Slow Ventures is a community built on the collective experience and fueled by curiosity, Slow understands the entrepreneurial journey. Investing at the center of technology and on the edges of science, society, and culture, Slow gives founders the resources, connections, experiences, and empathy required to build strong, sustainable companies.

Slow Ventures

Bowery Capital is an early-stage venture capital investor focused exclusively on founders looking to modernize business through technology. As more and more internet natives drive purchasing decisions, Bowery Capital believes that roughly $468B will change hands over the next 10 years as old products are replaced with new. In addition, the firm believes that the key ingredient to early success is revenue and customer growth, and as such provides various products and services through their Acceleration Team that portfolio companies can leverage to develop a strong early base. This combination of a focused thesis and support system are the cornerstones of Bowery Capital's investment approach. For more information visit: www.bowerycap.com or find us on Twitter at: @BoweryCapital.

Bowery Capital

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that provides early-stage and growth equity investments. The company provides ongoing momentum that accelerates ideas, careers, and companies toward standout success.

General Catalyst

Synetro is an active seed and early stage investor in web based technology and business services companies. It also operates a private equity business focused on acquiring and turning around software, business services and manufacturing companies.

Synetro Group

Stork Club

Stork Club is a maternity care platform that extends insurance coverage and provides all possible options to people who want to have a baby. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

<div>Stork Club helps employers offer fertility and parental benefits to its employees. It covers a range of fertility services including diagnostics, egg freezing, in vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy. The company looks to reduce the fertility care related expenses borne by employers, and claims that enterprises with a few thousand employees can save up to USD 3 million per annum. Using Stork Club, employees can choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network, and know the exact out-of-pocket cost before making decisions.</div>

Long-term demographic changes are finally bringing fertility technologies into focus.

Fertility Tech

<div>Stork Club helps employers offer fertility and parental benefits to its employees. It covers a range of fertility services including diagnostics, egg freezing, in-vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy. The company reduces fertility care-related expenses for employers, reporting that enterprises with a few thousand employees can save up to USD 3 million per year. Using Stork Club, employees can choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network, and know the exact out-of-pocket cost before making decisions.</div>

More important now than ever, telehealth will long outlast the pandemic that drove its growth.

Telehealth

<div>Stork Club helps employers offer fertility and parental benefits to their employees. The company covers a range of fertility services, including diagnostics, egg freezing, in-vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy, allowing employees to choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network, and know out-of-pocket costs before making decisions. Stork Club operates through web and mobile-based apps, providing recommendations and information on medical providers, cost, and insurance related to family planning. Stork Club connects its users with telehealth professionals on demand and provides a transparent payment system that is integrated with existing employee health plans.</div>

Managing employee health-related benefits

Health Benefits Platforms

Stork Club Expands Leadership Team With Chief Operating Officer and VP of Engineering to Set the Company for Scale

<div>
 
 Stork Club helps employers offer fertility and parental benefits to its employees. It covers a range of fertility services including diagnostics, egg freezing, in vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy. The company looks to reduce the fertility care related expenses borne by employers, and claims that enterprises with a few thousand employees can save up to USD 3 million per annum. Using Stork Club, employees can choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network, and know the exact out-of-pocket cost before making decisions. 
 
 
 
 
 Its customers include Ropes & Gray, Crescent Capital, Corgan, and Fors Marsh Group, among others. The company claims that its revenue grew 5x YoY in 2020, and that its medical network grew to over 250 locations in the US, including CCRM, Boston IVF, Vios Fertility, and Coopergenomics, among others. Moreover, it also launched a cohesive fertility pharmacy experience for its members, during the year. 
 
 
 
 
 Stork Club raised USD 30 million in Series A funding, led by General Catalyst in June 2021, and intends to use the funds to meet growing demand and expand its line of family-related services.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Glow offers apps that track data related to women’s fertility including ovulation cycle and pregnancy tracking. In addition to apps, the company also offers individualized fertility coaching, clinic identification and community support, and links patients with clinics for procedures such as egg freezing. 
 
 
 Glow generated around USD 0.3 million monthly revenue in October 2020, and as of February 2019 it had around 15 million users, and claims to have helped about 950,000 women get pregnant (from May 2013 to February 2019). In February 2019 Glow partnered with US Match Group (provider of dating products such as Match.com and Tinder), to provide Match’s employees with egg freezing benefits at reputed fertility clinics. In May 2017 it partnered with the National Institute of Health (NIH) to update a prediction model for couples trying to conceive.  
 
 
 In 2020, the company faced investigations into privacy and security failures involving its app. Glow agreed to pay a USD 0.25 million settlement in September 2020.
 
