Cofertility for Clinic Partners

Cofertility is thrilled to share that we raised our Series A funding, led by Next Ventures and Offline Ventures, with participation from Initialized Capital, Arkitekt Ventures, Foreground Capital, Gratitude Railroad, How Women Invest, Gaingels, and Everywhere Ventures. This milestone is a powerful endorsement of our model and a reflection of the growing momentum behind our mission: to make egg freezing more accessible, egg donation less transactional, and fertility care more equitable, transparent, and human-centered. 

Since launching, Cofertility has helped women take control of their reproductive futures through our Split program, which enables eligible members to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive.  

Our unique egg sharing model helps solve long-standing issues in the fertility space. We’re expanding access to egg freezing, increasing donor diversity for families, and offering an alternative to the outdated practices that tie donor compensation to subjective, and often problematic, criteria.

With this fundraising round, we’re doubling down on this mission.
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What this means for our members

Our Series A funding will help us:

• Expand and improve our technology. We’ll continue to invest in the development of our proprietary, custom-built platform that streamlines the entire egg sharing process, from making matches to managing the journeys of our members. We aim to make the entire experience as seamless and supportive as possible.
  
• Grow our team. As interest in our programs continues to grow, we’ll use this funding to help us scale our operations and better support our increasing community of Split members and intended parents.
  
• Strengthen clinic and partner relationships. We’ll continue to prioritize building connections with healthcare providers and partners to help us further expand access and make affordable fertility care more widely available.
  
• Expand advocacy and awareness efforts. We’re passionate about driving meaningful change in fertility care, from breaking down stigmas to highlighting the unique challenges faced by underrepresented communities. This work is core to our mission, and we’re just getting started. 

We’re honored to have the backing of visionary investors who believe in our mission to transform fertility care by empowering patients with more flexible and transparent options. Their support brings us closer to a future where everyone has the opportunity to build the family they dream of — on their own terms and timelines.

To read more about our Series A, read the exclusive announcement on TechCrunch.

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Infertility affects millions of people, yet it remains a topic that is often misunderstood or avoided. National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), held this year from April 20-26, 2025, is an opportunity to acknowledge the emotional, physical, and financial realities of those facing family-building challenges. It’s also a time to push for better access to fertility care, share real stories, and remind those struggling that they are not alone.

For intended parents considering egg donation, infertility can feel like a series of unexpected turns. The decision to use donor eggs is not made lightly—it often follows years of unsuccessful treatments, heartbreak, and soul-searching. But while egg donation offers a viable path to parenthood, the process can still be emotionally and financially overwhelming. This is why we started Cofertility.

Our approach is unique. Intended parents who have faced infertility can build their families through egg donation, while our Split members—who freeze their eggs for free in exchange for donating half—expand their future family-building options. It’s a model that brings more equity to fertility care, helping more people plan for parenthood on their own terms.

In this article, we’ll explore the stigma surrounding infertility, what it means to turn to egg donation, and how people can take action during NIAW. 

Why infertility is still hard to talk about

Even with growing awareness, infertility remains a topic many people struggle to discuss openly. For some, it carries a sense of personal failure, even though medical science tells us otherwise. Others worry about judgment from family, friends, or cultural and religious communities.

The emotional toll is significant. Infertility can impact relationships, self-esteem, and mental health. It has been found that stress levels faced by those experiencing infertility are similar to people with cancer diagnoses. And yet, many still suffer in silence, feeling isolated in an experience that affects 1 in 6 couples.

This is why awareness weeks like NIAW matter. They create space for conversations that people may otherwise avoid. For intended parents considering donor eggs, speaking openly about their family-building decisions can help normalize the process and reduce the stigma for future generations.

Why intended parents turn to egg donation

For many, using an egg donor is not the first choice—it’s a decision that comes after exhausting other options. Some people turn to donor eggs due to medical conditions, such as premature ovarian failure, diminished ovarian reserve, or genetic concerns. Others, including LGBTQ+ couples and single parents by choice, use donor eggs as a planned part of their fertility process.

