Three Startups Are Making Egg Freezing More Affordable—And Why Cofertility’s Unique Model Stands Out
Cofertility is a human-first fertility ecosystem rewriting the egg freezing and egg donation experience.
Egg freezing has long been a luxury out of reach for most. In major U.S. cities, a single cycle can run up to $20,000—pushing many women to delay or forgo the option entirely. That cost doesn’t just impact wallets; it weighs heavily on the mental and emotional burden of fertility decisions, especially when women are expected to plan years ahead for children they may or may not want.
Now, three startups are changing that narrative. One of the most talked about is Cofertility, founded by Lauren Makler, which offers women the opportunity to freeze their eggs for free—if they’re open to donating half to a family in need. It’s a bold twist on the traditional model that not only makes fertility preservation more accessible but also helps families struggling with conception.
Cofertility recently raised a $7.25 million Series A, bringing its total funding to $16 million. The company’s approach addresses the financial barrier head-on while also offering a more purpose-driven path to egg donation—reframing it as a shared solution instead of a transactional process. As more women seek reproductive autonomy without being crushed by costs, Cofertility is building a platform that centers transparency, community, and long-term support.
Two other startups are making waves alongside Cofertility. Freeze began as a public Google spreadsheet, compiled by two women comparing clinic prices during their own fertility journeys. It has since evolved into a tech-forward company that offers a Compare Clinics tool—helping users evaluate more than 500 egg-freezing clinics across the U.S. and internationally, with side-by-side pricing transparency. It’s designed to arm women with the data they need to make informed decisions and avoid predatory pricing in a confusing and emotionally fraught space.
Then there’s Gameto, a biotech startup pioneering a “lightweight” version of IVF that uses ovarian support cell technology to mature eggs outside the body. The goal? Reduce hormone injections and lower both the physical and financial cost of egg freezing and IVF. The approach is already producing results—Gameto’s tech led to its first birth at the end of last year.
In an industry that’s long profited from urgency and fear, these startups are offering a different path forward. And among them, Cofertility stands out for not only redefining access but for fundamentally reimagining the relationship between donor and recipient—making egg freezing feel less like a luxury and more like a shared, empowering choice.
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