Cofertility, a healthtech startup that allows women to freeze their eggs for free by participating in its donor-sharing model, has raised a $7.25 million Series A round.
The raise brings the company’s total funding to $16 million and was led by Next Ventures and Offline Ventures, with backing from Initialized Capital, Gaingels, and others.
Founded by Lauren Makler, a former Uber exec, and health tech investor Halle Tecco, Cofertility’s mission is to make fertility preservation more accessible and destigmatize egg donation.
How It Works: “Split” Program Offers Free Egg Freezing
Through its flagship “Split” program, women can freeze their eggs at no cost by donating half of the retrieved eggs to intended parents who cannot conceive. Unlike traditional egg donor programs where donors are compensated in cash, Cofertility’s model lets donors preserve their own fertility in exchange.
Intended parents cover the medical and coordination costs — similar to traditional donation — but don’t pay extra to the donor, reducing overall expenses.
“We match women who want to preserve fertility with those who need an egg donor, solving two problems at once,” said Makler.
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Inspired by Personal Experience
Makler’s inspiration came from a 2018 health scare that threatened her ability to have children. While she ultimately conceived naturally, the experience exposed her to the high costs and ethical concerns around egg donation — including how donor eggs were priced based on ethnicity or education.
“It felt like surge pricing for eggs,” she said, referencing Uber’s dynamic pricing model.
Scaling Egg Donation Access
Cofertility claims to be the only platform offering donor eggs at scale. Most fertility clinics have only a few donors at any given time, limiting options for intended parents. In contrast, Cofertility’s platform features hundreds of donors, many with diverse backgrounds — around 55% have graduate degrees.
The startup is also tackling the stigma around egg donation, aiming to normalize it as a viable path to parenthood.
“There is zero shame in however you become a parent,” Makler added. “Matching with a donor who’s also freezing her eggs is a beautiful option.”
With its fresh funding, Cofertility plans to scale its platform, grow its donor network, and make fertility preservation more accessible to a wider population.
