Health tech has opened a world of possibilities for physicians and patients alike — especially when it comes to women’s health. As TechCrunch reporter Kate Clark highlighted in a recent report, fertility tech is a growing market designed to help women take control of their reproductive health.
A number of VCs are investing in startups dedicated to this cause, and many are located right here in NYC. From fertility tests to egg freezing, these local companies are making reproductive health options more accessible for women.
Built In NYC named healthtech company Kindbody as one of its startups to watch in 2019, and for good reason: The startup not only provides solutions for IVF treatments and egg freezing, but it also serves as a community for women interested in learning more about their reproductive health. It was founded just last year and already has $6.3 million in funding.
Women in their 30s are likely familiar with the process of egg freezing, whether the subject was brought up with friends or it came in the form of a targeted ad on social media. Extend Fertility is here to help demystify the procedure and provide an easy way to connect women with providers who can help them along in the process. The company just raised a $15 million funding round in February to open labs in new markets. Currently, it has one lab in NYC.
It may not be as flashy as, say, unlimited PTO, but fertility benefits are a perk that could positively impact many employees. Progyny is a fertility benefits management company that provides solutions for self-insured employers, helping women start their families on their own terms. They partner with employers to give more access to treatments like IVF and egg freezing, as well as support for surrogacy and adoption.
Even if you’ve never read the book, you’ve at least heard of the “What to Expect” series that provides independent pregnancy and parenting information for new parents. The What to Expect company has evolved into a content brand that spans across a mobile app, website and Alexa-enabled services. All content is written by experts and medically reviewed, and covers topics ranging from preconception and pregnancy to the baby years.
Many times, women don’t know they have trouble conceiving until they try. Celmatix was designed to give women personalized insight into their fertility using big data and genomics, so they can plan around any issues and take control of their reproductive health. Polaris®, the company’s real-time predictive analytics platform, helps physicians create tailored treatment plans, and the MyFertilityCompass.io tool gives women who are currently trying to conceive free insights into their fertility potential.
