Female Founders 100

They're rethinking how things have always been done. And they're here to tell you what they've learned along the way.

FO THIS IS THE FACE OF A FOUNDER QUIETLY PREPARING TO PLANT HER STARTUP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE FOR WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

THE RISKS ARE HUGE. THE RED TAPE IS LONG. THE FUTURE IS UNKNOWN. AND THIS HEALTH CARE FOUNDER IS HERE FOR ALL OF IT. By Christine Lagorio-Chafkin

Amy Fan isn't easily rattled. Case in point: When, on May 2, a leaked decision signaled that the country's highest court planned to overturn the established right to abortion and fracture the groundwork for her entire industry's existence, the co-founder of Twentyeight Health felt empathy but not shock. For years, she'd noted the changing tide of judicial appointments, and saw "a lot of signals that Roe v. Wade would be overturned."

Her employees? Not so calm.

"Our team members are here because they care really deeply about reproductive health access. Like most Americans, they've never lived in a world without Roe v. Wade," Fan says. Indeed, most Americans-62 percent, according to Pew Research-disagree with the court's decision. "Going back in time five decades in terms of policy felt insane."