Coral, a women’s digital health startup, has secured $4.1 million (CAD) from a seed funding round for its new virtual care platform centered on women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Brightspark led the round, which included participation from Diagram, The51 and angel investors.

“Women navigating menopause should live their best years,” Coral co-founder and chairwoman Anna Chif said. “Yet, far too many of us unnecessarily struggle with health issues. We offer effective solutions for women to achieve optimal health by leveraging the latest validated research and best practices.”

Chif is no stranger to the preventative health space, having co-founded Dialogue, a Canadian telemedicine provider that went public in 2021 before being acquired by Sunlife Financial in 2023.

“Women navigating menopause should live their best years. Yet, far too many of us unnecessarily struggle with health issues,” Chif added. “We offer effective solutions for women to achieve optimal health by leveraging the latest validated research and best practices.”

The new platform offers women health assessments such as at-home blood testing, body composition scan analysis, in-depth health questionnaires, personalized care plans supported by medical experts, and integrated support, including access to prescriptions when necessary and lifestyle guidance.

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

Sophie Forest, partner at Brightspark Ventures, noted that the firm is proud to back the Coral team.

“Women’s digital health has long been underserved, and Coral is set to redefine care, improve millions of lives, and seize a massive opportunity,” Forest added.

Elsewhere in the industry, perimenopause and menopause-related programs have been recently added to Equinox Hotels and Canyon Ranch, signaling a growing trend.

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The Spa by Equinox Hotels has partnered with actress Naomi Watts’ pro-aging beauty and wellness brand Stripes Beauty to address the needs of women navigating perimenopause and menopause with an innovative spa treatment circuit, curated in-room offerings and signature retail products.

The latest offering introduces Pause + Renew, a 2.5-hour spa treatment that includes Stripes Beauty’s products. Guests who book the service can expect a 45-minute body-shaping therapy paired with Stripes Beauty “The Full Monty” Squalane Hydrating Vitamin C Body Oil, a 90-minute Dr. Lara Devgan dermal renewal facial and scalp massage using Stripes Beauty “The Root of It” Ectoine Densifying Scalp Serum and a 5-minute NutriDrip CoQ10 booster shot to improve energy levels and address hot flashes and mood swings. A take-home gift is also part of the experience.

“Menopause deserves attention, respect and care,” Stripes Beauty founder and chief creative officer Watts said. “This partnership is a pivotal step in our mission to take the stigma out of menopause and make science-backed solutions and luxury wellness more accessible to women navigating this life transition. Together, we’re reshaping the narrative and raising the standard for menopause-focused treatment and services.”

Watts founded the brand in 2022 after experiencing the uncomfortable midlife symptoms, which she detailed on the Stripes Beauty website. Last June, the company was acquired by L Catterton. As for Equinox Hotels, the addition enhances its expanding wellness offerings, including services tailored to sleep health.

“At The Spa by Equinox Hotels, we’re committed to providing innovative, science-backed treatments that empower our guests to feel their best at every stage of life,” said Ara Patterson, vice president of food, beverage and spa at Equinox Hotels. “Our partnership with Stripes Beauty is a reflection of that mission, addressing the beauty needs of perimenopausal and menopausal women with a program that combines advanced technology and luxury care.”

On a broader scale, 2025 could be the year when the seeds planted in the femtech and women-centered space begin to bloom. Long overlooked, the sector is already seeing prominent brands elevate the conversation around the unique needs of women 35 years old and older. 

In addition to Equinox Hotels, Canyon Ranch has announced M/Power, retreats for those experiencing menopause and perimenopause. The retreats —limited to 15 guests—begin in March and include one-on-one consultations with Canyon Ranch experts, where women can address their concerns with a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, licensed mental health therapists and spiritual well-being professionals. There is also a medical component, with comprehensive blood work, a women’s hormonal panel and a Dexa body scan.

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Wellness tourism leader Canyon Ranch is launching M/Power, a series of retreats designed for women navigating menopause and perimenopause.

The first M/Power session will take place March 10–13 at Canyon Ranch’s Lenox, Massachusetts, resort. The hospitality company plans to offer three additional sessions later this year.

Each M/Power retreat is limited to 15 participants and includes one-on-one consultations with Canyon Ranch experts. Guests will have the opportunity to address their concerns with a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, licensed mental health therapists and spiritual well-being professionals.

Part of the wellness experience includes comprehensive blood work, a women’s hormonal panel and a Dexa body scan, as well as access to CR Vitality, Canyon Ranch’s dedicated recovery space. Spa treatments and daily M/Power group sessions are also part of the schedule, providing insight on topics such as hormones, sex, stress, circadian rhythms and sleep, emotional balance, alternative treatments and nutrition. Guests have the option to add a sleep and cancer screening panel during their Canyon Ranch stay.

“Today, more than ever, women are actively seeking in-depth guidance, data, insights and tools to help navigate the many complexities and variables we face during menopause and perimenopause,” said Canyon Ranch MD Dr. Jennifer Baker-Porazinski, who is leading M/Power immersions along with visiting experts. “M/Power by Canyon Ranch provides women with an unmatched and unprecedented foundation for menopause and perimenopause understanding and care while delivering a comprehensive assessment of overall health.”

