A connected probe to re-educate your perineum at home

Urinary incontinence affects one in three women. This problem can significantly alter the quality of life and self-confidence of those affected.

To remedy this, in 2017 Fizimed launched a connected catheter for home rehabilitation of the perineum. 

Let’s meet Emelien Hahn, CEO of Fizimed, who has just announced an impressive €4M fundraising. She shares her experience with us and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her company and this funding round.

Can you introduce us to Fizimed?

Fizimed is a start-up founded in 2017 by my three partners – Julien Guay, Allan Mabilais, Paul Grandemange – and myself. We develop medical devices dedicated to women’s health, whose flagship product is the “Emy Trainer” perineal probe. It enables women to re-educate their perineum at home, particularly after giving birth. Today, Fizimed has extended its product range with the launch in April of a portable milk pump called the Emy Pump.

How did the idea for your start-up come about?

Originally, we were planning to develop a connected splint for sportspeople, in particular for post-rupture rehabilitation of cruciate ligaments, a major problem in top-level sport. It was at the Hacking Health Camp in March 2015, where we were presenting this connected splint project, that we met Allan, our future partner.

We eventually changed course because of – or thanks to – feedback from physiotherapists, who expressed a specific need for perineal rehabilitation. At the Hacking Health Camp in 2016, this time we presented the idea of the perineal probe, which won us a number of prizes.
We went on to win SEMIA’s Student Entrepreneur Prize, which was worth €10,000. For us, this prize was THE sign that we had to quit our respective jobs and devote ourselves fully to this adventure.

What have been Fizimed’s biggest challenges?

There have been many challenges, each corresponding to a different phase in the development of our start-up.
At the beginning, it was a question of finding our market, raising funds for the first time, recruiting the right people and raising public awareness of perineal health.
Then we had to design a product – hardware and software – that worked while complying with the many regulatory constraints inherent in the manufacture of a medical device.
Finally, marketing was a major challenge: finding the right model, developing revenue-generating strategies and conquering new international markets.

A fundraising round is often described as an emotional marathon. Looking back, what has been your most significant personal learning experience?

It’s an endurance test, far more intense than one might imagine. Even when you’re familiar with the different stages, they always take longer than expected and require total commitment. You have to keep up the pace until the very end while staying focused on business development. Growth remains a key factor in negotiations with investors, and it’s crucial for maintaining internal momentum. Fortunately, I had a strong team that kept moving forward while I was juggling discussions, audits, and countless exchanges with lawyers, investors, and auditors. Between emails, calls, and WhatsApp messages in multiple languages, you end up spending hours on the phone, coordinating sometimes conflicting interests.

On a personal level, the impact is real. The mental load is heavy, with tight deadlines and constant unexpected challenges, and you have to learn to balance it all with family life… all while managing daily responsibilities that don’t just disappear. My child doesn’t care about an imminent closing—he just wants me to be there when school ends, and rightfully so! That’s where the support of loved ones becomes essential. Communicating with them, explaining periods of high pressure, and letting them know when you’ll be less available is crucial for maintaining balance and enduring the journey.

Emy Trainer is available in several countries. How did you manage marketing abroad?

Exporting our product came quite naturally, with a pragmatic approach to our international development. To set up in the United States, for example, we relied on Business France and other entrepreneurs who put us in touch with local partners.
For Vietnam and Ukraine, it was an opportunity that arose at a trade show.

One of the keys to our international success has been our command of languages. Today, we have a team of 15 people of 5 different nationalities. For us, it’s essential to be surrounded by native speakers. One of our German employees oversaw access to the German market, as well as the procedures for obtaining reimbursement for our medical device in Germany, and this has paid off.

You’re a great sportswoman. Would you say that entrepreneurship is a team sport?

Absolutely. My sporting DNA is intimately linked to my team spirit at work. Setting up a company is a marathon, not a sprint. The aim is to persevere and reach the finish line, despite the obstacles that come your way.
As in sport, it’s crucial to train, understand and analyse your opponents. In the same way as in basketball, we observe our team and build on their strengths to win.
We grow in professional and personal skills, without ever giving up, and with a great spirit of mutual support at Fizimed.

What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?

My No. 1 piece of advice: have unshakeable optimism! You have to believe in your projects and always look for solutions, without letting yourself be overwhelmed by the ups and downs. It’s crucial to have confidence in yourself and your project, because no-one can defend it better than you.

My second piece of advice is to always listen. It’s important to take advantage of what others tell you, especially when the signals are weak.

My final piece of advice relates to financing. When we first raised funds, I made the mistake of trying to please everyone. Take the time to identify the right people to talk to for your start-up to get the best results.

You are now part of our alumni community. Are you, in turn, helping entrepreneurs?

I always try to respond favourably when someone calls on me. For example, just today I received a call from Séverine Sigrist, who was my mentor when I started out, with a specific request. I’m delighted to be able to return the favour when she asks for my help. It’s a virtuous and precious mutual support.

The health ecosystem, of which Quest for health is a key pillar, plays a decisive role in bringing together players in the field, particularly through the events it organises. This community enables us to go further together, by mobilising the appropriate resources, exchanging information and strengthening our collective expertise, all in a convivial atmosphere.

An amusing anecdote to conclude?

At CES in Las Vegas in 2018, we were under pressure to present a functional product. But when we got there, our product didn’t work at all! It was a stressful situation, but we handled it with humour and resilience and everything turned out fine.