|
Author
Soliva Dueso, Lluc
Rodés Guirao, Marta
|
Abstract
Nowadays, infertility is one of the main concerns in developed countries and can be caused by several factors such as the decision to create a family at late ages, bad feeding habits, and stress, among others. To solve this situation, assisted reproductive techniques have played a vital role recently, especially In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). However, IVF has some complications that must be improved, most notably the possibility of multiple pregnancies and a low rate of viable embryos transferred, approximately 30%. Additionally, this treatment is commonly very high-priced in most of the countries where it is carried out.
Until now, main devices or methodologies to solve the issues presented above are addressed to the manufacturing of IVF incubators, which allow the embryologists to monitor the process in a noninvasive approach (for instance, time-lapse incubator for Vitrolife). However, the effective viable embryo selection and the reduction of attempts to pregnancy are still waiting to be optimized.
Our project begins from a technology developed by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) which increases the rate of viable embryo transferred at 50%, reducing the attempts and time to pregnancy, and thus the high investment patients should hold. This technology is materialized in a hyperspectral microscope capable of analyzing the embryo viability together with an Artificial Intelligence service to continuously improve the analysis, named MEROP. MEROP is intended to be an adaptable accessory for different types of IVF incubators capable of working with almost all IVF institutions worldwide.
The business structure is based on a management company, where the manufacturing is carried out through outsourcing by M2 (microscope manufacturers) and R&D (IBEC), and the final customer will be reached through distributors. The commercial phase will start in 2024, targeting in early stages the US, the UK and Scandinavian countries which are perceived in the IVF world as referents.
The company will be constructed as an S.L. containing its board of directors and shareholders. Moreover, it will include a CEO and advisory board which will manage eight different departments:
Technical, scientific, marketing, sales and communication, business strategy, administrative, IT, customer service and AI. According to the business plan, the initial investment accounts for $500.000 which will be recovered the first year. From that and through the expected instauration of MEROP in the market, a growth in sales and a positive increasing net income is forecasted the following years.
Finally, we firmly believe in the success of the company due to the disruptive technology MEROP is based on and looking at the IVF world demands. Moreover, the IVF market is yearly growing and with the support of well reputed institutions such as IBEC and M2 we expect to be a reference company in the industry in the future.
|
|
