Freeze Your Eggs for Free | Cofertility Egg Donation

The Rising Trend of Egg Freezing and a Novel Solution

Increasingly, women are prioritizing their careers and postponing marriage, leading to a growing interest in egg freezing as a means of preserving their future fertility.

However, the substantial financial burden associated with this procedure – typically ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per cycle – often places it out of reach for many women during their peak reproductive years, specifically their 20s and early 30s.

Introducing Cofertility: A New Approach

Cofertility, a startup established by Lauren Makler, a former Uber executive, and Halle Tecco, a health tech investor, presents a unique solution. They offer women the opportunity to undergo egg freezing at no direct cost.

In exchange, participants agree to donate half of the retrieved eggs to individuals or couples facing challenges with conception.

Recent Funding and Growth

The company has recently secured $7.25 million in Series A funding, spearheaded by Next Ventures and Offline Ventures, with additional investment from Initialized, Gaingels, and others.

This latest round elevates Cofertility’s total funding to $16 million, demonstrating strong investor confidence in its innovative model.

The Origin of Cofertility

The genesis of Cofertility can be traced back to a personal health experience of Lauren Makler.

In 2018, she received a diagnosis of a rare abdominal condition that necessitated multiple surgeries, potentially jeopardizing her ovarian function.

Although egg freezing was suggested as a precautionary measure, it proved financially inaccessible to her at the time.

Discovering the Complexities of Egg Donation

This prompted Makler to thoroughly investigate the process of egg donation.

While she understood that donors receive compensation, she was surprised by the significant cost variations.

Eggs from donors matching specific criteria, such as religious background (e.g., Jewish donors) or educational attainment, commanded higher prices.

A Parallel to Surge Pricing

“The pricing structure felt akin to surge pricing, similar to what Uber employs during periods of high demand,” Makler explained, expressing her discomfort with the commodification of egg donation.

Fortunately, Makler was ultimately able to conceive naturally, but this experience fueled her desire to create a business that connects women seeking fertility preservation with those in need of donor eggs.

Cofertility’s Unique Position in the Market

Although egg sharing isn’t a novel concept, Makler asserts that Cofertility is the only company providing eggs at a large scale through its “Split” program.

“We consistently maintain a pool of hundreds of potential donors for intended parents,” Makler stated, contrasting this with the limited donor availability typically found in traditional clinics.

Donor Diversity and Qualifications

Cofertility’s donor pool is characterized by its diversity, with approximately 55% of donors holding graduate degrees.

Intended parents are responsible for covering the costs of egg retrieval and Cofertility’s coordination fees, mirroring standard egg donation practices.

However, they are relieved of the obligation to compensate the donor directly, significantly reducing their overall expenses.

A Marketplace for Fertility Solutions

While Makler hesitates to categorize Cofertility as a traditional marketplace, she acknowledges its functional similarity and emphasizes its role in addressing a systemic issue.

“Our overarching goal is to destigmatize egg donation,” she said, “There should be no shame associated with any path to parenthood, and utilizing a donor who is also proactively preserving her own fertility is a compelling option.”