Coral launches virtual care platform for menopause

MONTREAL – Coral, a women’s digital health startup, has announced the completion of a $4.1 million seed funding round and the launch of its virtual care platform. Led by Brightspark, with participation from Diagram and The51 and joined by several high-profile angel investors, the funding will enable Coral to deliver integrated, personalized solutions for women navigating perimenopause and beyond – setting a new standard for menopause care in Canada.

Founded by Anna Chif (pictured), Fiona Lake Waslander, and John McCalla, Coral was born out of a shared recognition of the health decline women experience in their mid-life due to the lack of preventative and effective menopause care.

Prior to founding Coral, Anna co-founded Dialogue – Canada’s largest telemedicine provider that went public in 2021 and was subsequently acquired by Sunlife Financial in 2023 – and is now leveraging her extensive experience scaling healthcare solutions to shape Coral’s model.

The founding team is combining their expertise in healthcare innovation, product development, and scaling technology to redefine how women access care in what should be the prime years in a woman’s life.

Almost 95% of women experience symptoms during menopause, for some lasting over 10 years and being completely debilitating. Women make up almost 50% of the workforce, and an estimated 1 in 10 will leave their jobs due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause (Menopause Foundation of Canada, HR Review UK).

“Women navigating menopause should live their best years, and solutions exist. Unfortunately, far too many women unnecessarily struggle with health issues,” said Chif, co-founder and chairwoman of Coral. “Solutions are available, and Coral leverages the latest global research and best practices to support women and help them achieve optimal health.”

“Coral aims to solve the health impact of menopause symptoms by empowering women with accessible, personalized care. It integrates a medical-first approach with lifestyle behaviour change support, all delivered through leading-edge technology,” said Lake Waslander, co-founder and CEO of Coral. “Our digitally powered platform and seamless experience ensures our members feel supported and thrive during their menopause journey and beyond.”

Coral’s Virtual Platform Includes:

• Detailed Health Assessments: At-home blood testing, body composition scan analysis, and in-depth health questionnaires to get a detailed and complete picture of each women’s health status.
• Personalized Care Plans: Individualized health guides tailored by dedicated nurses and supported through consultations by medical doctors, nurse practitioners and health coaches.
• Integrated Support: Preventive team-based medical care, prescriptions when necessary and lifestyle guidance to optimize nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being.

“Coral is addressing a critical gap in our healthcare system with a new, innovative approach to menopause care,” said Sophie Forest of Brightspark Ventures. “We are excited to back a team of repeat founders that will have a significant impact on the lives of millions of women and set a new standard for women’s care.”

“Coral’s innovative approach to menopause care aligns with our dedication to investing in companies that drive meaningful change,” said Gaurav Kapoor, general partner at Diagram. “We are excited to support their work in providing personalized, technology-enabled solutions for women navigating this critical transition.”

About Coral
Coral is a women’s digital health platform on a mission to improve the lives of Canadian women by setting a new standard for menopause care. Coral focuses on evidence-based treatments, holistic solutions and a team-based approach tailored to each individual’s needs. By providing accessible, personalized and ongoing medical care and follow-ups, Coral empowers women to thrive during perimenopause, menopause and beyond. For more information, visit https://www.coral.ca/.

About Brightspark Ventures
Brightspark Ventures is a top-performing Canadian early-stage venture firm, actively investing in exceptional entrepreneurs since 1999. Known for partnering early with founders across verticals and providing long-term capital and support, Brightspark manages over $500M across traditional VC funds and SPVs. For more information, visit https://brightspark.com/en.

About Diagram
Diagram is a Venture Builder and Investor with over $400M in assets under management, specializing in launching and scaling ventures in Fintech and ClimateTech. Since 2016, Diagram has collaborated with exceptional founders to launch more than 25 ventures, combining access to capital, hands-on support, and a deep ecosystem of partners to catalyze the growth of world-changing companies.
For more information, visit https://diagram.vc/.

About The51
The51 is a venture fund and financial platform where current and aspiring investors come together to democratize access to capital for women and underrepresented founders. We are investing in the world that we want to see.
For more information, visit https://the51.com/.