Juniper, a UK-based startup offering reproductive healthcare insurance, has secured £1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. The funding will support a pilot program scheduled for later this year.
Backed by Insurtech Gateway, 2100 Ventures, Exceptional Ventures, and Heartfelt, along with angel investors such as Tara Reeves from Eurazeo, Vera Baker from Atomico, and Charles Delingpole from ComplyAdvantage, Juniper aims to address the overlooked area of reproductive health in insurance coverage.
Similar to London’s Fertifa, Juniper’s coverage includes contraception, STD testing, endometriosis, erectile dysfunction, and reproductive organ cancer. Additionally, it covers egg freezing, menopause, and gender dysphoria, making it the sole provider in this space.
Unlike traditional insurers focusing on low-frequency, high-value claims, Juniper targets employers with 250 or more staff, catering to high-frequency claims with moderate costs.
Co-founded by Ambra Zhang and Sam Pratt, Juniper draws on Zhang’s personal experience with corporate health insurance limitations due to conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The startup aims to revolutionize the insurance industry by providing comprehensive reproductive health support for employees.
Sam Pratt, Juniper’s CPTO, brings experience from IVF insurance startup Gaia and Lloyd’s of London’s commercial insurer Brit Insurance.
Lead investor Robert Lumley from Insurtech Gateway praised Juniper for addressing the neglected market of reproductive health issues, removing stigma, and enabling employers to offer comprehensive care.
