The financial realities women face came under the spotlight during the launch of femtech startup Femio, on August 14 in Sandton.

The launch was preceded by a discussion asking: What does it really cost to be a woman? The conversation explored the financial pressures women navigate throughout their lives, including the gender pay gap, menstrual and reproductive health costs, menopause, personal safety, and women’s purchasing power.

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Femio founder and CEO Monalisa Zwambila said the issue was personal to her, and influenced the creation of the platform. “I have lived the reality of so many women of being a single mother, working hard, and still not having enough at the end of the month.

Femio comes from that experience. The app is about giving women meaningful support and the agency to use it, so that when it comes to who benefits from being a woman, the answer is, finally, women do.”

Zwambila said women often carry financial costs associated with their biology, including menstrual and reproductive products and healthcare, as well as expenses linked to different stages of their lives. She argued that these costs should form part of the broader conversation about women’s financial wellbeing.

The discussion also looked at the economic influence of women as consumers, and questioned whether businesses sufficiently understand the needs and purchasing power of female consumers. Zwambila said women should be able to benefit from the economic value they create through their spending.

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The event also allowed Zwambila to reflect on the women who have influenced her life, including her mother. “My mother was the most amazing human being.” She reflected on the impact her mother had on her life and the values she carried into building Femio.

The discussion highlighted that the cost of being a woman extends beyond individual purchases. Career choices, caregiving responsibilities, healthcare, safety, and unequal pay can all influence women’s long-term financial position.

The app’s launch comes as conversations around women’s economic empowerment increasingly focus, not only on what women earn, but also on what they spend and the financial pressures attached to different stages of their lives. For Zwambila, the ultimate goal is to ensure women have greater agency over their financial lives.

“The app is about giving women meaningful support, and the agency to use it.”

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