Meet Annie Munoz

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annie Munoz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annie, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The journey behind our Rosa Spec™ and the development of our company My Village Innovations Inc
. The issue of vaginal sidewall prolapse during pelvic exams is a common challenge, often complicating visualization and causing discomfort for patients. From my earliest medical training, it was clear that a more effective solution was needed to prevent this.

The inspiration for our device struck me in 2012, while watching my son play with a collapsible tunnel. I envisioned a similar concept for pelvic exams and began developing prototypes at home using everyday items.

Life with two young children kept the project on hold for a while. However, once they were in elementary school, I revisited the idea. We initiated the patent process in 2019 and began collaborating with bio-engineers to develop the device and establish MVI Medical. Despite a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, we resumed work in 2022, building out the device with our bio-engineer. When designing the device, we carefully considered patient feedback collected over the past two decades. As a result, we developed a solution that is soft, maintains ambient temperature, is lightweight, disposable, and can be self-placed. We successfully obtained a functioning prototype and proof of concept in 2023, and have continued to grow our company through strategic partnerships in 2024.

We are excited about the potential of this device to improve patient comfort and exam efficacy.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My Village Innovations Inc. We are a medical device company dedicated to women’s health.

Having worked as a physician assistant in OB/GYN for 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand the needs and concerns of patients. Women deserve better options for care, diagnoses, and treatment. With a blend of engineering insight, empathy, and the determination I gained as a collegiate athlete, I realized I could develop superior tools for women’s health.

What truly differentiates me is my perspective as a woman who has worked in women’s health. I understand both the practical needs for implementing medical tools and the patient experience. I’m particularly excited about the Rosa Spec™ and its potential for early diagnosis, improved compliance, and empowering women through a self-placement option. I feel a great sense of pride and validation when I discuss the Rosa Spec™ with other providers; they immediately grasp the problem we are solving and the urgent need to enhance diagnostics, patient experience, and overall quality of care.

Our journey to this point has required significant time, ambition, and endurance. The potential global health impact of this device is a constant source of immense drive. It hasn’t been an easy path, but we never expected it to be. Taking on the role of CEO without a prior business background was a learning curve, but through extensive reading, networking, research, and connecting with other CEOs and founders, the path has become much clearer. I’ve learned that this position isn’t defined by degrees or titles, but by passion, understanding, and the ability to lead. Every connection strengthens understanding and expands our network. Efficient time management is crucial, and a “no” from an investor doesn’t always mean forever; it often just means “not right now.”

At MVI Medical, we want the world to know that we have listened to what women want in healthcare, we understand their needs, and we are committed to building for impact. Historically, many innovations in women’s health have been created by men, named after men, and often overlook the woman’s experience. Our Rosa Spec™ is named after inspiring women like Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rosie the Riveter, reflecting our commitment to empowering women in women’s health.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would start by exploring the beautiful beaches, including snorkeling and kayaking along La Jolla Shores. We’ll definitely visit Old Town San Diego for some delicious Mexican food and margaritas. For nightlife, we would head downtown to Little Italy.

I would also want to take her to Point Loma’s Liberty Station and we could go for hikes at Torrey Pines and Annie’s Canyon. A trip to Coronado would be fun, with lunch at the Hotel del Coronado and a bike ride around the island. We would also try to fit in visits to SeaWorld and Mission Bay.

For a taste of local charm, we could have breakfast at Pipes in Cardiff, and I’d love to cook up some “Cardiff Crack” on the grill. We would also spend time walking through the charming beach towns of La Jolla, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside.

It might be ambitious to fit everything into one week. San Diego has too much to offer to fit in to that small amount of time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wanted to share a shoutout to the incredible village of women in my life. I’ve been incredibly blessed by the support and encouragement from so many amazing and strong women, including my three sisters, my women’s sports teammates, my closest friends and the wonderful colleagues I’ve had while working in women’s health.

Our company is actually named in honor of these inspiring women, as it truly wouldn’t exist without them. We often use the term “It takes a village” and my shoutout is to ours.

Website: HTTPS://www.mvimedical.com

Instagram: @mvi_medical

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-village-innovations/

Other: HTTPS://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-munoz-80478644

Image Credits
Michele Frens