Issue # 123 – Future of Fertility Baby or Your Money Back

For years, couples undergoing IVF have faced emotional and financial stress, spending thousands with no guarantee of success. But Future Family, a San Francisco-based startup, is shaking things up with a groundbreaking IVF insurance product in the U.S.

Partnering with Munich Re Ventures, they now offer a money-back guarantee—if a couple doesn’t conceive after two IVF cycles or experiences a loss within two weeks of birth, they can file a claim for reimbursement. 

This is a major step in making fertility treatments more accessible and reducing financial risk.Insurance coverage has long been one of the biggest gaps in fertility treatments. 

India has positioned itself as a more affordable market for fertility solutions, with clinics offering  high success rates compared to the U.S. Yet, even in India, a structured insurance model like Future Families could provide couples with extra security.

As the landscape of fertility treatments evolves, financial safeguards like these could reshape the future of IVF, offering hope to couples and transforming the fertility market.

Future Family, a Startup Battlefield company, has raised $150 million, including a $100 million credit facility in 2018. Investors include Munich Re Ventures, TriVentures, and others.

Check India’s Fertility Market report –HERE

For years, women in India have been largely underinsured, and insurance providers didn’t even consider them as potential buyers. What’s changing is how Newmi Care is making insurance more affordable and accessible, with plans starting at just ₹1,000 per year for women aged 18 and above. Episode drops soon!

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India’s FemTech industry has witnessed an exciting development as Sirona’s founders, Deep Bajaj and Mohit Bajaj, are in the final stages of reacquiring their brand.The duo, who first launched Sirona in 2014, revolutionized menstrual hygiene in India with innovative products designed to address real problems. Over the years, Sirona has become a leader in India’s FemTech space.

This recent deal marks a full-circle moment for Sirona, which was acquired by The Good Glamm Group for ₹450 crore in October 2024, the brand has now been reacquired by its founders for a price between ₹160-180 crore.

This move is the second instance of founders reclaiming their businesses after acquisition, highlighting a growing trend in India’s startup ecosystem.With this reacquisition, Sirona is ready to enter a new era of growth and innovation in the women’s femina hygiene market.

In celebration of Women’s Day, we are spotlighting female trailblazers from our global community. Throughout March, we’re sharing the stories of inspiring women from diverse backgrounds who are driving innovation in women’s health and beyond—amplifying their voices and contributions to the industry. 

Meet Priyanka Aggarwal, founder of Aura Fem Health!  Born and raised in India, she’s a problem solver at heart—turning complexity into clarity. With a background in computer science & algorithm design, she craved more than just coding—she wanted to understand people, markets,and solving real-world problems

Her journey led her to McKinsey, Kimberly-Clark, and Heineken, advising Fortune 50 companies. But as she climbed higher, she noticed something troubling—the more she pushed forward, the more her body pushed back.  That struggle sparked her passion for FemTech, leading to the creation of Aura Fem Health.

Read her full interview – Here

• THE WORLD’S HOTTEST MENOPAUSE PARTY
• AI & Health Camps Boost Medical Outreach at Maha Kumbh 2025
• Redpoint’s investment round values the longevity startup Function Health at $2.5 billion.
• Abbott Expands Focus on Advanced Health Solutions & Technologies in India
• Google Debuts AI Tool to Boost Biomedical Research

• NOTO a Mumbai based guilt-free ice creams and desserts which have no added sugar and minimal calories in its products has raised Rs 15 crore in a round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The round also saw participation from JITO and LetsVenture.
• Hyderabad-based Botanic Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., a manufacturer of botanical extracts, has raised INR 250 crore in its maiden private equity funding round to fuel its global expansion plans. The investment comes from mid-market private equity firm Stakeboat Capital and Abakkus Asset Manager Pvt. Ltd., valuing the company at approximately INR 1,000 crore (nearly $120 million).

