Skip to main content

Period-tracking app Flo is leveraging AI to help millions of women

As an app that over 50 percent of the world’s population could make use of on a monthly basis, it’s no wonder that Flo has met with enormous success since its launch in 2015. The hugely popular period tracking app has just raised $5 million in a Series A funding round led by Flint Capital and brand ambassador, supermom, and supermodel Natalia Vodianova, and reinforces the need for female-focused technology in the 21st century.

Flo, which launched just under two years ago in October of 2015, has already secured 10 million monthly active users, and is only gaining in popularity. In fact, the app now sees its user base grow by 1 million users each month. This is largely thanks to a slew of new features, including personalized health insights.

Recommended Videos

The app relies upon neural networks to both analyze and anticipate menstrual cycles. “The use of machine learning increased predictions accuracy by 54.2 percent, with the prediction error reduced from 5.6 to 2.6 days,” Yuri Gurski, Flo founder and president told Venturebeat via email. “The more symptoms are logged, the more unique patterns the algorithm is likely to find in a woman’s cycle.”

Also included in the newest version of Flo is what Gurski describes as “Quora-style Q&A service.” Here, Gurski noted, “Users can discuss their most burning intimate issues with experts and other users, anonymously. We are seeing amazing results; it is truly a strong community of like-minded peers.”

While the app started out exclusively as a pregnancy app, Flo now has a pregnancy mode that promises a “tailored health solution for women at any stage of the reproductive cycle.” In fact, the company claims that it helps 100,000 women a month get pregnant.

So what will the app do with its new influx of cash? According to a news release, the goal is to use this sum to accelerate growth and expand Flo’s presence throughout the U.S. market. Furthermore, the company has ambitious plans to partner with research centers and universities with the goal of advancing female health science. Ultimately, Flo says, its goal is to “become the number 1 female health platform in the world, with at least 100 million users.”

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
I tried a $500 health tracking app. Here’s why it’s worth every penny
Insider Tracker app on iPhone.

When you think about blood, technology probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, recent technological advancements have allowed our blood to offer insights into our health. InsideTracker is a service that combines the analysis of blood markers with data and lifestyle information to provide health advice. To benefit from this service, you must give a blood sample, download an app, and invest some of your time. The result? The chance to live a longer life.

I recently had the opportunity to test InsideTracker to see what the fuss was about. Given my background and some ongoing health issues, I eagerly volunteered as a tester.

Read more
Your Google Chrome app is getting 5 helpful new features
An Android phone showing Android 15.

The Google Chrome app for iOS and Android is introducing numerous new features to make searching in Chrome easier than ever. These features are either going live now with the latest Google Chrome app update or launching on the iPhone 15, Galaxy S24, and other devices later this year.

Google is introducing additional Chrome Actions to help you find local places. When searching for a restaurant, you will see shortcut buttons in the search results that allow you to call the restaurant, get directions, and access reviews. Android users can access this new feature in Chrome now, while iOS users must wait for a fall update.

Read more
Google’s Gemini AI app gets a wider release. Is your phone on the list?
Google Gemini app on Android.

More people can now use and enjoy the Google Gemini AI app on their smartphone, as the company has expanded the list of regions where the Android version of the app is available through the Google Play Store. Specifically, it has launched the Android app in the U.K. and Europe, opening the service up far beyond its start in the U.S., where it was released in February.

What’s more, Google says Gemini will soon be available to iPhone owners, as the AI chatbot will appear on iOS in the next few weeks. It won’t be a standalone app though, as Gemini will instead work through the official Google app that can be downloaded now through the Apple App Store.

Read more