Femtech Canada Teams Up with Sun Life to Enhance Women’s Health Initiatives

On April 9, 2025, Femtech Canada, managed by Innovation Factory, announced a strategic partnership with Sun Life to emphasize the importance of innovation in women’s health. This collaboration aims to develop unique commercialization programming tailored specifically to women’s health innovations, fostering economic growth through job creation and investment while positioning Canada as a leader in the burgeoning femtech market.

Through this foundational partnership, Femtech Canada plans to launch Canada’s first-ever commercialization program aimed at women’s health. This initiative will provide critical mentorship, business advisory support, and access to key networks that address the distinct challenges faced by femtech founders, such as inadequate resources, funding difficulties, talent shortages, and advertising restrictions. Moreover, this partnership seeks to promote viable women's health solutions by facilitating access to market insurance opportunities, thereby enhancing their commercial viability.

Since its launch in January 2024, Femtech Canada has developed a robust network, comprising over 160 women’s health companies that have mobilized 110 years of Canadian research. The ecosystem it has cultivated has led to the creation of over 1,260 active jobs and attracted more than $250 million in private-sector investment. With the support from Sun Life, Femtech Canada aims to broaden its impact as it seeks to thrive in a global market anticipated to exceed $130 billion by 2034.

Karen Linseman, Vice President of Operations at Innovation Factory, expressed optimism regarding the partnership, stating, “This partnership with Sun Life enables us to take a bold step forward in supporting women’s health innovation across Canada.” Linseman highlighted that combining Sun Life’s community health commitment with Femtech Canada’s commercialization expertise will create a stronger support system for women’s health founders to access critical resources and bring innovative solutions to market. She envisions this collaboration leading to meaningful changes that address health disparities while promoting a more inclusive healthcare system.

Marie-Chantal Côté, Senior Vice-President at Sun Life Health, echoed these sentiments, asserting that investing in women’s health and research reaps benefits not only for the present but for future generations, facilitating advancements that positively impact individuals and society as a whole.

In line with their partnership, Sun Life sponsored the inaugural Femtech Canada Forum held in Montréal in November 2024, where industry leaders, policymakers, and investors engaged in discussions about the future of women’s health technology. The event focused on promoting policy advancements, investment opportunities, and creating a supportive environment for emerging women's health start-ups.

Looking forward, this partnership is set to unlock collaborative opportunities for Femtech Canada by uniting innovators, healthcare providers, and investors, positioning the organization at the forefront of advancing women's health as a critical aspect of healthcare innovation.

Femtech Canada, devoted to fostering an inclusive growth approach, aims to address the historical lack of investment, research, and attention in women's health. As a national network, it endeavors to connect femtech companies with invaluable resources and support, inspiring entrepreneurs and researchers to innovate technologies that significantly improve the quality of life for women across Canada.

In conclusion, the partnership between Femtech Canada and Sun Life is poised to stimulate significant advancements in women’s health, transforming the sector while fortifying Canada’s role as a global leader in femtech.