We are dedicated to the growth of Women’s Health & Sexual Health startups.

We are named after the first US Birth Control Clinic that opened in Brooklyn on 46 Amboy Street in 1916, a time when even spreading the word about contraception was illegal. Margaret Sanger opened the clinic to educate women on how to prevent pregnancy. She was arrested onsite twice before going on to start Planned Parenthood.

Over the past century, there has been a social reformation that has lifted the stigma associated with women’s health and sexual health problems. Our society is now ready for accessible and mainstream healthcare solutions, yet lack of venture capital funding flowing to this space is stunting innovation that is addressing these issues. Our Partners formed Amboy Street Ventures to bridge the funding gap and invest in the companies that are ushering forward a new world of inclusive health and wellbeing.

1916
First U.S. Birth Control Clinic
The first ever US birth control clinic was opened illegally at 46 Amboy Street in NYC.
1921
Planned Parenthood
The American Birth Control League was founded, which later became the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
1960
Birth Control
FDA approves the sale of the birth control pill in the US, the first oral contraceptive manufactured by Searle. Because of this, 13 major pharmaceutical companies (nine American) work to develop their own versions of 'The Pill'.
1968 - 1973
Abortion Legalized in the UK
In 1968, the Abortion Act legalized abortion in the United Kingdom under certain grounds (except in Northern Ireland). In 1969, the ruling in the Victorian case of R v. Davidson defined for the first time which abortions were lawful in Australia.  In 1973, a decision that's as volatile today as it was 48 years ago, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that state and federal restrictions on abortion in the first trimester were unconstitutional.
1977 - 1993
FDA Guidelines
In 1977, FDA guidelines were in place that banned women of “childbearing potential” from participating in clinical research studies.

In 1993, after realizing the importance of exploring medical effects on both genders, the FDA explicitly reversed the 1977 recommendation.
2013
Increased Male Sexual Wellness
On June 21, 2013, Viagra loses its exclusive position in the UK and as a result, there’s a soar in innovation and prescription of the active ingredient Sildenafil plus an increase in dedication to male sexual wellness categories.
2019 - 2020
Education
2019 is the first year to have more women in medical school than men. Boots Walgreens leads mainstream pharma and retail by becoming the first to have a dedicated sexual wellness category.

In 2020, online retailers witnessed a spike in customers searching for “sexual wellness” – the term was up by 850 percent on Cult Beauty in March 2020, the month the US/UK lockdown began.
2021
Celebrity Advocacy
Celebrities including Amy Schumer, Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashians speak out about their experiences with IVF and Egg Freezing, while other celebrities like Dakota Johnson, Cara Delevigne and Lily Allen join sex-positive startups.
2022
Roe v. Wade Overturned
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade. Following this ruling, many states restrict or outlaw abortion. Polling shows that the vast majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. The new abortion restrictions thrust the inequities in women’s healthcare into the spotlight.
2023 - 2024
$1T Women’s Health & Sexual Health Market
Consumers, Employers, Payors and Providers are ready for innovation to address the $1T women’s health and sexual health market. Founders are stepping up to create startups that meet these demands. Venture Capital dollars invested in women’s health are up 300% since 2016. Even so, only .4% of all of VC funding is invested into women’s healthcare, which pales in comparison to the 25% that goes toward general healthcare.
2023 - 2024
Backing Innovation
Funding is needed to fuel innovation addressing major women’s health and sexual health needs. Amboy Street Ventures is backing this much needed innovation.

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