Cofertility lets women freeze their eggs for free through its donor-matching program

Tech Crunch - Apr 10th, 2025

Cofertility, a startup co-founded by Lauren Makler and Halle Tecco, is transforming the egg freezing and donation landscape by offering women no-cost egg freezing in exchange for donating half of their retrieved eggs to those who cannot conceive. This innovative approach aims to make fertility preservation more accessible despite the high costs, which typically range from $10,000 to $15,000 per attempt. The company recently secured a $7.25 million Series A funding round led by Next Ventures and Offline Ventures, bringing its total funding to $16 million. The funding will help expand their 'Split' program, which provides a large pool of egg donors to match intended parents, compared to the limited options available at most clinics.

Lauren Makler's personal experiences with health challenges and the high costs of egg donation led to the creation of Cofertility. The company addresses a significant structural issue in the fertility industry by minimizing the financial burden on intended parents, who cover egg retrieval and coordination costs but not donor compensation. Cofertility's model not only provides a practical fertility preservation solution but also seeks to remove the stigma surrounding egg donation. By offering a diverse range of donors and eliminating the 'surge pricing' often associated with egg procurement, Cofertility is poised to redefine how women approach fertility preservation and egg donation, making parenthood more accessible to a wider audience.

Fertility Preservation Series A Funding Cofertility Lauren Makler Halle Tecco Egg Freezing Egg Donation Next Ventures Offline Ventures

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RATING

7.0

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a compelling overview of Cofertility's innovative approach to fertility preservation through its 'Split' program, effectively highlighting the founders' motivations and the potential benefits for both donors and recipients. It excels in clarity and timeliness, addressing a relevant and increasingly important topic. However, the article would benefit from a more balanced perspective by incorporating views from external experts and addressing potential ethical concerns. The reliance on statements from the company's founders, without additional independent sources, affects the depth of analysis and source quality. Overall, the article presents a well-structured narrative that engages readers but could improve in transparency and balance to enhance its credibility and impact.

Accuracy

The article presents a largely accurate portrayal of Cofertility's business model and operations, with most claims verifiable. The cost of egg freezing, cited as $10,000 to $15,000, aligns with industry standards. The founders' roles are correctly stated, though there's a minor discrepancy regarding Halle Tecco's position, as she is the Chair and co-founder, not a co-founder with Lauren Makler. The funding details, including the $7.25 million Series A round, match reported figures, adding credibility to the claim. The description of the 'Split' program and its benefits is consistent with available information, though the article could benefit from more detailed source citations for specific claims about donor demographics and program costs.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view of Cofertility's operations, focusing on the benefits of their program for both egg donors and recipients. However, it primarily presents the perspective of the company's founders and lacks input from external experts or critics, which could provide a more rounded view of the potential ethical and economic implications of egg donation. The inclusion of more diverse perspectives, such as those of medical professionals or past participants, would enhance the balance of the piece.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly communicates the core concepts of Cofertility's business model and the motivations behind it. The language is straightforward and accessible, effectively explaining complex topics like egg freezing and donation. The narrative flows logically from the founders' personal experiences to the company's broader mission, aiding reader comprehension. However, the inclusion of more detailed explanations of technical aspects, such as the egg retrieval process, could enhance clarity.

Source quality

The article relies heavily on statements from Cofertility's founders, Lauren Makler and Halle Tecco, which are credible sources for the company's internal operations and goals. However, the lack of independent sources or expert opinions limits the depth of the analysis. Additional input from fertility specialists or industry analysts would strengthen the article's credibility and provide a more comprehensive view of the market and ethical considerations.

Transparency

The article is transparent about its primary sources, notably the founders of Cofertility, but lacks detailed disclosures about potential conflicts of interest or the methodology behind the reported figures. The absence of explicit citations for some claims, such as the educational background of donors, affects transparency. Providing clearer explanations of how the claims were derived and acknowledging any potential biases would improve the article's transparency.