In a country where fertility clinics often feel more like bureaucratic mazes than places of hope, one founder decided to flip the script. Meet Neha K. Motwani, the serial entrepreneur who went from building India’s largest fitness discovery platform to launching Luma Fertility, a next-gen, tech-powered fertility clinic that’s putting empathy, transparency, and science back at the center of reproductive care.
And yes, there’s an app for that. 📱
From Fitternity to Fertility: A Founder’s Full-Circle Moment
Before she was helping women freeze their eggs, Neha K. Motwani was helping them book yoga classes. In 2013, she founded Fitternity, a pay-as-you-go fitness platform that brought gyms online before it was cool. Over eight years, she scaled it across cities, experimented with subscription models, and eventually sold it to Cure.fit in 2021.
After the acquisition, Neha took a breather. Books, travel, soul-searching, the works. But life had other plans. Her fertility journey, filled with uncertainty and emotional rollercoasters, sparked a new mission: to fix a system that felt broken from the inside out.
The Problem: Fertility Care That Feels Like a Black Box
Let’s be real, fertility care in India has long been a confusing, emotionally draining experience. Patients are often left in the dark, navigating a maze of clinics, labs, and specialists with little coordination or support.
Neha’s own IVF experience was no different. “It was filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and endless hurdles,” she recalls. That’s when she knew something had to change.
Enter Luma: Fertility, But Make It Human
Launched in 2024, Luma Fertility is Neha’s answer to the chaos. It’s a full-stack, tech-enabled fertility clinic that combines cutting-edge science with full-human support. Think of it as the Apple Store of IVF, sleek, smart, and surprisingly comforting.
Here’s what makes Luma stand out:
🧬 AI-Powered Insights
– Tools like Life Whisperer and Violet & Magenta help grade embryos and assess egg quality with precision.
– The LumaAI assistant offers 24/7 support on everything from cycle timelines to medication reminders.
🏥 A Clinic That Doesn’t Feel Like a Clinic
– Located in Bandra, Mumbai, Luma’s 6,000 sq. ft. flagship center features calming interiors, spa-like recovery rooms, and an open embryo lab (yes, you can actually see what’s happening).
– Extended hours (8 AM–8 PM, even Sundays!) and at-home injection support make it ultra-convenient.
📲 The Luma App
– Tracks your treatment journey in real time.
– Offers expert insights, reports, and appointment scheduling, all in one place.
💬 Personal Care Navigator
– Every patient gets a dedicated guide to walk them through the process, answer questions, and offer emotional support.
More Than Just IVF: A Holistic Approach to Reproductive Health
Luma isn’t just about fertilizing eggs; it’s about supporting the whole person. That’s why the clinic also offers:
- Nutrition counseling
- Acupuncture and IV therapy
- At-home semen testing
- Pre-conception consultations
- Fertility preservation (egg and embryo freezing)
Because fertility isn’t just a medical issue, it’s a deeply personal, emotional journey. And Luma gets that.
The Market Is Ripe (Pun Intended)
India’s fertility rate has dropped from 2.1 to 1.9, and over 33 million couples face fertility challenges. IVF cycles are expected to grow from 320,000 in 2024 to 550,000 by 2028.
Millennials and Gen Z are delaying parenthood, and they want options that are modern, transparent, and emotionally intelligent. Luma is perfectly positioned to meet that demand.
Backed by the Big Leagues
In 2025, Luma raised $4 million in seed funding, led by Peak XV’s Surge (formerly Sequoia Capital India). Other investors include:
Ameera Shah, Executive Chairperson of Metropolis Healthcare
Vijay Taparia, Chairman of B2V Ventures
The funding will help Luma expand across Mumbai and into other cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Delhi over the next two years.
The Team: Not Just Doctors, But Dreamers
Luma’s medical team includes some of India’s top fertility experts:
- Dr. Radhika Sheth, Medical Director, with 18+ years of experience and global training in ART.
- Dr. Vishesha, a double board-certified gynecologist known for her work in PCOS and IVF.
- Dr. Parzan Mistry, a high-risk obstetrics expert with stints at Breach Candy and Saifee hospitals.
- Chirag Shah, one of India’s top embryologists, is leading the open lab with over 10,000 IVF cycles under his belt.
Together, they’re not just running a clinic; they’re redefining what fertility care looks and feels like.
Challenges? Oh, Plenty. But Luma’s Not Backing Down
Building a fertility startup in India isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Luma has had to tackle:
– Stigma: Many still see fertility issues as taboo.
– Fragmentation: The current system is a patchwork of disconnected services.
– Regulations: Navigating healthcare compliance is no joke.
But Neha and her team are in it for the long haul. “We’re not just another IVF clinic,” she says. “We’re building a platform that supports individuals and couples through every step, with compassion, science, and digital innovation at its core.”
Final Thoughts: Fertility, But Make It 2025-Ready
Luma isn’t just a clinic, it’s a movement. One that’s making fertility care smarter, kinder, and way less scary.
By blending AI with empathy and science with soul, Neha Motwani is proving that fertility care doesn’t have to be cold, clinical, or confusing. It can be clear, empowering, and even, dare we say, hopeful.
So whether you’re planning for a baby now or just freezing your options for later, Luma’s got your back. And your eggs.
