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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Navigating the complexities of perimenopause and menopause can be daunting. Pamela Light, a peri/menopause expert and instructor at Bay Club, has over 30 years of experience as a health coach and wants to change the narrative around hormonal changes. In a conversation with Athletech News, Light advised fitness professionals on how best to help clients navigate their hormonal shifts.

Light emphasized the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to fitness.

“The days of quantity are over, and our workouts should be all about quality,” Light told ATN. “Choose exercises that work the large muscle groups all together like deadlifts, bench presses or squats and lunges. Make workouts efficient and effective, never long and complicated. This will maximize results while minimizing the time our cortisol is elevated.”

Strength training can provide enough demand for bones and muscles to get stronger without spiking cortisol, which is higher for perimenopausal women.

“It has also been found that resistance training increases cardiovascular fitness, which usually takes a hit in the menopause transition,” Light added. “Women also burn fat for fuel while resistance training, the ultimate bonus!”

All About Balance

Pamela’s approach to lifestyle changes is centered around moderation and balance.

“Women in menopause transform into Goldilocks,” Light said.

“Balance becomes the rule in all things. I work with a load of smart, disciplined women who come to me discouraged because they can’t imagine eating less or exercising more. I help them edit their workouts down to find a good balance between hard, moderate and easy, as well as teach them how to fuel with real foods throughout the day. In addition to feeling better right away, they are on a sustainable path to help avoid all of the typical menopausal health pitfalls: inflammation, bone loss, fat gain, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Light also advises fitness professionals to support their clients on more than just hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and supplements to alleviate their symptoms (note: This is not within a fitness professional’s scope of practice without the proper education, training and certification. Work in concert with allied health professionals when dealing with supplements or exogenous hormones).

“While HRT/supplements can set the stage for success, they aren’t a magic bullet,” Light said. “We need to guide our clients on how to move, eat and rest to increase and maintain bone and muscle mass, and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

She also shared her skepticism about fasting.

“To me, fasting reads like a gimmick or shortcut to avoid the effort, and patience involved in making a lasting lifestyle change,” Light said. “Often, women walk away from their fasting experiment with decreased heart health, lost muscle and bone, a slower metabolism, and feeling very discouraged. Why not put that same level of effort into eating quality foods, balancing our nutrients, and making movement a priority?”

Most fitness professionals and medical providers overlook the complexities of perimenopause and menopause. By focusing on strength training and balance in lifestyle habits, women can better navigate this transformative phase.

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