Currently Fundraising
Failures in IVF are Emotionally and Financially Devastating
My Family's Story
ca. 2016 we were excited to try and grow our family. Conceiving our first child-- our son-- had been an easy experience. For our second child, we were excited to learn that we were pregnant and subsequently devastated by a spontaneous miscarriage. This happened 3 times. We then turned to IVF to help. My wife endured the hormone injections, the egg harvesting, the embryo transfers. This also happened 3 grueling times. Our daughter was the product of this effort-- something that we would do again without regret. However, this experience of infertility took its toll. We were physically and emotionally exhausted. We had accrued a debt approaching $100k that to pay, necessitated the sale of our home. Couples attempting to build families shouldn't have to experience this. My mission became clear.
-SR
About
With over 30% of women in the U.S. delaying childbearing past age 35, the need for efficient, predictable IVF has never been more urgent. At Oterus Biosystems, we are driven to improve the success rates of a process that all too often results in emotional and financial strain.
Oterus is transforming the IVF laboratory by replacing static incubation with a first-of-its-kind Dynamic Embryo Culturing Platform. Our technology replicates the physiological environment of the human reproductive tract, introducing a new functional test of embryo viability coupled with an innovative approach to implantation.
Why Oterus?
- Zero Added Burden: Unlike competitors who rely on invasive intra-uterine treatments or added drugs, our platform improves outcomes without increasing the patient’s treatment burden or safety risk.
- Strategic Pivot: We have moved to a "Tool-First" strategy focused on the culturing platform, serving as a high-fidelity validation engine for the reproductive health industry.
Key Milestones:
- Scientific Leadership: Led by CSO Lesley Blankenship-Williams, PhD, an expert embryologist bridging hardware engineering and clinical biology.
- Technical Validation: Successfully completed coast-to-coast shipping studies and mouse-to-human validation programs.
- Clinical Progress: IRB approval secured for human embryo testing; establishing pilot interest with leading U.S. clinics and research centers.
- Regulatory Roadmap: Finalized Class II (510k) strategy with Beanstock Ventures.
Our Vision
We believe everyone, regardless of socioeconomic background, deserves a chance to build a family. By providing embryos the environment they deserve, we are turning "someday" into a reality for thousands.