Caroline Mitterdorfer's journey to fertility advocacy began unexpectedly at age 27, when she received a diagnosis of early-stage cancer. This life-altering moment forced her to confront her own health knowledge, particularly regarding fertility. Motivated by her experience, Mitterdorfer delved deep into research and became a passionate advocate for fertility awareness.
Recognizing a significant delay in fertility diagnoses, Mitterdorfer co-founded Levy Health, a San Francisco-based startup dedicated to accelerating the diagnostic process for women facing fertility challenges. The company has developed a clinical decision support platform that streamlines how physicians and fertility specialists identify fertility issues. Patients complete a comprehensive questionnaire about their conception journey, including how long they've been trying to conceive and their ovulation tracking methods, along with submitting necessary lab results prior to their appointments.
Levy Health's innovative software analyzes this information, narrowing down a list of 110 potential diagnoses to a few probable conditions. This streamlined process not only prepares physicians ahead of patient consultations but has also resulted in a remarkable 50% reduction in the time it takes to reach a diagnosis.
While clinical decision support tools are not new, Mitterdorfer emphasizes their novelty in the fertility sector. Many women first approach their OB-GYNs or primary care providers, who may lack the specific knowledge needed to address complex endocrine disorders like infertility. "We truly believe we can change how women gain access to early diagnosis by empowering the diagnoser," Mitterdorfer asserts. "Fertility clinics face significant challenges; demand far exceeds supply, and much of the innovation has focused on IVF labs rather than improving patient intake processes."
Mitterdorfer’s advocacy work led her to connect with her co-founders: Silvia Hecher, the Chief Product Officer with extensive experience in fertility clinics, and Dr. Theresa Vilsmaier, a physician specializing in gynecology. Together, they launched Levy Health in Germany in 2022. However, the team soon realized that the European market did not align with their vision of providing affordable access to fertility services, prompting their relocation to the U.S.
Since launching in the U.S. in 2023, Levy Health has successfully secured six B2B clients, including Progyny, a leading fertility benefits provider, and Boston IVF, a prominent chain of fertility clinics. "Finding those first five customers is one of the biggest challenges in healthcare," Mitterdorfer noted. "Word of mouth is powerful in this space, and having Progyny as one of our initial partners has been instrumental in building trust."
Levy Health recently completed a $4.5 million seed funding round led by XYZ Ventures, with additional investments from Atlantic Labs and Possible Ventures. Mitterdorfer revealed that these funds will support team expansion, technological development, and the launch of clinical studies in areas such as fertility and egg freezing. "We aim to publish a clinical study in the next six months, validating our key performance indicators," she shared. "Trust is crucial, as is demonstrating that we deliver on our value proposition."
The fertility market is experiencing significant growth, with the U.S. fertility sector valued at $6.19 billion in 2023 and projected to expand by 63% by 2033, according to Precedence Research. Numerous startups are tackling fertility issues from different angles, including Carrot Fertility, which focuses on employee benefits and has raised $114 million in venture capital, and Mira, an at-home hormone testing kit that secured $4.3 million.
For Mitterdorfer, the ultimate goal is clear: “It’s critical to know that what we’re building will help millions gain access to an early diagnosis.” With Levy Health at the forefront of this important mission, the future of fertility health is brighter than ever.
