• Ava

  Participated · Series A · Nov 2016

  Ava is a Zurich, Switzerland- and San Francisco, CA-based company that produces a cycle-tracking sensor bracelet. The bracelet precisely detects the 5.3-day fertile window in a woman’s cycle in real time. Founded in Switzerland in 2014 by Pascal Koenig and led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Maureen Cronin, the company combines data insights and clinical science. Ava intends to use the Series B proceeds for further product research and development, enhancement of its existing product, and creation of new applications to empower women to take control of their reproductive health. The company is investing in clinical trials with the University Hospital of Zurich under Prof. Brigitte Leeners to study applications among women trying to get pregnant, those with fertility challenges, and to understand complications during pregnancy. Ava raised $30M in Series B funding from backers that include SVC and btov Partners. Ava builds a Class One medical fertility-tracking bracelet that identifies a woman’s fertile window using multiple physiological signals. The $199 device has been shipping since July and completed a 41-participant clinical trial at the University Hospital of Zurich showing it detects an average of 5.3 fertile days per cycle with 89% accuracy. The company is running a larger second trial with 200 women and is researching correlations between fertility and signals including urinary LH, estrogen-3-glucuronide, bioimpedance, pulse rate, breathing rate, sleep, movement, HRV, skin temperature, heat loss and perfusion. Ava recently obtained the CE Mark and plans to begin sales across the EU, with availability in early 2017 in the U.K., Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company reports early user-conversions (eight reported pregnancies) and intends to use new funding largely for research and additional clinical studies. Co-founder Lea von Bidder says the broader product vision is to support women across life stages from contraception through menopause. Ava offers a fertility-tracking bracelet worn during sleep that automatically collects physiological data and a companion mobile app to predict a woman's fertile window. The device measures signals correlated with hormonal changes—bioimpedance, pulse rate, breathing rate, sleep, movement, heart rate variability, skin temperature, heat loss and perfusion—and the company tracked urinary LH and an estrogen metabolite in a clinical study. A University Hospital of Zurich trial of 41 healthy women (approximately 180 cycles) found the device detected an average of 5.3 fertile days per cycle with 89% accuracy. The tracker has FDA Class I medical device clearance and was available for pre-order; the product is now ready to ship at a retail price of $199. Ava's immediate target market is women age 30 and above who have been trying unsuccessfully for a few cycles, though the company has also drawn interest from women in their 20s and 30s focused on fertility. Future plans noted in the article include completing trials with women who have fertility issues, such as PCOS.

No current team members are available.