Beena K – Founder & CEO, Memmzy Health
Beena Karkhanis is the Founder and CEO of Memmzy Health, a science-driven FemTech company transforming reproductive healthcare through AI and machine learning. Drawing on two decades of experience in banking, risk management, and data privacy, Beena brings a rare blend of regulatory rigor and human-centered innovation to the world of women’s health technology.
Her journey into FemTech began with a deeply personal experience. As a single mother thriving in a demanding banking career, Beena often sidelined her own health. When a delayed checkup led to a misdiagnosis that nearly resulted in unnecessary surgery, she realized how many women silently face similar struggles, lacking access to accurate, personalized health insights. This moment became the catalyst for Memmzy Health: a platform designed to empower women with AI-driven, data-backed reproductive health support, ensuring they never have to second-guess their own bodies again.
Before founding Memmzy, Beena built a distinguished career in the financial sector, beginning at Citibank and later spending two decades at one of the UAE’s largest local banks. She specialized in fraud prevention, data privacy, and compliance, leading high-stakes teams and initiatives across risk management. Her expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments now shapes Memmzy’s core principles of trust, transparency, and data security, ensuring the platform adheres to global standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and Canadian data laws.
Under her leadership, Memmzy Health has rapidly gained traction—amassing thousands of users, collecting tens of thousands of health data points, and earning recognition in pitch competitions and international accelerator programs. Beena’s vision extends beyond tracking cycles; she aims to redefine women’s wellness through predictive health analytics, holistic care, and partnerships with healthcare providers and insurers.
A firm believer in technology as a force for empowerment, Beena champions diversity and female leadership in STEM and entrepreneurship. Through Memmzy, she’s not just building a product, she’s building a movement to give women ownership of their health data and decisions, one AI-powered insight at a time.
Company: Memmzy Health
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Beena Karkhanis: Thank you so much for having me. It’s truly an honor to be part of ValiantCEO’s “Community Champions” series. I’m Beena, the Founder and CEO of Memmzy Health, a science-driven FemTech company using AI and machine learning to revolutionize reproductive healthcare.
My journey started in the world of banking, where I spent over two decades specializing in risk management, fraud prevention, and data privacy. I loved the challenge of working in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment, but as a single mother balancing a demanding career, I often put my own health last. That decision eventually caught up with me; a delayed checkup led to a misdiagnosis that could have changed my life. Thankfully, after seeking multiple opinions, I learned I didn’t need surgery, but the experience opened my eyes to a larger truth: so many women lack access to reliable, personalized health insights.
That realization became the seed for Memmzy Health. I wanted to create a platform that empowers women to understand their bodies, track their health with confidence, and prevent issues before they arise, all while protecting their privacy.
Today, Memmzy is more than a period or fertility tracker; it’s an AI-powered ecosystem that supports women through every phase of their reproductive health. We’ve built our foundation on trust, inclusivity, and data security, complying with global standards like GDPR and HIPAA, and we’re now reaching women around the world who deserve better tools for managing their health.
At its core, Memmzy represents a community of women supporting women, powered by science and compassion. What began as a personal mission rooted in my own experience has grown into a global effort to help women take charge of their well-being with accuracy, empathy, and empowerment at its heart.
What role did your local community play in the early days of your business, and how did those roots shape your company’s mission or growth strategy?
Beena Karkhanis: In many ways, Memmzy Health was born from the strength and spirit of my local community. When I first started sharing my story, how a misdiagnosis nearly changed my life, the response from women around me was overwhelming. Friends, colleagues, and even acquaintances opened up about their own experiences with delayed diagnoses, misunderstood symptoms, and the emotional toll of feeling unheard. That honesty and shared vulnerability became the foundation for Memmzy.
Building a company across the UAE, India, USA, and Canada gave me access to incredibly supportive ecosystems. The startup and health-tech communities in these regions encouraged me to take my vision seriously and provided mentorship, while my diverse network helped validate the need for accessible, affordable women’s health tools across different cultures and healthcare systems. These communities helped shape Memmzy into what it is today, A platform designed by women, for women, with real stories and real data driving every feature.
Those early community conversations also defined our growth strategy. We realized that women everywhere, regardless of geography, share similar challenges around reproductive health, data trust, and access. That insight pushed us to design Memmzy as a globally scalable yet culturally sensitive solution, ensuring that no woman feels left out of the conversation about her own body.
Our community didn’t just support us; they became our co-creators, guiding us toward a mission rooted in empathy, empowerment, and impact.
