United Kingdom and France FemTech - Canadian Technology Accelerator

The United Kingdom (UK) and France Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) teams are thrilled to announce the opening of the recruitment for our upcoming FemTech CTA program!

The UKis currently the largest market for FemTech in Europe. It’s the epicenter for women's health innovation, housing approximately 32% of FemTech startups in Europe. As of late 2024, the sector was valued at over £700 million . The sector is growing at an impressive rate of 30% annually,  due to an increasing awareness of women's health needs and advancements in technology. The UK has a robust ecosystem supporting FemTech growth, including:

• significant investment
• government initiatives like the Women’s Health Strategy
• numerous innovation hubs like:
  • London
  • Cambridge
  • Manchester
  • Oxford

The FemTech industry in France is thriving and rapidly evolving, driven by innovation and a growing focus on women's health. This momentum is reinforced by government-backed initiatives aimed at accelerating healthtech and women's health solutions. Such initiatives include the France 2030 Health Innovation Plan, and targeted funding from Bpifrance.. FemTech in France is ready for expansion and presents a good opportunity to enter the market early. France ranks third in Europe for venture capital (VC) investment in tech companies, with a notable portion directed towards FemTech. Paris is the leading hub for FemTech in France. The city is home to a significant number of startups and organizations. 

There are unique growth opportunities for Canadian companies looking to expand into these exciting markets, particularly for those with innovative technology in:

• biotechnology
• medical devices
• diagnostics
• therapeutics
• digital health
• research tools
• mental health

The UK-France FemTech CTA will give you:

• strategic guidance on entering the UK and French market through local industry expert mentoring
• curated meetings with target clients or partners in the local market, following your 1-on-1 mentoring sessions
• access to potential investment, pilot projects, and partnerships in the UK and France
• extensive market briefings on doing business in the UK and France, with deep-dive sessions presented by sector experts
• networking opportunities through participation and attendance at events, allowing successful candidates to present to:
  • potential buyers
  • strategic partners
  • investors

High-potential, scale-up stage FemTech companies who are interested in expanding into the UK and France. 

Applicants must be able to commit to both the virtual (mentoring and masterclass sessions) and the in-market components of the programming. The latter will require selected participants to travel to the UK and France at the beginning of December.

Your company must have:

• a revenue-generating business with existing market traction and a fully built validated technology
• a passionate team fully committed to participate in the virtual and in-market program
• a clear go-to-market strategy and specific growth goals
• sufficient resources to enter the UK and French market

The Trade Commissioner Service supports equity, diversity, and inclusion in trade. We strongly encourage companies led by Canadians of all backgrounds to apply. 

The UK-France FemTech CTA will be a hybrid program beginning in October 2025, with most sessions delivered online. The program includes:

• Virtual onboarding: Introductions to the CTA supporting team, program partners and fellow cohort members.
• Needs assessment: Analysis of the company's status and knowledge base in the UK region, as well as program goals.
• Virtual market briefings, mentor match-making and coaching sessions.
• Strategic business-to-business (B2B) introductions with relevant stakeholders.

CTA participants will be invited to join us in the UK and France to attend events that will help grow their in-market presence and network. Participants will have opportunities to showcase their value proposition to key market players, investors, and potential customers through pitching and networking sessions. More details will be shared during an information session on the of July 17, 2025, at 11am EST/8am PST.