• US-based maternity care provider Millie has secured USD 12 million in Series A funding to expand its hybrid care model. The round was co-led by TMV and Foreground Capital, with significant participation from Pivotal Ventures and the March of Dimes Innovation Fund.
• Digital health startup Prickly Pear Health has secured institutional pre-seed funding exceeding $250K, led by Bayless Ventures and AZ Venture Capital. The company focuses on cognitive wellness during menopause.
• Berlin-based naturalX Health Ventures has announced a €100 million fund focused exclusively on consumer health startups in Europe. The fund, which marks the first of its kind in the European market, aims to support the transformation from reactive healthcare to proactive health management.
• Riley, an all-in-one parenting platform, has raised $3.1 million in seed funding and launched its beta program. The San Francisco-based company’s app combines AI technology with expert insights to provide personalized parenting guidance. True Ventures led the round, with participation from Flybridge, Next Wave NYC, and CHIEF co-founder Lindsay Kaplan.
• Validose, a NYC-based precision medication delivery company, raised $2M in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Peter Bauer’s Family Office as part of its Technology for Humanity strategy, 10XBeta, and Interstate Fusion Ventures. Angel investors also participated.
• Stablepharma, a London, UK-based biotechnology firm, received a €2.5M grant through the EIC Accelerator Program.
• Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), a Cambridge, UK-based gallium nitride (GaN) power devices developer, raised $32M in Series C funding. The round was led by a strategic investor with participation from British Patient Capital and existing investors Parkwalk, BGF, Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), Foresight Group, and IQ Capital.
• EG 427, a Paris, France-based biotechnology company for the development of pinpoint genetic medicines for prevalent chronic diseases in neurology, raised €27M in Series B funding.The round was co-led by Andera Partners and Bpifrance, with participation from the InnoBio investment strategy.  
• Germitec, a Bordeaux, France-based MedTech company developing UV-C high-level disinfection solutions, raised $30M in funding.

• The 2024 Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer (CSCO BC) has published new guidelines that integrate cutting-edge international research with Chinese clinical evidence – including highlighting the crucial role of targeted therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer.
• New postpartum depression research could lead to a blood test to identify women at risk and possibly even to a preventive treatment.The research suggests that pregnant women may have characteristic levels of certain molecules in their blood that can warn that they are at risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD).
• Eating behaviour is associated with symptoms of pelvic floor disorders in middle-aged women, new research has found. For example, higher consumption of highly processed ready-made foods and fast food increased the risk for experiencing symptoms of stress and urgency urinary incontinence.
• The White House announced a new initiative Tuesday to address the growing crisis of IVF affordability in the United States, with President Donald Trump signing an executive order focused on expanding access to fertility treatments. The order, which marks a significant shift in federal attention to reproductive healthcare costs, calls for comprehensive policy recommendations to be delivered within 90 days.
• Hormonal contraceptives, and birth control methods, are used by many to prevent pregnancy. Though its consumption is widely considered safe and reliable, a recent study has revealed that hormonal contraceptives are related to a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.  The researchers at the University of Copenhagen urged clinicians to consider potential risks before prescribing them. 
• Radioactive gas could be contributing to asthma among schoolkids, researchers have found.Children exposed to elevated levels of radon gas tended to have more asthma symptoms, results show.
• Smoking more than doubles the risk of unexplained strokes among younger adults, a new study warns.And heavy smoking is even worse, with stroke risk more than quadrupled among adults who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years compared to people who don’t smoke, researchers found.
• Vitamin D supplements are unlikely to prevent falls/fractures. The US Preventative Services Task Force task force recommends against vitamin D supplements for fall and fracture prevention in healthy older adults, and instead suggests exercise and osteoporosis screening for better bone health
• A junk-food lifestyle might contribute to embarrassing little leaks in middle-aged women, a new study suggests.Women who often munch fast food or packaged eats appear more likely to develop urinary incontinence, researchers recently reported in the journal Women’s Health.
• Lupus can do irreversible harm to a person’s organs, damaging the lungs, kidneys, heart, liver and other vital organs through inflammation.But a newer lupus drug appears to protect patients from much of this organ damage, a new study suggests.
• People with inflammatory arthritis run a substantially increased risk for mood disorders like depression and anxiety.But these mental health concerns aren’t being adequately addressed by doctors, a new study suggests.Arthritis patients are about as likely to receive either medication or therapy for a mood disorder as people without arthritis, despite their increased risk for depression and anxiety, researchers reported recently in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy.
• Women who develop a complication like diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy are at higher risk of stroke or heart disease in the years after delivery. Unfortunately, their doctors aren’t taking this health risk seriously enough, a new study suggests.Fewer than 1 in 5 women (17%) diagnosed with gestational diabetes or high blood pressure received an adequate health screening in the year after pregnancy, researchers reported Feb. 17 in the journal Circulation.
• Women of color are less likely to receive prompt follow-up testing after abnormal mammogram results, a new study has found.Minority women are less likely than white women to receive a same-day advanced imaging or biopsy after an abnormal mammogram, even though they have similar access to those services, researchers reported.

