With up to a quarter of reproductive-aged women in the U.S. facing fertility challenges and struggling to find treatment from an antiquated and male-dominated industry, Lushi, a women-led start-up, announced today it will offer treatments, clinics, and wellness platforms tailored to their female patients and help transform the IVF and egg freezing experience for women.
Lushi’s December launch comes at a time when President-Elect Donald J. Trump has promised to expand access to IVF for American women. In August, Mr. Trump said the federal government would mandate insurance companies pay for IVF. Only 15 states specifically require insurance companies to cover IVF treatments.
Earlier in 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court limited IVF, sparking outrage and highlighting fertility issues. Nearly three in four Americans support IVF, according to an August 2024 poll by Yahoo News and YouGov.
“There is a fertility crisis in this country that translates into a very personal question for millions of American women every day,” said Lushi CEO, Founder, and Point72 Asset Management alum, Jessica Schaefer.
“We believe every woman should have the option to build a family when they want to, but the hoops women have to jump through to have a child are not only a burden, but dehumanizing. Lushi – a company led by women like me, someone with first-hand knowledge of this – is going to help solve that problem by making it more humane and easier.”
“We have a fertility crisis and media reports have recognized that we have a parallel access to treatment crisis– a ‘fertility desert,’ where large numbers of reproductive age women in this country say it is difficult to obtain fertility services in their state,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mana Baskovic. “We intend to help fill this significant void.”
“The IVF industry isn’t responsive enough and Lushi will be offering women a different experience, designed by women to make women feel comfortable and confident as they undergo fertility treatments.”
The CDC has reported that up to 26% of reproductive aged women in the United States experience fertility problems, and KFF estimates this translates to 8 million women annually “who seek fertility services to help them get pregnant.” WHO has found that infertility rates are rising globally.
“This is deeply personal for me,” Schaefer said. “I’ve been through this. They sent me home with fertility drugs to mix, a biohazard bucket and frighteningly long needles I had to jab myself with. You can be the brightest and savviest woman and still be unnerved by this process.”
“No woman should have to go through this and so we’ve designed the entire Lushi experience – starting with our AI-powered app – to make this trying time less stressful, more women-friendly and, ultimately, increase the chances of conception.”
Lushi will begin serving its patients on December 11th. Women can use Lushi to hire injection specialists to administer fertility shots, use remote monitoring to support them throughout, and give them access to ‘My Fertility Plan,’ a 12-week personalized guide that includes a nutrition plan, step-by-step instructions for egg freezing, and a post-treatment plan to help women reset their weight and hormone levels. Lushi offers at-home injection specialists in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, and Boston and offers virtual support nationwide.
The Lushi app allows women to invite spouses, partners, and friends to create a community to support them, foster connections, and minimize the stress and anxiety from going through it alone.
Upon launch, Lushi will introduce basic- and tiered-membership plans designed to provide personalized support for individuals navigating their fertility journeys. Membership options include:
- Lushi Basic ($299): Includes ‘My Fertility Plan,’ one 30-minute telehealth injection training, and trigger shot monitoring.
- Lushi Premium ($750): Includes ‘My Fertility Plan,’ three telehealth remote monitoring/consultations, virtual meeting with Chief Medical Officer, and one in-person visit.
- Lushi VIP ($5,000): Includes ‘My Fertility Plan,’ 10 in-person visits, unlimited telehealth monitoring, and access to the expert network.
Lushi plans to expand its services in 2025 to include community-based fertility wellness pop-up spas and a flagship Injection Bar™ to provide patients with a calming environment tailored to their fertility needs by providing injections on site, fertility-optimizing mocktails, and yoga sessions designed to bolster egg quality and overall experience. The spas will also feature mental health support to help women navigate the emotions on their fertility journey.
Join now for access to the Lushi community.
About Lushi’s Leaders
Jessica Schaefer – Ms. Schaefer is a highly successful entrepreneur, alum of Point72 and the founder of Bevel, a tech/VC PR firm she built into an 8-figure revenue business that was acquired in 2023.
Dr. Mana Baskovic – Dr. Baskovic is a renowned Stanford-trained OB/GYN and surgeon who is an expert in using minimally-invasive robotic surgical techniques. She is revered for her treatment of some of the most common causes of infertility, including fibroids and endometriosis.
About Lushi
Lushi is a modern fertility and wellness tech platform offering a patient-first approach to reproductive health. Through its advanced technology, which includes gen-AI, and holistic services, Lushi provides personalized care designed to improve fertility outcomes and enhance the overall patient experience. The company is headquartered in LA/NY. To learn more about Lushi and its offerings, visit www.lushi.co.
Lushi has secured funding from YPO members, serial entrepreneurs and investors, including renowned consumer behaviorist Ariel Kaye, Founder and CEO of Parachute, who has raised over $100M in venture funding, as well as Justin Dibbs, co-founder of Allied Gold Corp Limited, currently valued at $1.14B CAD. Kaye will join the Board.
Lushi’s Advisory Board includes: Rob Petrozzo, Co-Founder of Rally; Jennifer Meyer, Founder of Jennifer Bett Communications; and, Dr. Erin Zagadailov, a senior biotech executive and women’s health advocate.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211089436/en/