A tech start-up that is aiming to become the world鈥檚 leading digital platform for fertility is looking to raise 拢1.75m to fund its future growth strategy.
Best friends Dr Lucy Buckley and Kobi McCardle came up with the idea for Dr Fertility while they shared a flat and launched it while they were on maternity leave in 2017.
Last year they raised 拢900,000 in seed funding from North West focused VC Praetura Ventures and 拢100,00 from an angel investor and have just launched an online consultation service where people can book an appointment with a fertility doctor or nurse fter receiving Care Quality Commission (CQC) accreditation.
The start-up has seen its turnover grow by 80 per cent in the last year and now has more than 30,000 customers.
Dr Fertility, which has grown to seven full-time staff and four contractors, can advise on all aspects of the fertility journey including helping women who鈥檝e had a miscarriage.
Buckley said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e transitioned from an eCommerce business to a digital healthcare business. Becoming registered as a CQC healthcare provideris a game-changer for us. It means Dr Fertility can now offer medical advice.
鈥淲hen it comes to fertility there鈥檚 a gap in the NHS and private provision. Over the years we鈥檝e received countless messages asking for advice and we鈥檝e had to signpost them elsewhere.
鈥淲ith the CQC registration we鈥檙e now providing online primary care, tailoring a care plan to the needs of the patient. Customers can do home testing without the need to go into a clinical environment. We can also provide referrals and prescriptions.
鈥淥ne thing we鈥檙e really excited about is people can book online appointments with a qualified fertility consultant for 拢195 or a fertility nurse at 拢90. We want to make it accessible and affordable. Appointments are for 45 minutes to an hour because when you鈥檙e talking about fertility you can鈥檛 squeeze it into a 10 minute appointment with a GP.鈥�
Co-founder McCardle said the involvement of Praetura Ventures had transformed the business.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been brilliant,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were nervous about finding the wrong investor but Praetura Ventures have offered a lot more than just money.
鈥淲e鈥檝e made a number of hires, including an FD, and expanded our services. We support people on their entire fertility journey, whether they鈥檙e just thinking about trying for a baby, trying for a baby, or their path to parenthood is taking longer than they expected.
鈥淲e also help people who have suffered a miscarriage. One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage.鈥�
The entrepreneurs say they are seeking to raise 拢1.75m to expand their services and take Dr Fertility to the 鈥榥ext level鈥�.
Buckley explained: 鈥淲e want to be able to develop our service offering further and include sperm testing and ultra sounds. The extra investment will enable us to scale and market Dr Fertility to new markets, including overseas.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e at school you鈥檙e taught how not to have babies but nobody teaches you how to have babies. That鈥檚 why Dr Fertility is so important.鈥