At Female Founder Collective's The 10th House, we know that building a healthcare startup without business experience sounds impossible. In our exclusive LinkedIn Live conversation with Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, we discovered how 25 years of NIH-funded neuroscience research became the foundation for CleopatraRX, a company addressing the cognitive symptoms of menopause that affect 60-70% of women at the peak of their careers.
If you're an early-stage founder wondering whether your expertise is enough to launch a company, Dr. Voskuhl's journey proves that deep domain knowledge paired with the right team can unlock massive opportunities in overlooked markets.
What Actually Works When You're Building from Expertise
Dr. Voskuhl's path from academic researcher to founder challenges almost every assumption about what it takes to launch a successful startup. With no business background, no initial capital, and a scientific career focused on papers rather than profits, she built a company that's now treating hundreds of patients. Here's what she learned about turning deep expertise into commercial success:
- You don't need business experience if you have irreplaceable expertise. Dr. Voskuhl had zero business background but 25 years of NIH-funded research proving her solution worked. "I'm not somebody who raises money to generate profits. That's not what I do," she admits. Instead of trying to learn everything, she brought on a CFO and CEO while staying in her lane as founder, Chief Medical Officer, and head of publicity. The lesson? Hire for your weaknesses, lead with your strengths.
- Address a problem so big that investors can't ignore it. Menopausal women experience brain fog precisely when they reach career peaks as CEOs and executives, yet existing treatments completely ignore brain health. Investors respond to massive unmet need paired with someone who has unique expertise to solve it, not incremental improvements to existing solutions.
- Your current platform is your unfair advantage. If you're coming from academia, corporate, or another field, don't abandon that credibility. Dr. Voskuhl maintained her research role, and every publication gets picked up by hundreds of outlets automatically. "That's how I get on Oprah. That's how I get on the Today Show." Your existing network, expertise, and visibility can become your marketing engine if you leverage it strategically.
- Start with proof before raising big capital. Dr. Voskuhl raised $300K from family, friends, and angels to prove the model by treating 300+ patients. Only after validating demand and building operational infrastructure did she pursue $4-5 million from VCs. Use smaller capital to de-risk the business and create traction that makes the next raise easier.
- Build multiple ways to reach customers early. CleopatraRX uses three channels: university medical centers for credibility, independent physician networks for organic reach, and direct-to-consumer telemedicine for underserved populations. You don't need all three on day one, but thinking about diversified distribution from the start prevents over-dependence on a single pathway that might not scale.
- Mission attracts the team, capital, and partnerships you need. Dr. Voskuhl's collaborations with celebrities like Halle Berry aren't paid sponsorships but mission-aligned relationships. "We have a common mission to educate and help women together." When your "why" is compelling, people want to help. Her nonprofit arm for women who can't afford treatment demonstrates authentic commitment that resonates with investors, team members, and advocates alike.
Why Timing and "The Village" Matter Now
For early-stage founders, understanding market timing is just as important as building a great product. Dr. Voskuhl emphasizes that "women are finally at this level" where female CEOs and executives make funding decisions. This shift creates unprecedented opportunities for founders solving women's problems that have been historically underfunded. But success requires what she calls "the village" approach. Scientists develop solutions, entrepreneurs scale them, celebrities destigmatize conversations, and investors provide capital.
If you're in the idea or MVP stage, start building these cross-sector relationships now. For example, it’s important to connect with researchers who can validate your approach, advocates who amplify your mission, and potential customers who will co-create with you. Fragmentation fails, but collective momentum accelerates change dramatically.
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