 
 
</div>

Glow

<div>
 
 Inne, based in Germany, offers an at-home mini lab kit for women. Hormone analysis is conducted based on saliva samples. The lab device connects to smartphones for storage and access to the analysis results.
 
 
 Unlike peer offerings, Inne does not attempt to predict future cycles and fertility dates, and instead educates users about their bodies, with information on what changes they should feel in response to the hormonal levels on the day.
 
 
 In May 2022, Inne 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10667?industryIds=40">
 raised USD 10 million
 </a>
 in an extension to its Series A round led by DSM Venturing. The company utilized the funds to continue the development of its mini lab and platform, grow its team, and support its expansion across the US, where it aims to enter with its perimenopause feature, followed by an expanded product launch in late 2022.
 
 
 
</div>

Inne

Proov (formerly known as MFB Fertility) offers the at-home “Proov'' ovulation and progesterone test. Proov tracks hormone levels in urine over multiple days, after suspected ovulation, and estimates whether the progesterone levels are sufficient for implantation, during the 7-10 day implantation window.As of May 2021, it was the only FDA-cleared urine PdG (urine metabolite of the progesterone hormone) test, and its method of determining the fertile window was patented. Moreover, it received the CE marking and expanded its sales footprint to Europe in June 2021.In June 2020, the company received a USD 1.3 million deal from the US Air Force, to provide Proov kits to enrolled individuals. The Proov test was distributed through leading US retailers such as Target and Amazon, and was also used by doctors across the country.Proov raised USD 9.7 million in Series A funding in December 2021, in a round led by Hambrecht Ducera Growth Ventures, with participation from other venture capital firms such as SteelSky Ventures, WCC Partners, and Lightship Capital, among others. The company expects to use the funding to grow its “Complete” product, which includes follicle-stimulating hormone tests and other multi-hormone tests that measure estrone glucuronide, LH and PdG.

Proov

<div>
 
 Progyny works with employers (primarily large enterprises in the US) to optimize the fertility benefits they offer for their employees. It connects employees to fertility specialists and clinics, and also offers extensive support to patients through their Progyny Patient Care Advocates, who provide clinical guidance, education, and emotional support.
 
 
 The company was founded as a fertility education platform and eventually included in vitro fertilization (IVF) referral network Fertility Authority and reproductive health company Auxogyn, into its network. The company pivoted into offering fertility benefit solutions in 2016, and launched Progyny Rx (fertility medication benefit) in 2018.
 
 
 Progyny connects patients to a network of 800 fertility specialists and nearly 600 clinic locations.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of March 2022, the company served 264 enterprise customers (including Facebook, Microsoft, Google, and Nasdaq), and had 3.9 million active members.
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In October 2019, Progyny raised USD 130 million through its IPO, where it was listed on the Nasdaq.
 
 
 In FY2021, the company reported a revenue of USD 500.6 million reflecting a 45% YoY growth and a net income of USD 65.8 million. The company&rsquo;s revenue for 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14396">
 Q3 FY2022
 </a>
 amounted to USD 205.4 million, representing 68% YoY growth. The management&rsquo;s revenue guidance for FY2022 ranges between USD 775 million and USD 785 million, which implies an YoY growth of 55% to 57%.
 
</div>

Progyny

<div>
 
 Prima Temp offers the artificial intelligence (AI) assisted “Priya” intarvaginal ring sensor and accompanying app to continuously measure a woman’s core body temperature, predicting fertility windows. The app uses big data to improve its predictions, and the app notifies the user of fertile windows. The company also offers the “Kindara” fertility tracking app, which provides fertility related education and links users to a community of over 140,000 members.  
 
 
 The company raised USD 5 million in funding in May 2019 from Gedeon Richter, a Hungarian pharmaceutical company. Although the company primarily focuses on fertility monitoring, it intends to expand its offerings to include other areas of fertility management such as contraception and menopause.  
 
 
 
 
 
</div>

Prima Temp

Test kits which use saliva, blood, or temperature to determine hormone levels and form conclusions on fertility and fertility cycles.


Apps which use data science to identify fertility windows.

Organizations that freeze eggs or embryos for usage at a future date.


Services that analyze sperm samples (via test kit) and/or offer storage facilities for future use.

