We’re excited to share that NZVC has invested in Herasight, a company pioneering the next generation of embryo genetic testing.
What they do
Herasight reconstructs embryo genomes with far greater accuracy than current approaches. By sequencing both parents and applying advanced algorithms, they can infer an embryo’s full genetic makeup even when data is incomplete. This enables stronger predictions of disease risks (e.g. diabetes, prostate cancer) and traits (e.g. height, IQ range), and extends to difficult genomic regions like HLA, which play a key role in immune health.
Here’s a snapshot of what the experience looks like for their clients:
Why we invested
1. Breakthrough science – IVF is a $25B+ global market, yet today’s embryo testing is limited. Herasight’s method has the potential to set a new standard.
2. Shifting societal norms – As people have fewer children and have them later in life, genetic selection will become increasingly normalized—not just to avoid severe genetic disorders like Down syndrome, but to select the healthiest and most promising embryos from the limited number available.
3. The winner-takes-all model – In this category, there will likely be one dominant player: the team that best correlates DNA with real-world outcomes. Anyone can sequence genomes, but only the company that continuously maps genotype to phenotype at scale will have the most predictive model.
4. Compounding advantage – Herasight’s predictive model will strengthen exponentially as it gathers more data. Its longitudinal study following children born through the program will create the world’s deepest embryo-to-adult dataset—a self-reinforcing loop that accelerates accuracy and defensibility.
5. Early traction – ~40 clients so far, including multiple successful births, showing both feasibility and demand.
6. Technical infrastructure – An in-house lab in Raleigh, NC, using both Illumina short-read and long-read sequencing gives them tighter control and faster iteration.
7. Robust business model – 5-year full-service packages (~$50k) covering sequencing, embryo analysis, and ongoing re-analysis as models improve.
8. Exceptional team – A founding group of top-tier scientists and operators with deep backgrounds in genomics, computational biology, and IVF, giving us confidence they can execute in a highly complex space.
9. Real-world impact – Herasight also collaborates with governments to apply its genomic tools to public-health initiatives, including identifying and managing genetic risks from consanguinity and inherited disorders—an important, often overlooked global health challenge.
Competition & controversy
You may have seen Orchid (backed by Vitalik Buterin, Brian Armstrong, Anne Wojcicki, and other prominent figures), the early mover in embryo testing, which has attracted both investor attention and ethical debate. Critics have pointed to overpromising, ancestry bias, and “designer baby” fears.
We see Herasight as the next generation: more scientific rigor, better handling of diverse ancestries, in-house infrastructure, and a transparent approach that prioritizes accuracy and responsibility. In parallel, Herasight’s collaboration with governments on genetic risk mapping underscores its focus on public-health applications beyond consumer testing.
Even Elon Musk has called Herasight cool (this is real).
We believe this is a category-defining company at the intersection of genomics, AI, and reproductive health—and that the future of embryo selection will belong to the company with the most accurate, compounding predictive model.
We’re thrilled to welcome them to the NZVC portfolio.
Follow them on X: @Herasight
— Mark & Hendrik