SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Glow, the data science company redesigning healthcare, announced today the launch of its first mobile application, Glow - a better way to get pregnant, along with Glow First - a better way to fund infertility treatments.
It’s no secret that the healthcare system is broken and that infertility is acutely underserved. Women are choosing to have children later, fertility treatments are considered elective and overall, the healthcare system hasn’t kept pace with reproductive health. Approximately five to ten million couples are trying to conceive each year in the U.S., yet only about four million babies are born. Glow is aiming to address these problems and change healthcare as we know it.
There are two parts to Glow: the first is the mobile application, which aims to give women better insight and control over their reproductive health. By asking women to track their ovulation data in the app, Glow leverages data science to better inform women and their partners of their fertility window with personalized information, statistics, and recommendations. The second is Glow First, a not-for-profit fund that women can elect to participate in, designed to help offset the high cost of fertility treatments. Participants contribute $50 each month for 10 months into a designated pool, which is divided equally amongst any participants who did not achieve a natural pregnancy after 10 months of actively trying to conceive while using the Glow app. Additionally, Max Levchin has personally donated $1 million to the Glow First program.
“We see so many opportunities to improve the state of health and wellness through data science,” said Max Levchin, executive chairman and co-founder of Glow. “Deeper insights will result in more informed diagnostics and decisions, earlier treatments, and ultimately cheaper, more accessible healthcare. We are excited to be leading this movement.”
Glow has raised approximately $6 million led by Founders Fund, along with Andreessen Horowitz, and several strategic angel investors. The Glow app is available free of charge in the iTunes App Store, worldwide. Glow First is available in the U.S. More information can be accessed within the app and at www.glowing.com.
Glow has some of the best doctors and medical teams in fertility actively participating in the development of Glow and Glow First including Shady Grove Fertility in Washington D.C. and Pacific Fertility Center of San Francisco, California.
The team at Glow decided to tackle fertility first because it is one of the most underserved areas in healthcare - with most reproductive healthcare being categorized as “elective”. Infertility is a $5 billion market and growing, and one in three women ages 35 to 39 will not be pregnant a year after trying. In the U.S., the cost of a single assisted reproductive technology cycle (or ART) can cost up to 50 percent of an individual’s annual disposable income.
“I left my career on Wall Street and underwent six in-vitro fertilizations, among other procedures, to have my two beautiful children. I know all too well what it is like to undergo fertility treatments. I am thrilled to be a part of a company that is helping people solve hard problems through data, and in this particular case, the problem of infertility,” said Günce Arkan, a key contributor to Glow. “Glow helps women become more informed about their reproductive health, empowers them with the option to focus on their careers and think about children a little later if they’d like to, and is being developed by a team of highly competent people who are single-mindedly focused on overcoming obstacles.”
About Glow:
Glow was founded by Max Levchin, formerly of PayPal, as well as Mike Huang, co-founder, CEO; Chris Martinez, co-founder, business & strategy; Kevin Ho, co-founder, product; Ryan Ye, co-founder, technology, and is a data science company redesigning health insurance. It was founded in January 2013 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. More information about Glow is available at: https://glowing.com/.
