Digital health start-up raises US$3.7m for its outcomes-oriented fertility solution

The digital health platform Conceive is on a mission to transform fertility after announcing the launch of its public beta. 

Conceive aims to improve health outcomes by helping people become pregnant faster, reduce costs, and uncover diagnoses. The company’s launch is fueled by a $3.7m seed round led by Kindred Ventures, with participation from Founder Collective, Great Oaks and over 40 founders and angels.

The start-up, currently offering services in the US, is an outcomes-based health platform that combines three elements — cohort-based community, evidence-based education, and 1:1 coaching — into a holistic program that helps members navigate and accelerate their fertility journey.

Figures show that one in six struggle to conceive and while early education emphasises avoiding pregnancy at all costs, the reality is that there is only a 22 per cent chance of conception per month in one’s 20s. “While infertility impacts men and women at the same rates, it is treated as existential for women and more of an afterthought for men,” says Lauren Berson, founder and CEO.

“Current solutions aren’t solving the problem, as they follow a one-size-fits-all, woman-focused playbook for a health challenge that involves two patients and is highly personalised,” Berson adds. “This results in a haphazard and difficult-to-navigate journey, with the potential for common causes of infertility to go undiagnosed, that may add to the mental, physical, and financial trauma.”

Conceive recently concluded an initial closed beta in which 54 per cent of members became pregnant, 36 per cent uncovered new diagnoses and 90 per cent felt supported in their journey.

Applications to join the public beta are now open nationwide. Members who join Conceive have to complete an onboarding questionnaire that helps to match them with the best peer group for their needs.

They meet once a week for 60-minute sessions, with access to their peer group and 1:1 coaching throughout the journey and they also get access to evidence-based resources to accelerate their paths to building a family. The program available in the US is eight weeks long and costs $549 with the possibility of scholarships for those unable to afford it.

“Fertility is one of the few health areas that touches the entire population,” admits lead investor Kanyi Maqubela, managing partner of Kindred Ventures. “The clinical research is so young and underfunded and consumer experiences are sorely lacking.

“For such an idiosyncratic pathology, there is still no great personalisation in this market. With the right leader, this is as important and big an opportunity as I have ever seen and I think Lauren is that leader.”

Hunter Williamson Stitzer, Conceive’s head of clinical operations, points out that: “The average patient at a fertility clinic visits many specialists while navigating a very tricky journey.

“Isolation and loneliness often sends women and men into the Dr. Google ‘rabbit hole,’ which is exactly what we are all trying to avoid. Patients need trusted resources, access to experts, and a safe community during this isolating time. Conceive provides all of this and is a great complement to the care we can provide in-clinic.”

Later this year, Conceive also plans to launch additional fertility offerings for men, LGBTQ+ partners, and patients pursuing egg freezing.

For more information, visit weconceive.com.