We’re continuing our She Shapes the Future series in celebration of International Women’s Day, spotlighting inspiring female founders and their startup journeys.
Next up is Jenni Hyysalo, medical doctor, PhD, and founder of Viven.
Jenni launched Viven to tackle a persistent issue in women’s healthcare: fragmented support that often fails to connect symptoms with their underlying causes. “I kept meeting women in their 30s and 40s who felt something was off, low energy, weight changes, mood shifts, sleep issues, but were often told their labs were ‘normal’”, she says.
Viven is an AI-native platform that brings together medical expertise and data to deliver continuous, personalized care. It helps women understand how their symptoms relate to hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and physiology, enabling them to take action early rather than waiting for issues to escalate.
One of the most rewarding parts of Jenni’s journey has been seeing how deeply women engage when they’re given clarity. “When we explain the connections between symptoms, hormones, and lifestyle, women immediately engage at a much deeper level. Clarity is a product in itself, not just an outcome”, she explains.
Her advice to aspiring founders is simple: take action and learn from real users. “You don’t need permission, and you don’t need to have everything figured out. Start small, learn fast, and build from real user insight, not assumptions. Confidence comes from doing, not before”.
She also shares a practical reminder for early-stage founders: “The world is full of apps and services that nobody uses. Talk to users earlier and more often than feels necessary. It’s the fastest way to find what actually matters and avoid building the wrong thing”.
Jenni’s story is a powerful example of what happens when expertise, empathy, and technology come together to solve meaningful problems and a reminder that the best solutions begin with truly listening.
More founder stories coming soon!