Female Founders Drive Innovation Beyond Femtech

A new wave of French startups, championed by investors focused on gender diversity, is demonstrating that female entrepreneurship extends far beyond the Femtech sector. These ventures are making significant strides in areas like advanced healthcare diagnostics, circular economy solutions for textiles, and AI-powered procurement, challenging traditional investment patterns that have historically underfunded women-led businesses.

The stark reality of underrepresentation persists: in 2025, all-female founding teams accounted for a mere 10% of European startups, securing only 2% of venture capital. In France, women alone founded 9% of startups that year, with mixed-gender teams including at least one woman making up another 10%. This imbalance underscores the critical mission of investment vehicles like ShiftHer Invest, which actively seeks to back companies with female or parity-driven leadership, or those whose products specifically serve women.

ShiftHer Invest, an initiative born from the broader ShiftHer network founded by legal professionals Laura Dufresne and Géraldine Compain, aims to dismantle the glass ceiling by fostering economic participation. Their investment strategy is rooted in a comprehensive, 360-degree analysis, evaluating not just financial projections but also product viability, team dynamics, organizational structure, and legal frameworks. As Géraldine Compain notes, their approach is to provide holistic support, leveraging their extensive network of legal experts, entrepreneurs, and HR professionals.

Contrary to misconceptions, ShiftHer Invest emphasizes that their investment philosophy is driven by rigorous analysis and value creation potential, not sentiment. "We are not philanthropists," states Laura Dufresne. "An investment conviction is built on analysis, data, a strong team, and the potential for value creation." This methodical approach, involving in-depth due diligence and monthly board meetings, ensures that investment decisions are both strategic and financially sound.

Among the promising companies benefiting from this focused investment is Methys DX. Co-founded by Valérie Taly and Magali Droniou, this biotech firm is revolutionizing cancer monitoring with liquid biopsy technology. By analyzing circulating tumor DNA through proprietary methylation markers in blood, Methys DX offers a less invasive method for tracking advanced and aggressive cancers, a significant advancement for patient care.

Another portfolio company, Ziwig, is transforming endometriosis diagnosis. Founded by Yaha El Mir, Ziwig has developed a saliva-based diagnostic device that drastically reduces the lengthy medical odyssey typically associated with the condition, which averages seven years. This innovation gained recognition in February 2025 when the French High Authority for Health included it in an "innovation package," facilitating its reimbursement under specific conditions for up to 25,000 patients.

Shifting focus to the circular economy, Prolong, a startup with a female co-founder, Sarah Setti, is tackling textile waste. Their B2B SaaS platform empowers fashion brands and retailers to manage repair and maintenance services, turning after-sales support into a customer engagement tool and extending product lifespans. In the technology sector, Pivot, an AI-driven procurement automation company with a female co-founder, recently secured $40 million in May 2026, following successful adoption by prominent companies like Doctolib and Deezer.