Companies specializing in supporting patient decision making, financing, clinical visits, physician referrals, and at-home treatments

Uses AI/ML to improve cycle predictions and track symptoms

Some startups use genetic screening to tailor treatment or identify underlying issues

Offers digital platforms and apps to provide fertility-related support

<div>
 
 Stork Club helps employers offer fertility and parental benefits to its employees. It covers a range of fertility services including diagnostics, egg freezing, in-vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy. The company reduces fertility care-related expenses for employers, reporting that enterprises with a few thousand employees can save up to USD 3 million per year. Using Stork Club, employees can choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network, and know the exact out-of-pocket cost before making decisions.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Nice Healthcare is a US based telehealth company with a focus on primary care services to business-to-business (B2B) clients. Once the employer signs its employees with Nice (at a cost of USD 30 to USD 36 per employee per month), employees do not have to incur out of pocket expenses for Nice services and can schedule virtual or home visits within the time frames specified by the company. It connects patients with practitioners through a mobile app over video calls or text messages. Members can also request home visits which will be completed within a few hours, as claimed by the company. As of March 2022, Nice was operating in twelve states, and had over 400 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
 
 
 In March 2022, the company raised USD 30 million in Series A financing led by DNA Capital which has been earmarked to expand its platform&rsquo;s reach among small and medium businesses. Additionally, the company is hiring three members for its management team to support the continuing growth of the organization.
 
 
 
</div>

Nice Healthcare

Amicomed is a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform which provides blood pressure monitoring services. It collects blood pressure data of patients from at-home devices, applies algorithms, and assesses the fluctuations in the blood pressure. Physicians can be connected and provided with blood pressure data of their patients in order to facilitate their workload, enabling more personalized management of patients regarding medication and lifestyle indications.Amicomed can also recommend actionable and personalized lifestyle interventions such as daily diet and exercises via virtual coaching.

Amicomed

Winston is a men’s health telemedicine platform that treats common issues impacting men such as sexual problems, hair loss, acne, and cold sores. Winston allows patients to consult doctors, place orders for prescription drugs, and offers free delivery to the homes of patients.The Toronto-based company aims to avoid men deferring doctor visits or withholding sensitive information. The consultation fee is covered by the provincial health plan, but the prescriptions are billed to the customer.

Winston

<div>
 
 Dialogue partners with employers and health insurers to offer telehealth services to their employees and members. The users have 24/7 access to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals via audio, video, and chat options for wide arrays of physical and mental health needs, artificial intelligence-enabled (AI-enabled) triage, referrals, and prescription renewals. 
 
 
 The company launched its trademarked Integrated Health Platform in January 2021 to consolidate its virtual care, wellness programs, mental healthcare services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) onto a single platform. The company claims to be the only integrated health and wellness B2B platform in Canada. 
 
 
 Key Customers and partnerships
 
 
 Dialogue had direct relationships with over 2,000 customers across Canada and Germany as of December 2020 and served around 50,000 organizations through these partnerships. In addition, the number of members with access to the virtual platform topped 1 million in January 2021. 
 
 
 Fundings and financials
 
 
 As of March 2021, Dialogue was planning to raise CAD 100 million (USD 80 million) from an initial public offering that will be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol &ldquo;CARE.&rdquo; 
 
 
 In Q2 2023, net losses reduced significantly YoY to CAD 5.8 million (USD 4.3 million) from CAD 8.4 million (USD 6.3 million) in Q2 2022. Top-line revenue met internal expectations, growing 17.2% YoY to CAD 25.5 million (USD 19.0 million), driven by &nbsp;an increase in new members (by 18.6% YoY), 
 an expansion of the attach rate as existing customers added more services, and full-quarter contributions from Tictrac.
 
 Dialogue Health has not provided any forward-looking guidance as the company has entered into an agreement to be 
 <a href="https://investors.dialogue.co/English/news/news-details/2023/Dialogue-to-be-Acquired-by-Sun-Life/default.aspx">
 acquired by financial services company Sun Life Financial
 </a>
 for a consideration of CAD 365 million (USD 270 million) or CAD 5.15 (USD 3.82) per share. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2023. Post acquisition, Dialogue will delist from the Toronto Stock Exchange but will continue to operate as a standalone entity under the &ldquo;Sun Life Canada&rdquo; brand from its head office in Qu&eacute;bec. 
 
 
 
</div>

Dialogue

Grin offers telemedicine and remote monitoring services for orthodontic needs such as braces and teeth straightening. Patients can conduct self-scans (using a Grin device made available to patients in collaboration with 3M) which can be connected to their smartphones and share the feed with orthodontists to access dental solutions. The company plans to go to a subscription-based model after the pandemic. The app also encourages patients to have a 40-second check monthly and share the scan with a dentist in order to allow patients to regularly maintain their dental hygiene.Grin is the only Telehealth disruptor covered on the hub that provides virtual orthopaedic consultations.Funding and financialsIn April 2021, the New York-based teledental platform concluded a seed funding of USD 14 million, and the funds will be allocated to develop additional functionalities by building out its technology. The proceeds will also be used to scale up its team, expand its geographic footprint, and add doctors to the company’s orthodontic partner network.

Grin

Real-time collection of patients’ health-related data using any remote patient monitoring device combined with general telemedicine services to reduce readmission rates. 


