The Government of Ontario is backing 10 seed-stage women’s health brands via wHealth Ignite, an accelerator operated by Innovation Factory and its subsidiary, Femtech Canada.
The undisclosed investment is funded through the Ontario Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy (WELL) Fund, which will allocate $5.5 million this year across projects supporting female economic advancement and survivors of human trafficking.
“Women’s health innovation represents one of Canada’s most promising opportunities for economic growth,” said Innovation Factory CEO David Carter. “With this funding, wHealth Ignite will be able to provide femtech founders with the tools they need to bring their solutions to market and fuel growth in this sector.”
Intended for Ontario-based founders, the accelerator provides investor feedback, strategic mentorship, national exposure, and brand-building resources. Participants will also connect with experts from Google, the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, and Spring – which will offer up to $100,000 in equity investment to select companies.
With women’s health projected to become a $27 billion market in Canada by 2040, the program builds on Ontario’s broader $41 million commitment to women’s economic empowerment over the next three years.
“Ontario is proud to support Canada’s first milestone-driven program dedicated to women’s health innovation,” said Michael Parsa, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “wHealth Ignite will make a measurable difference by increasing the retention, promotion, and leadership of women in the women’s health innovation sector.”