Other M/Power retreats are set for May 28-31, August 28-31 and November 10-13 for a fee of $7000 per person. The three-night, four-day stay is all-inclusive, covering meals, 30+ daily guest activities, testing, educational sessions, consultations, related health and well-being services and two virtual follow-up appointments.

“Canyon Ranch has a unique platform to create a menopause and perimenopause program that balances traditional and alternative medicine alongside our expertise in mental health, spiritual wellness, and education,” Canyon Ranch CEO Mark Rivers said. “M/Power will be a signature program for women at our resort in the Berkshires, with its stunning campus, state-of-the-art facilities and a welcoming team of specialists and service providers. Once again, we are excited to be an innovator and thought leader and meet the needs and interests of our guests.”

Canyon Ranch’s latest offering comes amid a surge in interest in femtech solutions and women’s health, upending once-taboo topics such as perimenopause and menopause and giving them their overdue visibility.

Being outspoken about natural stages of aging can seem at odds as longevity remains a hot topic and the pursuit of extended vitality is in high gear, but several leaders in the space are determined to foster conversations and solutions to support women as they navigate new phases of life.

It’s a space in which supplement and health tech brand Ritual is also invested, having recently launched a limited-series podcast, “For the Real Body Builders,” in collaboration with Dear Media. Hosted by Ritual founder Kat Schneider, the podcast focuses on often-overlooked aspects of women’s health.

The first episode tackles menstruation and features insights from hormone expert Alisa Vitti and Beeya Wellness founder Yasmin Nouri. Other episodes explore topics like preparing the mind and body for pregnancy, giving birth, postpartum recovery, fertility and perimenopause, with contributions from Parsley Health founder Dr. Robin Berzin.

Last month, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine urged the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address gaps in women’s health research and recommended the creation of a dedicated institute focused on women’s health. Moreover, the report highlighted that just 8.8% of NIH grant spending from 2013 to 2023 was allocated to women’s health research. The group also pointed out that funding for such research has decreased as a share of NIH’s overall budget despite “steady increases” in its budget. 

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FemTech, the industry dedicated to developing technology-driven solutions tailored to women’s health, is reshaping the healthcare landscape. By addressing gaps in care across maternal health, fertility, mental health and chronic disease management, FemTech innovations are making healthcare more accessible, inclusive and personalized. With a projected market value of over $60 billion by 2027, companies in this space are tackling systemic challenges and empowering women throughout their health journeys.

Willow Innovations, known for its wearable breast pumps, recently introduced Ema, a conversational AI tool designed to support maternal and postpartum wellness. Integrated into the Willow App, Ema offers expert-backed guidance on topics such as breastfeeding, postpartum recovery and maternal mental health. Unlike traditional search engines, Ema uses a proprietary database of vetted content, ensuring mothers receive holistic and accurate support.

“New moms don’t have enough support for their feeding and parenting journey, or in their own postpartum care,” said Sarah O’Leary, CEO of Willow. “AI tools, when implemented thoughtfully, can deliver personalized guidance at scale and positively impact mothers’ well-being.”

Meanwhile, Bird&Be is transforming the fertility landscape. The brand was co-founded by Samantha Diamond, who drew on her personal experience with PCOS and pregnancy loss to build a company that empowers individuals and couples navigating fertility challenges.

“Bird&Be was started by a team of fertility warriors. In my case, I struggled with PCOS and pregnancy loss when growing my family,” Diamond shared with Athletech News. “I found information and support in the fertility industry to be sparse—with little to no community of women or couples who were speaking out loud about their experiences. It was this personal experience, along with the collective experiences of my co-founders and our medical team, that drove us to iterate on the initial idea for Bird&Be.”

Bird&Be offers a range of at-home solutions, including fertility supplements, tests and educational tools for women and men.

Fertility Education

Diamond explained that fertility care is a rapidly evolving field, yet still lags in critical areas like access, education, and inclusivity. “The rate of infertility is going up, as is the age of mothers at first birth,” she said. “We’re also dealing with a population exposed to increasing environmental toxins and sedentary lifestyles, which are impacting fertility outcomes. And yet, the ‘sex ed’ curriculum hasn’t been updated to include fertility education, and people often get to their doctors too late in the game.”

Another significant barrier is affordability. Fertility treatments and supplements can be financially overwhelming, often adding strain to an already difficult process. Diamond recalled her own challenges: “When I was on my journey, I was referred to a fertility-focused naturopathic doctor who made a world of difference, but the support came with costs that weren’t covered by insurance. Bird&Be offers the kind of support I wish I had—comprehensive, cost-effective, and accessible.”

The company has simplified supplement regimens into single daily packets, reducing costs and waste while making holistic care more approachable. “We’ve had all of our doctors across multiple integrative disciplines review the research and agree on the most comprehensive, evidence-based regime for every stage of the fertility journey,” Diamond explained.

Diamond also highlighted the company’s recent study on sperm health. “This year, we published research on how preconception supplements like ours can improve sperm motility,” she said. “It’s a big step in normalizing conversations around male fertility, which is often overlooked despite being a contributing factor in up to 50% of infertility cases.”

FemTech has the potential to fill critical gaps in healthcare, improve accessibility, and create more equitable solutions for women and couples alike. As the industry continues to grow, it holds the promise of redefining healthcare for women across all life stages.

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