A platform that facilitates the transmission of patient data to different locations for further evaluation and interpretation by medical specialists. 


A digital platform that offers specialty care services to address the specific needs of a patient or demographic, including consultations where patients are generally reluctant to meet practitioners face-to-face.

Primary care through virtual consultations for general health-related concerns using a digital platform or mobile app. 

Companies developing B2B software solutions for patient engagement, care navigation, practice management, and electronic health records integration to facilitate telehealth services for healthcare providers. 

IoT is used by most telehealth providers to operate virtual services

All telehealth players are involved in digital health via virtual offerings

Industry players offer varying degrees of personalization for each target audience

Some players offer technology and platforms to healthcare providers, converting physical-only services into virtual services

Specific telehealth offerings focus on diversity and inclusion, providing care to LGBTQ+ or BIPOC populations

Generative AI is used to streamline administrative tasks such as clinical note-taking

<div>
 
 Stork Club helps employers offer fertility and parental benefits to their employees. The company covers a range of fertility services, including diagnostics, egg freezing, in-vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy, allowing employees to choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network, and know out-of-pocket costs before making decisions. Stork Club operates through web and mobile-based apps, providing recommendations and information on medical providers, cost, and insurance related to family planning. Stork Club connects its users with telehealth professionals on demand and provides a transparent payment system that is integrated with existing employee health plans.
 
 
 The company claims it reduces fertility care-related expenses for employers, reporting that as of April 2024, employers could save up to an average of USD 8,000 per member. 
 
 
 
 In April 2024, the company launched a global network for its enterprise solution. Additionally, the firm introduced its Direct Pay offering, allowing in-network providers to be paid directly, eliminating the need for benefits cards. The new Stork Club service network included Care Partners who offer global guidance and dedicated service applications available in local languages. Moreover, the app offered access to various reproductive healthcare services, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg and sperm preservation, adoption services, and surrogacy.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 The company has partnered with several associations and healthcare providers to offer its patients access to in-person clinics. These include the CCRM Fertility group (partnered in September 2023), the Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA) of New Jersey (October 2023), and the RMA of New York (August 2023). 
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 
 The company last raised funds in June 2021, when it raised USD 30 million in a Series A funding round led by General Catalyst. The company intended to use the funds to meet growing demand and expand its line of family-related services.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 CoreStream is a developer of an employee health benefits platform that offers payroll deductions for the voluntary benefits marketplace.
 
</div>

CoreStream

<div>
 
 Benebay.com is an online self-insurance platform for smaller employers.
 
</div>

Benebay

<div>
 
 Benecaid is focused on the delivery and administration of employee benefit solutions to small and medium sized enterprises in Canada.
 
</div>

Benecaid

<div>
 
 Benepeak is a consulting firm that provides health benefits for employees using specialized applications according to users' interests.
 
</div>

Benepeak

<div>
 
 Marsh McLennan provides business insurance, employee benefits, retirement, and private client solutions.
 
</div>

Marsh McLennan Agency

Enterprise platforms that help employees and their dependents receive primary or specialist care services as part of their health benefits. These platforms also provide access to Telehealth services, behavioral care services, and remote patient monitoring

Enterprise platforms that help employees better navigate their healthcare journey by identifying which healthcare services are covered under their benefits plan and how to best maximize their use (e.g. identifying a wider pool of suitable regional physicians for consultation)

Enterprise platforms that specialize in helping employees manage their pharmacy- and prescription-related benefits to refill prescriptions or dispense medication for in-store pickup or home delivery

Enterprise platforms that allow employers to directly manage and customize employee benefit plans. These platforms enable enterprises to present employees with multiple health benefits options across health plans and negotiate terms with third-party health administrator services and insurance providers

Platforms are offered using a B2B SaaS business model, enabling digital health

Platforms are offered on a B2B basis to help manage employee benefits across an enterprise

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 
 Stork Club, a provider of reproductive care benefits for businesses, has launched a global network for its enterprise solution and introduced its Direct Pay service that allows in-network providers to get paid directly, thus eliminating the need for benefits cards.
 The company's new global service network comprises Care Partners who offer guidance and dedicated service applications available in local languages. The app also provides access to a range of reproductive healthcare services like in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg and sperm preservation, adoption services, and surrogacy.
 Stork Club assists employers in offering fertility and parental benefits to their employees by covering various fertility services. These services include diagnostics, egg freezing, in vitro diagnostics, and surrogacy. It lets employees choose from doctors, clinics, and labs in the network and informs them about out-of-pocket costs before they make decisions. The company aims to decrease fertility care-related costs for employers and reports that employers can save an average of USD 8,000 per member as of April 2024.
 
</div>

Stork Club

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