Fertility startup Kindbody has acquired Vios Fertility Institute and its network of clinics in a deal that propels the company to unicorn status at a $1.15 billion valuation.
Kindbody offers virtual, at-home and in-person services for fertility and family-building, including in vitro fertilization, genetic testing, surrogacy services and adoption.
The Vios acquisition will double Kindbody’s footprint, giving the company 26 clinics across the country plus some new additions to its leadership team, including a new CEO of its clinical division in Angeline Beltsos, M.D., founder and chief executive of Vios.
“We founded Vios with a mission of an unparalleled patient experience and a vision of building families dreamed of by our patients,” said Beltsos in a statement. “Now, more people will have access to the personalized, high-touch experience they have come to expect from both Kindbody and Vios. Together, we have the opportunity to revolutionize fertility and family building care.”
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Vios clinics across six states will rebrand to Kindbody and integrate the startup’s technologies into their operations, including its patient portal, EMR and telehealth platform.
Annbeth Eschbach, previously president of Kindbody, will become CEO of the company’s corporate unit, and former Vios Fertility Institute President Greg Poulos will take over Eschbach’s role as president of the combined company.
Kindbody founder and CEO Gina Bartasi will maintain her role as chairwoman to oversee the company’s continued expansion.
“This union brings together two organizations with shared values and alignment around unwavering empathy for patient experience and outcomes,” Eschbach said. “Together, we double our size, reach and strengths in fertility care to serve our large enterprise clients and more patients everywhere.”
Founded in 2018, Kindbody now serves 78 employer clients, with more than 350,000 covered lives.
The company was also a 2022 Fierce 15 award winner.
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Fertility care has become a popular area of digital health investment.
InsurMedix, an AI-powered insurance platform that covers fertility treatments, banked $65 million in November, while Carrot Fertility landed $75 million in a series C round in August led by Tiger Global Management.
Women’s and family health company Maven Clinic hit unicorn status last May with a $110 million series D round, and digital health unicorn Ro acquired Modern Fertility in May for a whopping $225 million.
Kindbody provides care navigation as well as care delivery, which helps differentiate it in the fast-paced digital health sector, according to the company. Patients can access those services at the company’s own clinics, its mobile clinics or through its partner clinics.
The startup also began offering at-home fertility hormone test kits for women and men in January.