Ana Timoficiuc

I attribute my success to having a clear sense of purpose, setting ambitious goals, and being willing to pursue them despite challenges. As a child, I dreamed of becoming the first woman on Mars, which led me to a career in aerospace engineering and years of experience at SpaceX. My journey took an unexpected turn when my personal experience with recurrent UTIs and pelvic pain inspired me to apply my engineering background to women’s health. Founding MinaRosa Technologies allowed me to combine innovation with purpose, and I believe my success comes from staying committed to solving meaningful problems, embracing continuous learning, and having the courage to follow opportunities that align with my values and vision.

My number one piece of advice is to keep getting back up, keep trying, keep pivoting. I think entrepreneurship is really a matter of statistics. As long as you are married to the problem and you care about it, then you just have to keep trying. Fall down six times, get up seven. One of my favorite quotes is from this book called It's About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton, and she says that if you really want to see your solution or product or idea put out in the world, and you don't care who brings it to life because you really care about it being real that badly, then not only is that a good idea, but it's meant for you. That really called to me because I was very unsure if I should leave aerospace. In my head, I was literally telling myself, I'm just an aerospace engineer, what business do I have building a women's health company? But because it meant a lot to me, and this is something I really care about, and it impacts women and my family, that's my advice to people: fall down six times, get up seven, just never stop pivoting, be married to the problem, and trust your gut instinct. You'll be able to figure it out.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is overcoming the stigma and lack of awareness surrounding women's pelvic and bladder health. Too many women live with chronic pain and recurring conditions that are often misunderstood, under-researched, or dismissed, creating barriers to both innovation and access to effective solutions. At the same time, this represents one of the greatest opportunities in healthcare today. There is growing recognition that women's health deserves greater investment, research, and technological advancement. My transition from aerospace engineering to women's health may seem unconventional, but both fields require the same mindset: identifying complex problems, understanding them deeply, and relentlessly pursuing solutions. Entrepreneurship has taught me that meaningful innovation often happens when we are willing to challenge assumptions, think across disciplines, and step beyond the paths we originally imagined for ourselves.

The values that are most important to me, both professionally and personally, are perseverance, adaptability, and integrity. As the daughter of Romanian immigrants and the eldest of 13 children, I learned early on the importance of working hard, taking responsibility, and always striving to do my best regardless of the challenges in front of me. I believe success requires persistence through obstacles, the willingness to pivot when circumstances change, and the confidence to trust your instincts when making difficult decisions. Beyond my work, I am deeply committed to advocacy, education, and empowering others. Through partnerships with organizations such as Live UTI Free and Global Alliance for UTIs, I help raise awareness about women’s health conditions that are often overlooked and under-researched. I have also been fortunate to be part of communities such as Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics and Formidable, which have reinforced my belief in the power of mentorship, collaboration, and creating opportunities for future generations of women leaders.