Being a parent is often described as the most rewarding life experience. Unfortunately, infertility impacts one-in-six couples globally. According to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, infertility currently affects about 10 to 14 percent of the Indian population, with higher rates in urban areas. Nearly 27.5 million couples actively trying to conceive suffer from infertility in India. To address this problem, people often turn to costly fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Over the years, IVF has emerged as a successful infertility treatment process and the positive outcomes (take-home-baby-rates) of this technique have increased. With all this, the fertility business has always peddled hope to people who struggle to conceive naturally. Dr. Ramnath Babu & Dr. Santosh Bhargav, two Ph.D holders from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, decided to apply the outcomes of their pursued education and research in the infertility space. While the existing clinics are using old methodologies which are analog and manual, they decided to automate the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedure with digitization and innovation. With this idea, they co-founded SpOvum Technologies to work on innovations that simplifies fertility treatments.

Dr. Ramnath Babu, a Ph.D. holder from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, heads the HR, Sales, QARA and Customer Support. He is also involved in the software development. His expertise includes design, continuum mechanics, inverse problems, mathematical modelling and numerical simulations. Dr. Santosh Bhargav, a Ph.D. holder from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, overlooks the entire design of new products, operations

and the QAC. His expertise includes designing and developing compliant micro-mechanisms to assess mechanical properties of biological cells and tissues. Together, they have set in motion building solutions in automating the A.R.T. process through innovations. SpOvum Technologies uses deep-tech advancements to build unique combinations of hardware & software technologies to revolutionize the field of ART. They have developed a unique system called RoboICSI® that assists the embryologist during ICSI to improve outcomes, thus helping an infertile person to conceive. Based on a novel design technique, RoboICSI® is a patent-pending device that will help to bridge the gap between the demand and supply in the explosively growing infertility industry.

The system reduces the embryologist's efforts in performing ICSI while making it more objective. It also enables fertility clinics to handle more sample volumes and move towards higher success-rates. It is built with a unique, intuitive interface that offers a holistic, end-to-end framework for capturing, storing, summarizing and analyzing data related to an ART process. The key features of this innovation include micro-manipulation, gentle handling of cells, quick and hassle-free installation, elimination of subjectivity while handling oocytes, easy on boarding, and seamless integration and others.

Spovum uses deep-tech advancements to build a unique combination of hardware & software technologies to revolutionize the field of a.r.t

The proficient team of the company includes skilled professionals of various disciplines such as biology, mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, medicine and others. It also has well-versed experts who have hands-on experience in the IVF industry. With a talented pool of employees, the company has built a strong eco-system that enhances lives. "The entire team is directly connected to each other. We learn a lot from our colleagues as each one of them are experts in a specific domain," informs Ramnath.

Currently working at the fundamental level, SpOvum aims to improve the system and bring in more innovation to it. "We are striving to augment the overall efficiency of ART solutions. And also build innovative solutions both in terms of hardware devices and then software solutions that augment the process. SpOvum has launched two products in digital space, and three more products are in the pipeline," mentions Santosh.

Roboicsi® - Award-Winning Flagship Product Of Spovum®
Roboicsi® assists the embryologist during ICSI towards improving outcomes, thus helping infertile couples bear a child. Based on a novel design technique, roboicsi® is a patent-pending device that will help bridge the gap between the demand and supply in the explosively growing infertility industry. Roboicsi® introduces a novel way of doing ICSI which reduces the embryologist's efforts in performing ICSI while making it more objective. This also enables fertility clinics to handle more sample volumes and move towards higher success-rates.