Femtech start-ups in France increase by 22% in 12 months
Femtech start-ups in France increase by 22% in 12 months
New report by non-profit FemTech France takes a look at the sector landscape
A total of 140 femtech start-ups are now in existence in France - up by almost 22% since 2023.
The stats have been revealed as part of a new report by the non-profit Femtech France and consulting firm Wavestone which takes an in-depth look at the state of the industry in France.
Research also found that the majority of French femtech start-ups (60%) have been created between 2021 and 2023, indicating a surge in interest in the sector.
That’s also underlined by news that the word Femtech will be added into the 2025 Larousse dictionary too.
Profile of femtech start-ups in France
Of the start-ups, 57% are in the wellness sector and 43% in the health sector (meaning that the product/service is part of a care pathway). Within health, the most common products and services are healthcare software (SaaS), tests and medical devices. Within wellness, consumer products, supplements and mobile applications are all on the rise.
Among the start-ups surveyed, 94% were co-founded by women and a third (33%) had a healthcare professional on the founding team.
Geographically, the start-ups surveyed are mainly from the Paris region (52%), followed by Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Novelle-Aquitaine and Pays de la Loire.
Development stage
The market-leading startups in France are Perifit and Fizimed which both make perineal /pelvic health devices and breast pumps, as well as Apricity, the virtual fertility clinic. However, these three companies are already well-established internationally (US for Perifit, Germany for Fizimed and the UK for Apricity).
The average cumulative revenue in 2023 for startups surveyed amounted to €42.8 million. 77% of start-ups have a product on the market and of those, 76% are generating sales.
Funding
The average amount of funds raised by start-ups surveyed since their creation is €950,000. And 40% of start-ups surveyed have been financed since their creation - mainly through fundraising (59%), self-financing (34%) and grants and subsidies (3%).
Among the biggest fundraisers in 2023 are Sonio ultrasound software (€13million), Womed treatments for complex uterine pathologies (€6million) and Sorella medical offices dedicated to women’s health (€5m).
The year also saw the first acquisition of a French femtech start-up (Sonio) by a manufacturer (Samsung).
Looking ahead and challenges
Three key market trends were observed by Femtech France:
women’s health in the workplace remains a strong theme.
insurance companies are looking for more comprehensive health offerings
there is a need to innovate in under-addressed areas such as hormonal health and mental health
Three key challenges were also observed:
the affordability of products
carbon footprint
funding
Juliette Mauro, President of Femtech France said:
“The presence of series A and series B companies on the femtech market in France and Europe (excluding the UK) should motivate the financial institutions to create dedicated Femtech funds to support the development and growth of these structures.”