One common fear among intended parents is whether they will feel connected to a child who doesn’t share their genetic makeup. The truth is, parenthood is built on far more than DNA. Research into epigenetics suggests that a birth parent’s body influences how genes are expressed during pregnancy, reinforcing the idea that parenting begins well before birth.

Still, the decision isn’t always easy. Some parents-to-be struggle with grief over not passing on their own genetics. Others feel pressure to choose a donor who looks like them or worry about how to talk to their child about their origin story. These are normal concerns, and part of raising awareness is helping intended parents work through them with the right information and support.

What makes egg sharing particularly special is that it’s not just helping one family—it’s helping two. When a young woman donates half of her retrieved eggs through the Split program, she’s not only giving an intended parent the chance to have a child, but she’s also preserving her own fertility for the future. Our model makes egg freezing more accessible, expanding reproductive choices for more people.

Ways to participate in National Infertility Awareness Week

NIAW is more than just a time for reflection—it’s a time for action. Whether you’re an intended parent, an advocate, or someone supporting a loved one, here’s how you can get involved:

• Share your story. If you feel comfortable, talking about your experience with infertility or egg donation can help others feel less alone.
• Support advocacy efforts. Organizations like RESOLVE fight for better fertility coverage and legal protections. Consider signing petitions or contacting lawmakers.
• Educate yourself and others. Misinformation about infertility and donor conception is common. Use this week to learn and share accurate information.
• Show support on social media. A simple post can help spread awareness. Use hashtags like #NIAW2025 and #InfertilityAwareness to join the conversation.

Moving forward with more support and less stigma

National Infertility Awareness Week is about shining a light on a topic that too often remains in the shadows. Infertility is not a personal failure, and using an egg donor does not make someone any less of a parent. These are real, viable paths to family-building, and they deserve to be talked about openly and without shame.

For those still in the middle of the process, know this: you are not alone. There is a growing community of intended parents, donors, and advocates working to make fertility care more accessible and to ensure that no one has to walk this road without support. The more we talk, the more we normalize—and the closer we get to a world where infertility is met with understanding rather than silence.

For more resources on egg donation and family-building, visit our blog.

At Cofertility, our team makes all the difference in how we support our members. Each month, we introduce you to one of the dedicated people working behind the scenes to make your experience better.

This month, we're sitting down with Erin Graham, one of our Member Advocates. Erin brings a rare combination of personal and professional experience to her role. As a three-time gestational carrier, she understands firsthand the emotional and practical aspects of fertility care. Her background includes working at an online fertility marketplace where she matched patients with providers, and at a surrogacy and egg donation agency where she coordinated family-building journeys. With a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and certification as a lactation counselor through the ALPP, Erin combines professional training with lived experience to support our members.

Let's get to know Erin better through some questions about her role, her unique perspective, and what drives her work:

Q: What drew you to working at Cofertility? 

The first thing that really drew me to Cofertilty is the human-centered approach to building a family with third party reproduction. The journey to parenthood can be full of unexpected twists and turns which can really take its toll emotionally.  I believe it’s deeply important to meet each individual where they’re at and from my first conversation with the team, I felt a strong sense of alignment on that.

Q: How did your experience as a gestational carrier shape your approach to supporting members? 

The commitment it takes to complete three journeys as a gestational carrier (surrogate) is not for the faint of heart. It is a long road and requires time, dedication, a strong support system, diligent follow-through, and the proper mindset. 

I felt so passionately about helping people build the families they dreamed of, and that was the fuel for all three journeys, which now extends to every member I support. That is what fuels the work I do every day. Additionally, my experience with the surrogacy process helps guide conversations for those intended parents who will need the help of a gestational carrier to bring their baby (or babies!) home.

Q: Can you walk us through what a typical day looks like for you? 

