Femtech Canada strengthens support for startups

HAMILTON, Ont. — Femtech Canada, a national women’s health innovation network, announced the launch of Women’s Health Medical Pathway (wHealth MedPath), a new program designed to help Canadian femtech startups accelerate commercialization and scale impact.

As the femtech sector gains momentum, this initiative fills a critical gap by offering expert-driven support to help women’s health start-ups bring their innovations to market.

The wHealth MedPath program was established by Femtech Canada in partnership with Innovation Factory and supported in part by funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

Through partnerships with physician networks/physician investment groups, contract research organizations, and contract design and manufacturing organizations, the program provides project support and expert-led services to validate women’s health innovations and advance them toward market readiness. These services are aimed at reducing risk, increasing clinical credibility, and strengthening commercialization strategies.

“We’re addressing a critical gap in Canada’s innovation pipeline,” said Karen Linseman (pictured), VP of operations at Innovation Factory. “With the potential to contribute $27 billion to Canada’s GDP by 2040, women’s health innovation represents one of the country’s most promising growth opportunities. wHealth MedPath provides the clinical insight and expert guidance femtech founders need to bring impactful solutions to market and position Canada as a global leader in this sector.”

By supporting companies to gather key opinion leader feedback, engage in product design, product testing, and product documentation such as regulatory planning and clinical study design, wHealth MedPath will propel the sector forward and help femtech founders achieve critical commercialization milestones.

Femtech Canada was created to support innovators and address gaps in women’s health. Since its public launch in 2024, Femtech Canada has built the third largest femtech ecosystem in the world, with over 170 women’s health companies that have commercialized 110 years of Canadian research, created more than 1,200 active jobs nationwide, and generated over $250 million in private-sector investment.

Femtech companies are encouraged to apply. Learn more about the wHealth MedPath program and how to apply at: femtech.ca/wHealth-MedPath

About Femtech Canada
Femtech Canada is a national network dedicated to advancing women’s health technology by connecting femtech companies with essential resources and visibility. Through strategic networking, business advisory support, mentorship and a dynamic online community, Femtech Canada inspires entrepreneurs and researchers to pioneer technologies that improve the lives of women and end-users across the country. Operated by Innovation Factory, Femtech Canada is committed to fostering intentional, intersectional, and inclusive growth in the sector by advocating to close the longstanding gaps in women’s health — a field historically underserved, under-researched, and under-funded. femtech.ca

About Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory is a not-for-profit business accelerator, serving as the catalyst for technology innovation in Ontario since 2010. Innovation Factory provides business services, training, mentorship, and strategic connections to drive market adoption, leverage intellectual property, and increase revenues, investment, and jobs. Innovators can also access sector-specific resources including exclusive smart transportation test environments and data; and a formal life science and health innovation ecosystem. innovationfactory.ca