The origin of the Héra device

From the personal to the impactful: a project dedicated to women's health

Watching his mother suffer from hot flashes all day long, without being able to find relief through hormonal treatment for medical reasons, Thaddée Caron reached his limit. It then became clear to him that a natural and effective solution had to be found to finally provide his mother with relief.

This moment marked the starting point of a project that has now become a revolution: Héra, a technological innovation designed to offer natural, immediate, and portable relief to women going through menopause.

🔎 Summary

• A public health issue that remains too invisible
• The personal trigger behind Héra
• The birth of a technological and human innovation
• Rapid recognition and a lasting commitment
• A concrete impact for women, here and elsewhere

A public health issue that remains too invisible

In France, more than 8 million women are affected by menopause. On a European scale, that number is estimated to be over 42 million. Among the most common symptoms, hot flashes, which can occur up to 15 times a day, cause discomfort, heavy sweating, sleep disturbances, and sometimes deep social isolation.

Despite the scale of the phenomenon, the available solutions are rare and often medicalized. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) remains the best-known option, but only a minority of women use it.

Although proven to be effective, Hormone Replacement Therapy is adopted by only 6% of women in France. The reasons for this reluctance are manifold: distrust of potential risks (notably breast cancer or cardiovascular diseases), undesirable side effects, or simply a lack of clear information.

Faced with this reality, 94% of women live through menopause without any adapted treatment, waiting for a solution that is gentle, accessible, and safe for their health.

The personal trigger behind Héra

Thaddée, touched by his mother's situation, decided to get personally involved. He imagined a simple yet ingenious object: an electronic device capable of producing a localized cooling sensation, triggered on demand, to provide instant relief from hot flashes.

To bring this vision to life, he brought together a team of engineers he met during his studies. Together, they embarked on two years of research and development, working in close collaboration with doctors and the women concerned.

The birth of a technological and human innovation

After numerous prototypes, technical adjustments, and user feedback, the project culminated in Héra: a portable thermoelectric cooling device. This innovative system makes it possible to diffuse a controlled cooling sensation on thermosensitive areas such as the wrists, neck, or face. The result: relief from hot flashes in less than 10 seconds, without any chemical substances.

Rapid recognition and a lasting commitment

To fund the first units, the team launched a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule. The success was immediate: hundreds of women pre-ordered Héra even before its official launch, demonstrating the enormous unmet need.

This momentum allowed the startup Athana to win several calls for projects and innovation competitions.

Héra is manufactured in France, in a solidarity-based workshop that employs people with disabilities. The entire production process aims to reduce the ecological footprint, from the choice of materials to the packaging.

This humanistic and responsible approach quickly attracted the attention of national media. From France 2 to BFM Business, including M6, RMC, Europe 1, and France 5, reports followed one another to highlight this innovation driven by strong human values.

A concrete impact for women, here and elsewhere

Today, more than 5,000 women use Héra every day. The feedback is extremely positive: the satisfaction rate has reached 98%.

The impact of the project goes beyond simple physical relief. Héra has become a symbol of kindness, listening, and the reclaiming of the female body, during a period too often passed over in silence.

In 2024, Thaddée Caron was named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the health category, recognizing the international importance of this solution.

Athana is not stopping there. Building on its success in France, the team is now introducing Héra in many other countries: the United States, Korea, China, Dubai, etc. A true international community is forming around this innovation designed by and for women.

Héra does not claim to cure. It does not promise the impossible. But it does offer a gentle, immediate, and safe response to a problem experienced by millions of women. It also paves the way for open conversation about menopause, which has long been ignored and often downplayed.

And it all started with an act of compassion: a son witnessing his mother's suffering, determined to transform empathy into a concrete solution.