UK-based The OVA Co has raised over $1 million in a pre-seed funding round to expand its fertility supplement business focused on both egg and sperm health. The round was led by consumer VC ERA VC, with participation from Ventures Together, Syndicate Room, and notable angel investors.
Angel investors include Gemma Bellman, former Director at Glossier and British Beauty Council, Lisa Gordon, Chairperson of Cavendish Capital, and Stratos Chatzigiannis, CEO of Ila Apothecary. Multiple exited founders from NHS and Techstars-backed ventures also participated in the round.
The funding will support expansion into Ireland, scaling retail distribution, and strengthening partnerships across 800+ retail locations in Boots and Sainsbury’s. The company is also collaborating with Google through their high growth new business programme.
Founded by former Net-A-Porter executives Danielle Fox-Thomas and Kat Lestage, The OVA Co launched seven months ago. The founders created the company based on their personal experiences with recurrent miscarriage and IVF, addressing what they saw as gaps in the fertility supplement market.
“We built OVA because the fertility aisle hasn’t caught up with the reality of how people are actually trying to conceive,” said Kat Lestage, Co-Founder of The OVA Co. “People deserve better than cold medicinal packaging and vague promises – they deserve products that are evidence-based, gender-inclusive, and rooted in empathy.”
The OVA Co targets what it describes as a new generation of fertility consumers seeking transparent, science-based products.
“Just after seven months of launching, this raise is a huge vote of confidence in the future we’re building,” said Danielle Fox-Thomas, Co-Founder. “We’re here to make fertility support smarter, more accessible, and less isolating – and we’re just getting started.”
Claire Cherry, Partner at ERA VC, noted: “OVA is tapping into a deeply underserved space in a truly differentiated manner. We know fertility is no longer solely a women’s issue – it’s a team effort, and OVA is leading the charge with a standout brand and real science. We’re proud to back such an exceptional team.”