• London Pregnancy Clinic has officially expanded its expert services to West London with the opening of a new location in Chelsea. This new clinic will allow the team to see more patients and continue their commitment to offering high-quality care.
• Digital postnatal recovery program MUTU System has secured a contract with the NHS to provide free support to new mothers in parts of the UK. Starting today, the evidence-based platform will be available through the Medway and Swale NHS Women’s Health Hub, with funding from the Kent and Medway Women’s Health budget.
  
• Carrot Fertility has announced the launch of Telemedicine for Menopause, a virtual clinic designed to provide accessible care and hormone therapy prescriptions for people experiencing perimenopause and menopause. The service, which will be available across all 50 U.S. states starting March 2025, aims to address the growing need for specialized menopause care while eliminating the requirement for in-person appointments.
• BioArctic AB’s (publ) partner Eisai has notified BioArctic that the first sales milestone according to the licensing agreement has been reached. The milestone was reached as sales of Leqembi reached €200 million in Eisai fiscal year 2024 (April 2024 – March 2025). The event entitles BioArctic to a €10 million payment.
• Leucine Rich Bio, South Asia’s first microbiome company, has announced a strategic partnership with Precision Diagnosticos, a leading diagnostics firm based in Brazil. This collaboration will bring BugSpeaks, Leucine Rich Bio’s flagship microbiome testing technology, to the Brazilian market, enhancing access to cutting-edge microbiome diagnostics and personalized health solutions across both regions.
• Roche Diagnostics India and neighbouring markets under the aegis of its flagship CSR initiative Project Roshni conducted eye check-up camps to screen 5,000 children across Palghar, Nanded, Mumbai and Delhi.
• Medigene AG, an oncology platform company focused on the research and development of T cell receptor (TCR)-guided therapies for the treatment of cancer, announced that the company has been issued a patent by the US Patent Office protecting its JOVI technology, a method allowing the enrichment of T cells using a specific antibody.

• Exports of drugs and pharmaceuticals from India during the month of January, 2025 has reported a growth of 21.46 per cent, the highest monthly growth of exports in the sector during the current fiscal year. Imports registered a 16.13 per cent growth compared to the same month last year.
• ZEISS India collaborated with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), to set up a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated for developing high fidelity artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the betterment of eye-care and to upskill students in AI technologies. The initiative, supported by the Spectrum Lab in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IISc, aims to harness the transformative potential of AI to enhance eye-care practices and improve patient outcomes.

– Quick Reads: 

• From pillows to sneakers: Simple changes to help common pains:From choosing the right pillows to alternating your daily bags, simple changes you can make throughout the day to improve body alignment and reduce common aches and pains.
• World Heart Month: The most common heart ailments among youngsters. Mental health can impact the heart leading to increased stress hormone secretions thereby causing high BP, irregular heartbeat
• Does chlorinating drinking water increase risk of cancer? Disinfecting water is an essential public health measure, however, with the new study revealing its harmful impact on health, researchers called for more research in this field.

See you next Friday, friends
Navneet

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