In a bid to make fertility preservation more accessible and affordable, Cofertility, a health tech startup, has raised $7.25 million in Series A funding to expand its innovative egg freezing and donation platform. The funding round, led by Next Ventures and Offline Ventures, brings the company's total funding to $16 million.

The startup's unique approach offers women the opportunity to freeze their eggs at no cost, in exchange for donating half of the retrieved eggs to individuals or couples struggling with infertility. This model aims to democratize access to fertility preservation, which is often prohibitively expensive, with costs ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per attempt.

Cofertility's founders, Lauren Makler and Halle Tecco, drew inspiration from Makler's personal experience with a rare abdominal disease that threatened her fertility. During her health scare, Makler discovered the high costs associated with egg donation, which led her to explore alternative solutions. She was shocked to learn that the price of eggs could increase based on the donor's background, education, and other factors, likening it to "surge pricing for egg donors."

The startup's "Split" program is designed to match young women who wish to preserve their fertility with individuals or couples in need of donor eggs. Cofertility claims to be the only company offering eggs at scale, with hundreds of donors available for intended parents at any given time. In contrast, most clinics typically have only a handful of donors, making it less likely to find a match.

Cofertility's egg donors come from diverse backgrounds, with approximately 55% holding graduate degrees. Intended parents cover the egg retrieval costs and Cofertility's coordination fee, similar to standard egg donation. However, they do not have to compensate the donor, reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.

Makler emphasizes that Cofertility is not a marketplace, but rather a platform that solves a significant structural problem in the fertility industry. The company's ultimate goal is to remove the taboo surrounding egg donation, promoting the idea that there is no shame in becoming a parent with the help of a donor.

The funding will enable Cofertility to expand its operations, increase its donor pool, and further develop its platform. As the company grows, it is likely to have a significant impact on the fertility industry, making it more accessible and affordable for women to preserve their fertility and for individuals or couples to build their families.

With its innovative approach and growing funding, Cofertility is poised to become a leader in the health tech space, driving positive change in the fertility industry and empowering individuals to take control of their reproductive health.