Each day as a Member Advocate is different. I don’t always know exactly what will unfold. But one consistent thing is that it all starts with coffee! That’s my first stop of the day, and I allow it to work its magic while I organize my priorities for the day ahead and create my to-do list. I’m on the East Coast, so the mornings are a little quieter which allows me the time to set myself up for success and start each day organized and refreshed. From there, it’s about balancing meetings, high-priority match-related tasks, and consistently monitoring my messages in case anything urgent comes up. I try to step away for some short breaks to take my dog for a walk which really helps me stay focused and calm even when those unexpected twists and turns come up. I enjoy the flexibility of remote work and don’t feel a need to have a hard stop time, but I do prioritize time with my family in the evenings and on weekends. That said, I don’t have a hard stop to my day and sometimes the work necessitates jumping online on a weekend to help a Split Member with her cycle. I’ve learned how to balance that with time away to keep myself in the right mindset to stay at my best.

Q: What's the most rewarding part of supporting members through their family-building process? 

There is so much about this work that is rewarding. I love receiving updates from intended parents (especially when they share baby photos)! I love when a Split Member feels empowered by the egg freezing process and excited for their future. I love facilitating match meetings and watching the bond and commitment to one another strengthen throughout a match. The way they root for one another and the gratitude they feel toward each other is beautiful. 

Q: Is there a particular member story that has stuck with you? 

Each match leaves a unique fingerprint on my heart. General themes that have stood out to me are the moments that showcase perseverance, resilience and gratitude. Creative ways we’ve collaborated to overcome an unexpected challenge, moments where members express how much our support has meant to them and how it shaped their experience.   

Q: How do you approach supporting members who might be feeling anxious or uncertain? 

This goes back to the first question, where I mentioned the importance of meeting people where they’re at. Anxiety and uncertainty are perfectly normal feelings to have and my role is to provide clarity, information and resources in a compassionate way. I may not have every answer, but what I will do is be straightforward and help them navigate any ambiguity, fears, doubts and questions so that they come away feeling more confident and informed.

Q: What's one thing you wish more people knew about egg donation? 

The time and commitment required to see it through. There is a rigorous screening process to be cleared to donate. Some testing can take weeks to get results, some testing has to be completed on a specific cycle day, and there may be unexpected follow-up testing. The legal phase also requires careful consideration. I also wish there was a greater understanding that it’s not a perfect science. There are biomarkers and studies that can give us an idea of what to expect, but each individual cycle is different, and sometimes results fall outside of what is expected. I think it’s important to be emotionally prepared for the possibility that things may not go as expected. I guess that’s two things! I could fill a book with what I wish people knew and I’m learning more every day. 

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their family-building process, what would it be? 

Prioritize self-care - whether that means setting boundaries, taking time to focus on a hobby, going to a spa, hiking  - anything that brings balance and helps you focus on your overall well-being. Consider joining a support group (online or in person) to avoid feeling isolated. While every journey is unique, sharing experiences can help manage your expectations. Trust your path, be patient with yourself, and know that you’re not alone in this process.

Q: Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? 

I love cooking and trying new foods, a good binge-worthy show snuggled up with my dog, and quality time with my family. One of my favorite things we do is each picking out a Lego set and sitting around the table assembling them together.

Q: How do you practice self-care while supporting members through emotional moments? 

This probably sounds simplistic, but quiet time to step away and process. I make time for myself every day to go for a walk with my dog. I find it really helpful to have those quiet moments to evaluate my state of mind and examine anything that feels off so I can re-frame it. The act of walking and the fresh air and natural light seem to help that process for me.

Q: What's one of your proudest moments as a Member Advocate? 

Moments where members have expressed that I’ve made them feel heard, validated, and supported. There is so much that is out of our control which can create worry, stress, and frustration. Any time I’m able to ease or prevent that feels like a win. Sometimes it’s navigating a really tricky timeline, lending an ear when life necessitates a last-minute change in plans, or facilitating a change in care team to ensure the member feels comfortable with their care team and treatment plan. Whatever the challenge or scenario, everyone deserves to feel heard and have their concerns taken seriously.