| The U.S. Supreme Court's decision that overturned the constitutional right to obtain an abortion has devastated many Roe vs. Wade supporters. Yet venture capitalists focused on health care are more determined than ever to invest in the sector. - Startups addressing women's needs attracted only about 7% of venture dollars that went into U.S. digital health care startups during the first nine months of last year, per Rock Health.
Why it matters: In addition to allowing restrictions and bans on abortion across multiple states, the ruling is likely to add more challenges to accessing reproductive health care. What they're saying: "It has never been more important to invest and innovate in women's health," says Lux Capital general partner Deena Shakir, echoing other VCs who spoke to Axios about the ruling. What's happening: At least for now, there's not much clarity about the ruling for investors and entrepreneurs alike — or what potential future decisions could mean for health care companies. - "A lot of our companies are going through the exercise of 'what does that look like, how is it going to work,'" OMERS Ventures principal Chrissy Farr tells Axios.
- But startups are also likely to increase the resources they devote to legal and regulatory issues, as they navigate a more complex and tricky environment, investors believe.
Zoom in: VCs expect to see an uptick in backing companies focused on women's health, reproductive needs, and the like. Telehealth: A critical tool in providing health services such as birth control prescriptions, this sector is likely to become even more important. - "There is an opportunity for startups to double down on closing the gap in care access for underserved markets" like in rural areas, says SteelSky Ventures founding partner Maria Velissaris.
- However, companies will have to navigate how certain post-Roe state laws may affect virtual care.
Information: Patients' need to access information about their own health and care options will be larger than ever, 7wire Ventures partner Alyssa Jaffee tells Axios. - However, some state laws are already raising concerns over how well some apps are protecting patient data, and companies may be restricted in providing abortion-specific information.
Fertility: OMERS' Farr describes this area as "TBD," but she doesn't foresee a waning interest in investing in startups catering to fertility care. Still, there are big questions about how some state abortion bans will impact in-vitro fertilization specifically. Mental health: VCs expect the stress of abortion bans to heighten mental health care needs, exacerbating an ongoing lack of accessible resources. - While a number of startups have tried to tackle psychology and psychiatry, a string of reports over the years about some questionable practices shows that it remains a challenging area for innovation.
Abortions: Since the court's draft decision leaked in early May, startups mailing abortion pills have gotten more attention. Medications can't be mailed or used in a number of states, yet some are likely to seek them out more if alternatives such as clinics close down where they live. The bottom line: "I really hope that other investors jump into this because we need their dollars and expertise," Rock Health founder and investor Halle Tecco tells Axios. | 
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