war economic recovery.
Here’s how the program supports startups:
| Program Benefit | Value Provided |
|---|---|
| Equity-Free Capital | Up to $100,000 |
| Google Cloud Credits | Up to $350,000 |
| Hands-On Mentorship | 1-on-1 engineering support |
| Access to Global Network | Events, PR, investors |
| Mental Health & Resilience | Coaching, peer groups |
And it’s working. More than 60 startups have already received support. Some are in AI, others in quantum computing, health, education, or logistics. What they share is a belief in rebuilding through innovation.
What’s Next for Ovul?
The team isn’t slowing down. The next version of the app will add more real-time analytics, forecast features, and integrations with wearable devices. There’s also talk of entering clinical research partnerships to validate the tool in diagnosing hormone disorders like PCOS and endometriosis.
In the long run, they want to go global—with regulatory filings already underway in Europe and North America.
“We’re not replacing doctors,” said Andreeva. “We’re giving them better data—and giving women better control.”
