Women in BioPharma: March 2025 Meetup

Join us for an enlightening conversation with a pioneering female health startup founder, Valentina Milanova, Founder and CEO/CPO of Daye.

Valentina will explain her own personal journey in creating an innovative period care and gynae health startup and discuss the systemic issues which are harming women’s health. She will reveal the hidden gender biases she has encountered that are ingrained in the pharmaceutical industry, from research and testing, to investment,  manufacturing and marketing.

The purpose of PharmaSource Women in Biopharma group is to drive a real and meaningful change in our industry, sharing practical advice and experiences to support other women in biopharma.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, this meetup is the perfect opportunity to expand your network, share experiences, and gain valuable insights from industry experts.

Sign up to join us on 20th March 2025.

We can’t wait to meet you!

Who is Valentina Milanova?

Valentina Milanova is the founder and CEO of Daye, a company dedicated to advancing gynaecological health through innovative products and research. Born and raised in Bulgaria, Milanova moved to the UK to pursue higher education at the University of Buckingham, where she earned degrees in Business, Economics, and Law. She later obtained a Master’s in International and Trade Law and specialized in Food and Drug Law from Harvard Law School. Currently, she is working towards a Master of Public Health from Imperial College London.

Milanova’s journey into the femtech industry was driven by her personal experiences with gynaecological health issues. This led her to research and develop tampons that provide localized relief for menstrual cramps using Cannabidiol (CBD). Daye’s CBD tampons, launched in 2020, are the world’s first of their kind and have been trusted by over 100,000 women in the UK. The company also offers diagnostic tampons for at-home screening of common vaginal infections, STIs, and HPV.

Before founding Daye, Milanova worked in various roles within the startup ecosystem, including managing the AI and ML portfolio at Founders Factory and serving as a Venture Associate at Techstars. Her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to addressing the gender pain gap in medical research and product innovation have been central to her work at Daye. She successfully raised £4.23 million in seed funding and later secured £10 million in Series A funding to support the company’s growth. Valentina holds multiple medical device patents, and her research has been published in the Journal of Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders, The Journal of Molecular Sciences, and The Journal of Human Reproduction.

Milanova is also an advisor and mentor at FemTechLab and Nyungu Care, supporting early-stage startups focused on gynaecological health and social impact. She is a Fellow at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (RSA) and actively participates in initiatives aimed at driving social change and environmental sustainability.

In her personal life, Milanova enjoys volunteering, kitesurfing, snowboarding, and spending time with her two poodles, Polly and Ringo. She splits her time between London, NYC and Sofia, where she continues to push the boundaries of femtech innovation.