Doctors told her to 'just manage it' - now she's changing the system

What began as a deeply personal health challenge for alum Ambra Zhang has become a tech start-up driven by her mission to change health insurance.

Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in her late teens, Ambra faced years of frustration navigating private health insurance, where she found such a debilitating condition was not covered. 

And she found it just as chaotic in the public healthcare system in Italy and then England when she moved to study BSc International Management at Warwick Business School. 

It led to the 28-year-old building Juniper in 2023, a reproductive health insurtech that looks to give women with PCOS and fertility problems the insurance cover they need. In just two years it has raised $1.9 million in a seed round and has seen Ambra recently named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in the finance category. 

“I was diagnosed with PCOS privately in my late teens, after years of extremely irregular cycles,” says Ambra. “Navigating the public system had been frustrating, appointments were slow, treatment options felt limited, and I was often dismissed or told to ‘just manage it’.” 

Despite the challenges, Ambra took control of her health.  

“Today, I follow a low-GI diet, take medication to manage my symptoms, and see a gynaecologist annually - but all of this is out of my own pocket,” she says. “It’s been a challenging journey; finding the right specialist, learning to advocate for myself, and repeatedly paying for care that wasn’t covered by insurance. 

“What I found most confusing and disheartening was not understanding why something so fundamental to my health wasn’t considered essential care.” 

That question became the foundation for Juniper, which Ambra co-founded in 2023. Juniper provides inclusive coverage across all genders and life stages, aiming to fill the gaps left by traditional insurance. 

“I was spending thousands for routine care that traditional insurance didn’t cover, because it was classed as chronic, or fertility-related, or just ‘not urgent enough’,” she says. “That gap isn’t just a personal pain point; it’s a systemic one. So, I decided to build a solution.”

Juniper helps employers offer reproductive health benefits that go beyond fertility, supporting conditions like endometriosis, menopause, low testosterone, miscarriages, and more.  

“We’re rethinking how care is accessed, paid for, and covered,” says Ambra, who is based in London. “Think of it like dental insurance, but for reproductive organs.  

“We work with employers to offer inclusive cover that goes beyond fertility.”  

Her inclusion on the Forbes list is more than a personal accolade, it’s a signal that reproductive health is now being taken seriously.  

“It’s a huge honour and honestly a little surreal,” she says. “I started Juniper from a very personal need, so to see that story resonate and be recognised at this level is incredibly meaningful.  

“But for me, the real win is what it represents: that reproductive health is finally getting the visibility it deserves. I hope it sends a message that these issues matter, and that we can build businesses with both impact and scale.” 

How the BSc International Management teaches leadership

Ambra, who is originally from Italy, where she grew up in a Chinese family before moving to the UK to study, credits WBS with shaping her leadership style and giving her the tools to build a business with impact. 

“What stood out most were the soft skills I developed, through modules like CORE and coaching, which really shaped how I communicate and lead,” she adds. “We had to work in diverse teams, present under pressure, and reflect on our values and working styles - skills I use daily now.  

“I was also active in several societies, which gave me early experience in building communities and working cross-functionally, which is basically a training ground for start-up life.”  

Before founding Juniper, Ambra worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and later in private equity at Eurazeo, focusing on financial services.  

“That experience gave me a deep understanding of regulated industries, and the confidence to dive into one of the most complex and underinvested areas - reproductive health.” 

Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?

“Solve a real problem,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to take the hard road, and surround yourself with people who share your values and mission. It makes all the difference when it gets tough.” 

Discover Warwick Business School's Change Makers.