Two outstanding founders from our Femtech Canada network, Nadia Ladak of Marlow and Bryn Davis Williams of DOUBL, have been named recipients of the 2025 Nanji Innovator Award by NEXT Canada.
This prestigious award is a testament to their grit, leadership, and unwavering commitment to driving change. Named in honour of Chiko Nanji, the Group Chairman of Metro Supply Chain and NEXT Canada Board Member and donor, the Nanji Innovator Award is bestowed upon high-performing individuals from NEXT Canada’s three cohorts—NEXT 36, NEXT AI, and NEXT Founders. It recognizes founders who represent the very best of innovation in our country. We are immensely proud that two of the six winners are pioneers in the femtech space, proving that women are leading in innovation. It shines a powerful spotlight on the innovation happening in women’s health and wellness, inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to tackle big challenges.
Highlighting femtech founders
Nadia Ladak, co-founder and CEO of Marlow, is on a mission to transform period care from a source of discomfort into an empowering experience. Her company has developed the first-ever lubricated tampon, a product that makes insertion smoother and more comfortable. Beyond the product, Marlow has built a vibrant online community called “The TMI Club,” a platform that provides shame-free, educational content on reproductive health. By sparking open conversations and providing innovative products, Nadia and her team are empowering a new generation to prioritize their health and never feel held back by their period.
Similarly, Bryn Davis Williams, co-founder of DOUBL, is tackling one of the most persistent problems in the apparel industry: poor fit. Frustrated by outdated sizing charts and ill-fitting bras, Bryn and her team developed a proprietary AI engine that uses a smartphone scan to create custom-fit sewing patterns. Their mission is to create a size-free future of fashion, starting with a made-to-measure bra that makes women feel confident and comfortable in their bodies. They are challenging the idea that women should have to “contort themselves” to fit into pre-determined sizes.
Beyond our network, we want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all the 2025 Nanji Innovator Award winners: Joe Noss, Josh Robinson, Avril Sun, and Kyle Stenberg. Their collective success reinforces the strength of Canada’s startup ecosystem. A special thank you to NEXT Canada for creating a platform that recognizes and elevates this caliber of talent. We’re excited to see how their continued success paves the way for countless others.
For more information, see the original LinkedIn post by NEXT Canada.