Plus: Genomic test offers millions of women with breast cancer chemotherapy alternative, and Galleri Test increases cancer detection 6.5-fold.
Alyx van der Vorm, a solo female founder, raised $14 million in Series A funding for her Gen Z platform Clyx, demonstrating capital access for high-growth consumer technology. Concurrently, new genomic test findings offer physicians pathways to treat breast cancer patients with hormone therapy alone, impacting femtech operators' treatment strategies. The French Femtech ecosystem now includes 200 active startups, with 23% already profitable. Five takes inside, plus a quick-hits roundup.
Clyx raised $14 million in Series A funding, with Alyx van der Vorm as founder and CEO. The Gen Z platform has facilitated more than 500,000 real-world friendships across six cities. This demonstrates a solo female founder's ability to secure significant capital for a high-growth consumer platform.
Read the full story →Average funding rounds for French Femtech companies reached €2.9m in 2025. This year also saw the launch of the Femtech Île-de-France Fund, expected to have €50 million in assets, which targets investments from pre-seed to Series A in 2026. Seven French Femtech companies, including Woma and Les Pas d’Chichi, now secure reimbursement through the national health insurance system. This environment means nearly four in five (79%) French Femtech startups plan to hire in 2026.
Read the full story →4,429 patients aged 40 or over participated in the Optima trial, which showed a genomic test offers near-identical outcomes for some women with breast cancer who avoid chemotherapy. The Prosigna test, made by Veracyte, analyses 50 genes in tumor tissue to identify cancer subtype and recurrence risk. Five years post-treatment, 94% of patients skipping chemotherapy were recurrence-free, compared to 95% receiving both treatments. This finding allows clinicians to treat patients with a low test score with hormone therapy alone, thereby impacting treatment strategies for femtech operators.
Read the full story →The Galleri Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Test increased cancer detection 6.5-fold when added to recommended screenings, according to PATHFINDER 2 study results from over 35,000 participants. Of new cancers detected, 71% were in Stages I-III. This data suggests potential for earlier cancer diagnosis in femtech-relevant areas like breast and cervical cancer.
Read the full story →Low iron is a common cause of tiredness in women, affecting them disproportionately due to periods and pregnancy. Iron stores can deplete without a standard anemia diagnosis since ferritin levels drop first. A blood test checking blood count and ferritin accurately diagnoses low iron. This could inform femtech operators and clinicians on relevant diagnostic and treatment pathways for women's health.
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