Luma Fertility, a Mumbai-based fertility startup, has raised US$4 million in seed funding.

The funding round was led by Peak XV’s Surge, with contributions from Ameera Shah of Metropolis Healthcare and Vijay Taparia of B2V Ventures.

The funds will be allocated to expand Luma’s operations in Mumbai and other cities over the next two years.

The recent funding is intended to support the startup’s efforts to establish a more patient-centered fertility care ecosystem in India.

Founded by Neha K. Motwani, Luma aims to enhance fertility care in India through technology-enabled clinics. These clinics offer services such as IVF, egg and embryo freezing, and fertility assessments.

Luma’s founding team consists of professionals with expertise in healthcare and technology. This includes Chief Embryologist Chirag Shah and Medical Director Dr. Radhika Sheth.

The startup has also launched an integrated app for patients to monitor their treatment progress and access reports. This app includes an AI-enabled tool, LumaAI, which offers 24/7 assistance for fertility-related inquiries.

.source-ref{font-size:0.85em;color:#666;display:block;margin-top:1em;}a.ask-tia-citation-link:hover{color:#11628d !important;background:#e9f6f5 !important;border-color:#11628d !important;text-decoration:none !important;}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){a.ask-tia-citation-link{font-size:11px !important;}}

🔗 Source: Luma Fertility

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ India’s demographic paradox creates unique fertility market dynamics

India’s fertility rate has dropped below replacement level, declining from 2.1 to 1.9 births per woman, creating a significant demographic shift in the world’s most populous country1.

This decline occurs alongside rising infertility rates, with over 33 million couples facing fertility challenges, creating a paradoxical increase in demand for assisted reproduction services.

Economic and social factors are driving this trend, with the UN highlighting financial strain, job insecurity, and changing aspirations as key contributors to declining birth rates across the country1.

The demographic shift is already having visible impacts, with some regions closing schools due to declining child populations, while fertility clinics expand to meet growing demand2.

This pattern makes India unique in global fertility markets, experiencing simultaneous population growth, fertility decline, and increased need for reproductive assistance.

2️⃣ Patient experience transformation addresses historical gaps in fertility care

The Indian fertility industry has historically struggled with transparency and patient support issues, with the ICMR noting that many clinics make misleading success rate claims without legal consequences3.

Studies reveal the significant emotional toll of fertility treatments, with cases documenting anxiety and depression following failed IVF cycles, a challenge that patient-centered approaches like Luma’s attempt to address3.

The financial burden has been a major obstacle for many couples, with traditional IVF cycles costing between ₹60,000 to ₹2 lakh, often without adequate counseling or support services3.

Ethical concerns have plagued the industry, with documented cases of elderly women giving birth and reports of fatalities among young egg donors highlighting the historical lack of protective regulations4.

Luma’s transparent approach, dedicated care specialists, and psychological support services directly respond to these documented gaps in the traditional fertility care system.

3️⃣ Technological innovation increasingly differentiates fertility clinics

IVF success rates have improved by over 20% in the last three decades due to technological innovations, making technology adoption a key differentiator in the competitive fertility market5.

Advancements like vitrification (rapid freezing) have dramatically improved egg and embryo preservation, with documented success rates showing 63.9% survival for vitrified oocytes, critical for treatments like egg freezing6.

India’s first successful birth from vitrified oocytes demonstrates how technological adoption can create breakthrough results, particularly important for Luma’s services that include egg and embryo freezing6.

Modern fertility clinics increasingly compete on technological offerings, with leading centers highlighted for their state-of-the-art equipment alongside experienced medical teams7.

Luma’s integration of AI support tools and patient apps follows a global trend where digital health technologies are becoming essential components of comprehensive fertility care.

……