Portrait No. 001
Bonnie Maven
CEO & Founder
Vertility Health, Inc.
I got into a conversation with a fellow at a networking event when he found out I was interested in reproductive biology. He told me him and his wife had just terminated a very wanted pregnancy because of a genetic condition. You could tell how much it was weighing on him, especially when he talked about what their future options even were. But what can couples do in this situation? Right now, their main option is IVF, which means creating embryos, sequencing them, and then discarding the ones with the mutation. In short: it’s emotionally brutal. And that’s for the people who can afford it in the first place. That conversation ignited Vertility. I wanted to invent simple technology for people like him. As genetic sequencing becomes more common, more couples will find out their future children are at risk, and right now, we don’t have accessible options. And I founded Vertility to change that.
In her words
“My vision is to make genetic disease prevention affordable and accessible to couples worldwide.”
Chapter I
The toughest challenges you've faced as a founder.
I grew up in Texas in a community where I couldn’t fully be myself. It wasn’t until I moved to California for my PhD that I really figured out who I am (and who I love). And something unexpected happened: I went from being an introvert to quite the extrovert. Now I get to spend my days as a founder talking to so many amazing people out there and I genuinely love it. But there’s another side to my journey. During my PhD, I suffered a serious injury. Doctor after doctor told me I was fine. Eventually, at my wit’s end, I asked for my medical records. After a lot of digging, I noticed something they hadn’t and I remember thinking, surely three separate doctors wouldn’t have missed THAT. But they did. I found the right specialist, had several surgeries, and got my physical life back. But this experience rewired me. It made me realize that experts aren’t always right, systems aren’t always built to catch what matters, and sometimes progress depends on a person willing to challenge “this is just how it’s done.” Getting my physical ability back also made me deeply grateful, and more intentional about using the privilege I have to pursue what matters. And right now, that means being the founder of Vertility.
Chapter II
Your vision.
We already have the scientific knowledge to prevent most inherited diseases, or genetic conditions. Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and thousands of others. In the majority of cases, these conditions happen when a child inherits one mutation from each parent. And yet our solution today is IVF. Create embryos, sequence them, and discard the ones that inherit the genetic condition. This approach works, and it has helped many families. But for countless others, it is financially impossible. And even when it is accessible, it can be emotionally and ethically heavy. So here’s what we’re building: If half of a male partner’s sperm do not carry the mutation, why not just select those to fertilize the egg? Instead of creating embryos and hoping some are unaffected, we prevent the mutation before an embryo is ever formed. We increase the odds, reduce the burden, and give families more healthy embryos from the start. And the most powerful part? This doesn't actually require IVF. Most couples could conceive through a simple insemination procedure called IUI, dramatically expanding access beyond IVF centers and five-figure price tags. My vision is to make genetic disease prevention affordable and accessible to couples worldwide.
Chapter III
The impact you want to leave behind — for your industry, your community, and the women who come next.
I hope to give back to future founders the way others have given to me. Inventing technology is only part of the job. The rest is building a place where people can do great work and enjoy it. I’m always learning from mentors and from the founders whose books shaped me. However. When those books default to the founder being “male,” it’s a gut punch. It reminds me how much history still leaves women out. I hope my generation changes that. I hope we write the books. And I hope they help founders who don’t fit the mold push forward and defy givens.