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Bridging International Ecosystems: French Women Innovating in MedTech across California & New England

Expanding into the U.S. healthcare market is often viewed as a question of scale. In reality, it is first a question of connections.

To celebrate International Women's Day, the FACC brought together leaders from two of America's most dynamic healthcare ecosystems—California and New England—for an insightful discussion on what it truly takes to build, scale, and commercialize healthcare innovation in the United States.

Moderated by Dr. Gigi Shafai, Life Sciences Forum Co-Chair of the FACC New England, the webinar featured three French women leaders successfully navigating the U.S. MedTech and HealthTech landscape:

• Dr. Hakima Berdouz, Founder & CEO, Hope Valley AI
• Claire Chabaud, CEO & Founder, Braave
• Ikram Guerd, U.S. General Manager & CMO, Aspivix

Together, they shared practical lessons learned from launching and growing healthcare ventures across different regions of the country, offering attendees valuable insights into the realities of U.S. market entry and expansion.

Success starts with ecosystem building

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was that success in the U.S. healthcare market is rarely achieved alone.

While technology and innovation remain essential, the panelists emphasized that sustainable growth depends on building relationships with the broader healthcare ecosystem: hospitals, providers, universities, investors, industry partners, and local organizations.

For international founders, establishing these connections is often as important as product development itself. Strong networks help accelerate adoption, create credibility, and unlock opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach.

Partnerships as a growth engine

The discussion highlighted the central role partnerships play at every stage of a company's journey.

Whether validating a solution, generating clinical evidence, refining a product, or accelerating commercialization, strategic collaborations emerged as one of the most powerful drivers of growth.

The speakers shared examples of partnerships with healthcare institutions, academic organizations, retailers, and industry leaders that helped advance their companies and strengthen their position within the market.

The message was clear: in healthcare, partnerships are not an optional advantage—they are often a prerequisite for success.

Understanding the market before scaling

Another key lesson focused on the importance of market understanding.

The panelists encouraged founders to resist assumptions and instead invest time in understanding where customers are located, who makes purchasing decisions, and how healthcare systems vary across regions.

Expansion strategies should be driven by data, customer needs, and ecosystem realities rather than by reputation or perceived market attractiveness alone.

Successful market entry begins with understanding how decisions are made and where value is created.

Test, learn, and adapt

Entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight path, and the speakers underscored the importance of maintaining flexibility throughout the growth journey.

Several examples illustrated how testing different approaches, gathering customer feedback, and remaining open to unexpected opportunities can significantly improve outcomes.

One particularly striking example came from Aspivix, which adapted elements of its strategy after discovering strong patient demand through social media channels—demonstrating the importance of listening closely to the market and responding accordingly.

Resilience as a competitive advantage

Beyond strategy and partnerships, the conversation also explored the personal qualities required to build a company.

Both Claire Chabaud and Dr. Hakima Berdouz highlighted resilience as one of the most important attributes for entrepreneurs. Rejection, setbacks, and unexpected challenges are part of the startup journey, particularly in highly regulated sectors such as healthcare.

The ability to learn, adapt, and continue moving forward emerged as a defining characteristic of successful founders.

California and New England: different ecosystems, shared opportunities

One of the most valuable aspects of the discussion was the comparison between two major U.S. innovation hubs.

California, particularly Los Angeles and Orange County, was highlighted for its growing MedTech ecosystem, strong healthcare innovation networks, and unique strengths in commercialization, storytelling, and market development.

Meanwhile, Boston and Cambridge were recognized as global centers for life sciences and health innovation, offering unparalleled access to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, world-class universities, and deep scientific expertise.

Rather than identifying a "best" location, the panelists emphasized the importance of selecting an ecosystem based on a company's specific needs, including customers, partners, talent, regulatory considerations, and long-term strategy.

Advice for the next generation of women innovators

The webinar concluded with practical advice for women founders and leaders looking to grow their careers and businesses.

The speakers encouraged participants to be ambitious, pursue opportunities regardless of career stage, and avoid waiting for perfect conditions before taking action.

They stressed the importance of focusing on value creation, building supportive networks, and surrounding themselves with allies who can help open doors and accelerate growth.

Above all, they encouraged women innovators to trust their expertise, embrace challenges, and continue moving forward with confidence.

"Bridging International Ecosystems: French Women Innovating in MedTech across California & New England" offered a valuable and candid look at the realities of building healthcare companies across borders. The discussion reinforced a powerful message: success in the U.S. healthcare market requires more than strong technology. It depends on building strong networks, understanding local ecosystems, developing strategic partnerships, and maintaining the resilience to adapt as opportunities emerge.