I’ve been reflecting on the unexpected ways my journey as an IVF specialist has shaped my approach to angel investing. It turns out the lessons I’ve gleaned from years in the fertility trenches have taught me much about patience, resilience, and the often unpredictable road to success in the startup world.
Last week, I was sitting with a young founder who seemed on the verge of giving up. His startup had hit a rough patch—funding delays, technical setbacks, and the ever-present specter of doubt. As I listened to him, I couldn’t help but think about a patient I had seen earlier that day. She was in the midst of her third IVF cycle, and like this founder, she was exhausted by the emotional and physical toll. Yet, she was determined to keep going, buoyed by the hope that the next attempt might finally bring her the child she had longed for.
In both cases, the lesson was clear: the journey is rarely linear, and the outcome is never guaranteed. But the willingness to persevere, to learn from failure, and to adapt to new information is what ultimately makes the difference.
In my experience with IVF, patience is not just a virtue; it’s a necessity. The process is fraught with uncertainty—timing cycles, variable responses to medication, and the unpredictable nature of embryo development. Each step is a waiting game, where outcomes can’t be rushed or forced. This mirrors the startup journey where milestones don’t always align with expectations, and success often requires the fortitude to endure long periods of uncertainty.
In both domains, I’ve seen how the pressure to succeed quickly can lead to hasty decisions. In IVF, this might mean pushing for aggressive treatments without fully understanding the patient’s unique needs. In startups, it might manifest as pivoting too soon or chasing trends instead of focusing on core strengths. The key in both scenarios is to trust the process and to make decisions based on a solid understanding of the situation rather than reacting to external pressures.
There’s also a shared element of risk. In IVF, patients put their bodies, emotions, and finances on the line, often with no guarantee of success. Similarly, founders and investors take calculated risks, investing time, money, and energy into ventures that might not pan out. The ability to manage and mitigate these risks is crucial. This is where experience, both in medicine and investing, becomes invaluable. It teaches you to weigh options carefully, to ask the right questions, and to make informed decisions even in the face of uncertainty.
One of the critical parallels I’ve observed is the importance of support systems. In IVF, patients rely on a network of medical professionals, family, and friends to navigate the emotional rollercoaster. In the startup world, founders need mentors, advisors, and a supportive community to help them through the inevitable ups and downs. Both journeys can be isolating, but having a reliable support system makes the challenges more manageable.
Interestingly, both IVF and startups demand a level of humility—an acceptance that despite one’s best efforts, success is not solely in one’s control. In IVF, the science is exacting, but nature still holds sway. In startups, market forces, consumer behavior, and competition are variables that can shift the ground beneath even the best-laid plans. This humility fosters resilience; it encourages learning from setbacks and fosters a mindset geared towards long-term growth rather than short-term wins.
Looking back at my dual roles, I’ve learned that success in both fields often comes down to one’s ability to adapt. In IVF, protocols evolve, new research emerges, and patient needs change. In the startup world, market dynamics shift, technology advances, and consumer preferences evolve. The ability to pivot, to reassess and realign with emerging realities, is as crucial in the clinic as it is in the boardroom. This is a theme I explore further in The Unexpected Parallel Between Startup Pivots and IVF Treatments.
Ultimately, both journeys are about faith—faith in the process, in the people around you, and in the possibility of a positive outcome. The founder I met with left our conversation with renewed determination. He saw that the challenges he faced were not insurmountable but were part of the journey towards building something meaningful. Similarly, my IVF patient continues her path, buoyed by the possibility that her perseverance will one day be rewarded.
To those navigating the twin worlds of startups and IVF, I say this: embrace the journey. Trust in the process and the people you choose to surround yourself with. Learn from each setback and remember that the path to success is rarely a straight line. Whether you’re hoping for a child or dreaming of building the next great company, know that your journey, with all its twists and turns, is uniquely yours.
In closing, I see every day how the lessons learned from one domain can illuminate the path in another. The hard-earned patience and resilience from IVF have become invaluable in my work with startups. If anything, this cross-pollination of insights reminds me that while the fields may differ, the human experiences at their core are strikingly similar. It’s a reminder that the long, uncertain path is often the most rewarding, both in creating new life and in nurturing new ideas.