As women age, over 70% of their eggs develop chromosomal defects by age 40, leading to dramatically lower chances of conception, even with IVF. In fact, IVF fails for 8 out of 10 women in their late 30s. Ovo Labs is changing that reality. Instead of relying on repeated IVF cycles with low success rates, Ovo Labs aims to increase the chances of successful conception from the first attempt by improving the quality of eggs before fertilisation.
The UK-based biotech startup has launched with £4 million seed funding. The round was co-led by Creator Fund and LocalGlobe, with additional backing from Blue Wire Capital, Ahren Innovation Capital, and Antonio Pellicer, founder of the world’s largest chain of IVF clinics.
With these funds, Ovo Labs is poised to transition from the lab to the clinic, moving its lead egg-quality therapeutic closer to real-world application.
Brainchild of fertility scientists
Ovo Labs was co-founded by Professor Melina Schuh, a globally recognised leader in reproductive biology from the Max Planck Institute. Her pioneering research into egg quality and chromosome segregation has laid the foundation for Ovo Labs’ breakthrough approach. She is joined by Dr Agata Zielinska, a clinician-scientist with NHS and Francis Crick Institute experience, and Dr Oleksandr Yagensky, a biologist-turned-strategy consultant and former rising star at Bain & Company in Germany.
This leadership trio brings together an exceptional combination of scientific rigour, clinical insight, and strategic vision, placing Ovo Labs at the cutting edge of fertility innovation.
A scientific breakthrough
The science behind Ovo Labs is built on two decades of research led by Prof. Schuh. Using advanced microscopy and molecular tools, her team uncovered how and why egg quality declines with age. These insights led to the development of three potential methods for improving egg quality, which have already been validated in aged mice and in isolated human eggs.
Ovo Labs’ preclinical data have shown that these therapies can significantly reduce genetic errors, laying the groundwork for a new class of fertility treatments. The company now operates out of the Life Science Factory in Munich, where it will continue developing and scaling its lead product.
Reimagining IVF success rates by targeting egg quality
The company aims to significantly improve outcomes for women undergoing IVF by addressing the root cause of infertility, declining egg quality. Ovo Labs’ therapeutics have shown promising results in enhancing the quality of unfertilised human eggs ex vivo.
Its therapeutics are designed to address aneuploidy, the genetic abnormalities that often affect eggs in older women. Their therapy is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing IVF workflows without adding cost or complexity for patients while offering new hope to those facing age-related infertility.
A fertility tech with global potential
Ovo Labs is leading a much-needed wave of innovation in reproductive health, a space historically underserved by biotech investment. With a strong scientific foundation, visionary founders, and substantial investor backing, the company is reimagining what’s possible in fertility care.
As it advances toward clinical trials, Ovo Labs could redefine what IVF success looks like, offering renewed hope to women and families navigating infertility later in life.
Professor Melina Schuh, Ovo Labs Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor, said: “Ovo Labs’ mission is to make the dream of parenthood a reality for millions of couples who struggle to conceive. By helping to increase the number of viable eggs, we aim to extend the reproductive window, empowering more couples to have children at a time that feels right to them. Ovo Labs’ technology also offers a potential solution for declining birth rates, which is a trend observed in many countries worldwide.”
Jamie Macfarlane who co-led the deal from Creator Fund, added: “This company has been twenty years in the making. It is the product of decades of pioneering scientific work to understand the origin of human life and why age impacts our ability to reproduce. It is inspiring to see European scientists of this calibre launch a company solving such a fundamental question facing humanity. We believe that the science at the heart of this business has the potential to change whether, when and how couples have children.”
Emma Phillips, Investment Partner, Local Globe, who co-led the investment, also said: “Women and couples deserve better odds of IVF success, which Ovo Labs delivers. LocalGlobe is thrilled to support this team of world leading scientists tackling the core challenges of fertility with groundbreaking solutions.”
