Fertility treatments like egg freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are transformative processes that bring hope and potential life to many. However, these treatments unfortunately also bring physical and emotional hurdles. Dandi, launched in May 2024, aims to address these challenges by providing additional support to women undergoing fertility treatments.
The Genesis Of Dandi
Dandi was co-founded by CEO Jake Kent and Leyla Bilali, a seasoned fertility nurse. Bilali first noticed the gap in personalized patient care while working at a leading fertility clinic in New York City. With up to 80 patients a day, nurses often struggled to provide the emotional and practical support their patients desperately needed.
Recognizing this need, Bilali initially started a fertility concierge business in 2017 called Fertility Together, offering personalized services like fertility consultations and assistance with IVF medicine administration. This venture laid the groundwork for Dandi.
Bilali met Kent, who had been developing products to aid in the IVF injection process after witnessing a family member struggle with the stress of fertility treatments. Together, they conceptualized a company that combined practical products with personalized virtual care.
Dandi’s Core Offerings
The IVF Care Kit: Priced at $185, this kit includes several products to ease the process of self-administering IVF injections. It features:
- A compression belt to guide the injection process
- A cooling pad insert to numb the injection site
- A heating pad insert for soothing cramps or injection sites
- A massage ball for tender spots and progesterone knots
- Shot targets to help identify the desired injection site
Live Injection Support: For $125 per session, patients can receive real-time virtual assistance from fertility nurses. This service covers all stages of the injection process, from unboxing medications to administering shots.
Fertility Consultations: Dandi offers consultations for $135 per session to support women at any stage of their fertility journey. These sessions are intended to complement, not replace, clinic care and are suitable for women considering fertility preservation, looking for clinic referrals, or needing additional support during treatments like egg freezing, IUI, or IVF.
Community Support: Dandi also fosters a moderated community group on WhatsApp, led by Bilali and her nurses. This group provides peer-to-peer support while ensuring that advice remains medically credible.
Addressing The Challenges Of Fertility Treatments
Kent highlights the impact of private equity in the fertility sector, which has shifted the focus of clinics towards profitability, often at the expense of personalized care. This trend has led to higher patient volumes and thus, less attention to individuals, making supplementary support more critical.
Through Dandi, Bilali and Kent aim to bridge this gap by offering both physical products and virtual care. Their goal is to create a supportive space where patients feel seen and heard during one of the most challenging experiences of their lives. By addressing both the emotional and practical aspects of fertility treatments, Dandi hopes to destigmatize these processes and bring them out of the shadows.
“We’ve heard from so many patients saying, ‘This is already the hardest thing I’m ever going to have to go through – why does it also have to be so isolating?’” says Kent. “We hope to have created a space where women feel supported, recognized, and less alone in their journey.”
References:
Dandi Fertility
Meet Dandi, the Fertility Startup That Wants To Make Your IVF Journey Easier
Fertility Together
Mayo Clinic: In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Fertility Network: Emotional Impact