Can you share a specific community initiative or partnership that significantly boosted your business’s credibility or reach, and how it paved the way for global expansion?
Beena Karkhanis: Attending the Alberta Catalyzer accelerator program and the Advancerite–Techskillr Accelerator were both incredible milestones in Memmzy Health’s journey. These programs provided far more than just mentorship, they gave us access to vibrant ecosystems of innovators, investors, and experts who truly understood the intersection of technology, healthcare, and social impact.
At Alberta Catalyzer, we were guided by exceptional mentors like Ayden Mukhtari, whose insights helped us refine our business model and strengthen our go-to-market strategy for global expansion. Similarly, through the Advancerite–Techskillr Accelerator, under the mentorship of Eyren and Dr. Muhammad Khan, we were able to sharpen our focus on AI development, data compliance, and scaling Memmzy responsibly while staying true to our mission of empowering women through technology.
Being part of RINSA has also been an incredible experience. It’s opened several doors for collaboration and visibility, connecting us with other mission-driven founders and organizations that share our goal of advancing women’s health through innovation.
Each of these programs has played a vital role in shaping Memmzy’s growth, helping us turn a deeply personal mission into a globally recognized FemTech brand rooted in trust, data privacy, and impact.
How do you balance maintaining authentic local ties with the demands of scaling your business to a global audience?
Beena Karkhanis: Balancing authentic local roots with global growth has always been a guiding principle for me. Memmzy Health was built from real experiences, mine and those of women in my community, and I’ve never wanted to lose that sense of connection as we expand into new regions like India, the U.S., and Canada.
One of the ways we stay grounded is through community giveback initiatives. In every community we become part of, we make it a point to donate personal hygiene products to women and girls who need them most. It’s our way of giving back directly and making sure our impact goes beyond the digital space. Access to menstrual and hygiene products is still a challenge for many, and we believe no woman should ever have to choose between basic dignity and daily needs.
These initiatives remind us why Memmzy exists to empower women not just through data and technology, but through tangible action. When we visit local NGOs, or community centers and see the difference these small contributions make, it keeps us deeply connected to our mission.
So, even as we scale globally, we never lose sight of our roots. Our approach has always been simple: lead with empathy, build with purpose, and give back wherever we grow. That’s how we ensure that Memmzy’s global expansion always reflects the heart of the communities that first inspired it.
What’s one unexpected challenge you faced when leveraging community support, and how did you overcome it to strengthen your business?
Beena Karkhanis: One unexpected challenge we faced when leveraging community support was navigating the diverse needs and expectations of different communities as we expanded globally. What resonates in one region, say, access to menstrual health products or AI-driven wellness insights, might be received differently elsewhere due to cultural norms, awareness levels, or even local infrastructure. Early on, we realized that a one-size-fits-all approach could unintentionally alienate the very communities we wanted to empower.
To overcome this, we leaned heavily on listening and co-creation. We held focus groups, engaged local NGOs, and partnered with community leaders in every region we entered, whether it be in the UAE, India, the U.S., or Canada. For example, our hygiene product donation initiatives were adapted to meet specific local needs and cultural sensitivities, ensuring they were impactful and well-received.
This challenge ultimately strengthened our business, because it pushed us to build a platform and programs that are flexible, culturally aware, and community-driven. It reinforced a core lesson: scaling globally doesn’t mean losing touch with local voices. In fact, embracing those voices has made Memmzy’s mission more authentic, our solutions more inclusive, and our global growth far more sustainable.
What advice would you give to other CEOs looking to build strong local roots as a springboard for global success?
Beena Karkhanis: My advice to other CEOs would be to start by listening deeply and giving back authentically. Building strong local roots isn’t just about visibility or networking, it’s about understanding the real challenges, needs, and aspirations of the community you serve. For Memmzy, that meant engaging directly with women, NGOs, and local organizations, and even donating personal hygiene products wherever we operate. These small but meaningful actions build trust and credibility that money or marketing alone can’t achieve.
I’d also emphasize the importance of co-creation. Involve your community in shaping your product, services, or initiatives. Their insights will help you avoid assumptions, design solutions that truly resonate, and create advocates who champion your mission organically.
Finally, think of your local community as a microcosm for global growth. Lessons learned, feedback received, and partnerships forged locally can guide your strategy as you scale internationally. Strong local foundations give you the empathy, adaptability, and authenticity needed to succeed on a global stage.
In short: listen, give back, co-create, and always let your community shape your vision. When you do that, your local roots naturally become the springboard for meaningful, sustainable global impact.
