Legacy

TL;DR:

Legacy (YC S19) is a startup focused on the fast-growing field of fertility and family planning. Founded at Harvard, the company has now raised $40M from leading investors like FirstMark Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, Section 32, Tribe Capital, and even celebrities like Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and others.

What we're doing

We aim to change the outdated view that fertility is a "women's issue" by creating an accessible, affordable product for men & people with sperm. This includes everything from a mail-in kit for sperm testing & sperm freezing, personalized sperm improvement products, tele-health, DNA fragmentation analysis, supplements, and more.

Why are we the leader?

The company was founded at Harvard by a team of healthcare and fertility experts. We obsess about talent density and have out-executed our competitors over the past few years. Beyond our D2C channel, we've also unlocked:

1. Nationwide insurance coverage (10M+ lives)

2. Military contracts (Including the Navy SEALs and 15M+ veterans)

3. Employer offerings (Working with the top fertility benefit providers)

Tell me about the team

We're a team of about 30, extremely diverse (majority female, majority immigrants, strong LGBQTIA+ representation, age range of 25-65), and very values driven. Our 5 values are customer centricity, reliability, kindness, openness, and winning.

Learn more about our values here:

https://khaled-legacy.medium.com/legacys-values-and-why-they-matter-db116539d3da

Learn more about our workplace here:

https://khaled-legacy.medium.com/how-and-why-legacy-is-reinventing-workplace-benefits-9e5fda6cb863

Read about our mission to humanize the path to parenthood:

https://khaled-legacy.medium.com/how-and-why-legacy-is-reinventing-workplace-benefits-9e5fda6cb863

Learn more about sperm and why it matters here:

docsend.com/view/zkgk7ws

High-Level Overview

Legacy is a fertility technology company that helps men and people with sperm test, improve, and freeze their sperm through convenient at-home mail-in kits and digital health solutions. Their platform offers clinical-grade semen analysis, DNA fragmentation testing, personalized improvement plans, telehealth consultations, and sperm cryopreservation with long-term storage options. Legacy serves individuals seeking proactive fertility care, including military personnel, veterans, and employees covered by fertility benefits, making male fertility services more accessible and equitable across the United States[1][2][3].

Origin Story

Founded at Harvard University and headquartered in New York, Legacy emerged to address the misconception that fertility is solely a women's issue by focusing on male reproductive health. The founding team includes experts in male fertility, reproductive medicine, and healthcare policy, supported by a world-class advisory board. Early traction included pioneering direct-to-consumer access to comprehensive male fertility testing and preservation without requiring clinic visits, a significant innovation compared to traditional in-person programs[1][2][5].

Core Differentiators

• Fully Remote, Digital-First Model: Legacy offers a discreet, user-friendly mail-in sperm testing kit and digital platform that delivers results within 48 hours, removing barriers like clinic visits and high costs[1][3].
• Comprehensive Testing: Their analysis covers semen volume, sperm count, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation, with post-thaw viability testing to ensure quality after freezing[1][3].
• Broad Accessibility: Legacy integrates with insurance providers, military contracts (serving Navy SEALs and over 9 million veterans), and employer fertility benefits, expanding access nationwide[1][2].
• Multi-Site Cryopreservation: Samples are stored at multiple certified labs to maximize security and longevity, with frozen sperm viable for decades[1][4].
• Expert Advisory and Clinical Oversight: The company is advised by top fertility experts and led by clinicians experienced in male infertility treatments and research[5].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Legacy rides the growing trend of digital health and telemedicine, particularly in personalized reproductive care. The timing is critical due to a global decline in sperm quality and increasing awareness of male fertility's role in family planning. Market forces such as rising demand for convenient, affordable fertility solutions and expanded insurance coverage favor Legacy’s model. By pioneering direct-to-consumer male fertility testing and preservation, Legacy influences the broader ecosystem by normalizing male reproductive health care and integrating it with employer and military benefits[1][2].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Legacy is positioned to expand its market leadership by leveraging ongoing advances in telehealth, AI-driven personalized care, and partnerships with payers and providers. Trends shaping their journey include increased male fertility awareness, employer-sponsored fertility benefits, and technological innovations in sperm analysis and preservation. Their influence may evolve from a niche fertility service to a mainstream component of men’s health and wellness, potentially driving new standards for remote reproductive care and preventive fertility management[2][6].

Legacy’s mission to empower people with sperm to proactively manage their reproductive health from home ties back to their founding vision of making male fertility care accessible, equitable, and clinically rigorous.