Egg freezing and egg donation have long been steeped in inequity, transactional models, and limited access, leaving many aspiring parents and hopeful women without options. In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Makler, co-founder of Cofertility, a Muse Capital portfolio company rewriting the script on how egg donation and freezing are done. Cofertility offers women the opportunity to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half to intended parents, creating a mutually supportive and ethical solution that benefits both parties. By eliminating cash compensation and reframing donation as a shared journey, Cofertility is building a more inclusive, transparent, and values-driven model in fertility care.
Lauren shares how Cofertility’s egg-sharing model is giving more women the freedom to delay motherhood without financial strain while increasing donor diversity and allowing intended parents to find matches who reflect their backgrounds and values. With over 100,000 women applying in just two years, this movement is gaining momentum. The conversation covers the legacy systems Cofertility is challenging, the personal experiences that inspired Lauren and her co-founder Halle Tecco to launch the company, and the massive impact their approach is already having. From cultural shifts and policy updates to their recent Series A raise, we dive into what it takes to build a category-defining business in a space still catching up with the needs of modern families.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How Cofertility is turning a traditionally transactional industry into a more ethical and empowering experience.
- Why freezing eggs for free can be life-changing for women navigating their own timelines.
- The massive demand they’ve seen, even pre-Series A, and what’s next after securing a major funding milestone.
- How Lauren’s personal journey and a background at Uber helped shape the business model.
- Real stories of impact and the importance of building with empathy in reproductive healthcare.
- What policy shifts could mean for the future of IVF, egg donation, and fertility access in the U.S.
Whether you’re exploring fertility options or passionate about tech-enabled solutions for more equitable care, this episode offers a powerful glimpse into what the future of reproductive health can look like.
Find out more about Muse Capital at www.musecapital.vc
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