Techstars grad Best Shot launches digital companion for infertility patients
Friday July 24, 2020
DENVER -- Best Shot, a Colorado-based healthtech startup that recently emerged from the 2020 Techstars Boulder accelerator program, announced the completion of its mobile application and clinic interface product and commencement of three fertility clinic pilots.
The launch is preceded by the close of an oversubscribed pre-seed investment round. Best Shot is a patient’s digital companion in fertility treatments, with a focus on patient engagement, medication management and mindfulness, the company said.
Co-founder & CEO Abby Mercado, former venture capital investor and current mom of IVF twins, said she is passionate about improving the fertility patient experience after enduring her own journey through infertility and the overwhelming, complex process of fertility treatments.
“When my husband Sean and I decided it was time to start our family, we faced an unfortunate situation that impacts 1 in 8 American families: infertility,” she said.
“A couple of weeks after starting our first IVF round, I unexpectedly became pregnant naturally. Unfortunately, that pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage, which I later learned was likely caused by a mistake I made in administering a certain fertility medication.”
Best Shot was conceived out of the Mercado’s determination to help other fertility patients avoid making similar medication mistakes that can cost a patient her IVF cycle.
The Best Shot solution takes form through a patient engagement app, clinic dashboard and supportive micro- communities led by experts.
One critical component of Best Shot’s mission is to streamline the pharmaceutical ordering experience for patients.
The current method used by most fertility clinics involves the patient vetting an extensive list of specialty pharmacies to research the best pricing for the medications included in her treatment plan.
With Best Shot, a patient can more easily find a pharmacy partner that fits her priorities, whether those surround cost, customer service or insurance coverage.
Peregrin (Pere) Marshall, who was the founding CTO of RxRevu, which tackles pharmaceutical pricing transparency for health systems, joins Mercado on the leadership team as Best Shot’s co-founder & CTO.
In January 2020, Best Shot was selected to participate in the Techstars Boulder accelerator program.
“Abby and Pere joined Techstars with an infectious enthusiasm for solving problems for fertility patients in a growing market that is ripe for disruption,” said Natty Zola, managing director of the Techstars Boulder accelerator program.
“During the 14-week program, I watched Best Shot put together a strong team, build an amazing product and gain impressive traction. I could not be more excited to be on this journey with Abby, Pere and team.”
“We are looking forward to collaborating with the Best Shot team as we continue to help people achieve their dreams of building families and reach their goals of preserving their fertility,” said Dr. Mark Bush, medical director at Conceptions.
“Our desire is to provide the best possible experience for our patients, and we are excited to refine our patients’ journeys with the help of the Best Shot platform.”
With more than 30 clinics in the pipeline expressing interest in utilizing Best Shot’s digital platform, the company said it is also evaluating partnerships, including with a leading fertility-focused specialty pharmacy, a fast-growing, women’s health-centric benefits platform for employers and a major pharmaceuticals company.
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