Willow, maker of wearable breast pumps, introduced it acquired British femtech firm Elvie to scale the businesses’ maternal well being platforms.
San Francisco-based Willow gives in-bra breast pumps, pumping equipment and breast care. The corporate most not too long ago acquired FDA 510(okay) clearance for its breast pump, Willow Technology 3 Breast Pump, in October of final yr.
Elvie gives its personal line of breast pumps, pelvic ground care, and a sensible bouncer and bassinet for infants, Elvie Rise.
The businesses will mix their choices to scale the attain of their girls’s well being medical machine choices.
“We’re pleased that the much-loved Elvie model – with its iconic merchandise and innovation – will proceed its journey beneath Willow’s steerage,” Karim Abdel-Ghaffar Plaza, director at Elvie, stated in an announcement.
“Elvie has at all times been dedicated to dismantling the stigma surrounding girls’s well being and bringing progressive expertise to girls, and we’re happy that Elvie and Willow can now proceed to inform that story collectively.”
THE LARGER TREND
In response to The Monetary Occasions, Elvie fell into administration earlier than being acquired by Willow, that means the corporate was in monetary hassle and unable to satisfy its debt obligations.
Elvie has reportedly raised greater than $186 million since being based in 2013. Its final reported valuation was $241 million.
In 2023, Willow filed a lawsuit in opposition to Elvie for patent infringement, alleging the corporate infringed seven U.S. patents. Elvie subsequently countersued Willow, alleging it infringed on 4 of its patents. The lawsuit was ongoing on the time of Willow’s acquisition of Elvie.
Final yr, Willow introduced the launch of Ema, a conversational AI software designed to offer maternal well being help to moms, together with help with pumping and feeding, psychological well being and postpartum restoration.
The corporate additionally introduced it is going to be accessible in-store by Goal nationwide, launching its Discover Your Circulation Feeding Equipment completely by the retail big. The equipment consists of equipment to help with breastfeeding.
In 2020, Willow scored $55 million in Sequence C funding. So far, the corporate has reportedly raised round $254 million.
Elvie introduced the launch of its good bouncer Elvie Rise at CES in January of this yr. Elvie Rise transforms from a bouncer right into a bassinet and will be managed by an app. The corporate says the transformation permits dad and mom to maintain infants in a single place with out transferring them between play and nap time. Elvie Rise additionally supplies dad and mom with insights into their child’s sleep patterns.
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