Gitanjali Banerjee

Every year, one in every four couples in India face infertility issues and one in every eight girls go through PCOS at the adolescent age of 18-20, often escalating to fertility problems or cancer at a later stage. Fertility Dost aims to change the way people manage fertility and the societal behaviour towards it. “We are trying to bring awareness and accessibility of the problem with patient-centric behaviour in the fertility domain,” says Gitanjali Banerjee, founder, Fertility Dost.

According to Banerjee, there is a huge gap between patients and fertility specialists. With a vision to bring fertility into the proactive segment, Fertility Dost aims to make fertility or infertility treatments as common as any other disease or problem in India. By combining modern science, technology, behavioural science and social support, the platform provides end-to-end management comprising preventive healthcare, natural fertility, pre-IVF treatments, adoption or support to a couple’s decision to not have a child.

The enterprise that was born out of Banerjee’s personal experience, today, counsels over two lakh women every month and has reached out to over 10 million people through their digital educational campaigns. It has sold over 500 plus fertility coach programmes and 40% of their users are from the Middle East, US, Australia, Singapore and UK. The team works with top doctors and gynaecologists and has tied up with over 16 top IVF brands in the country.

Banerjee recalls how she sat over the idea of setting up the enterprise for almost two years. No background of start-ups or business and fertility being a tabooed subject, she knew she would have to share her own journey to build a community. The fear of judgement pushed her to procrastinate on an idea that could make a huge difference in the lives of millions of women. Looking back, Banerjee considers it her “biggest mistake” and advises all budding entrepreneurs to “not procrastinate thinking and perfecting the idea”. “Fail fast, learn fast, keep moving and be consistent. Be sure of your vision. If that is clear and so is your goal, you will succeed,” concludes Banerjee.