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 obtained FDA 510(okay) clearance for its breast pump, Willow Era 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 gadget choices.
“We’re completely happy that the much-loved Elvie model – with its iconic merchandise and innovation – will proceed its journey beneath Willow’s steering,” Karim Abdel-Ghaffar Plaza, director at Elvie, stated in an announcement.
“Elvie has all the time been dedicated to dismantling the stigma surrounding girls’s well being and bringing progressive know-how to girls, and we’re happy that Elvie and Willow can now proceed to inform that story collectively.”
THE LARGER TREND
Based on The Monetary Occasions, Elvie fell into administration earlier than being acquired by Willow, which means the corporate was in monetary hassle and unable to fulfill 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 device 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 will likely be out there in-store by Goal nationwide, launching its Discover Your Circulate Feeding Equipment completely by the retail large. The equipment contains equipment to help with breastfeeding.
In 2020, Willow scored $55 million in Sequence C funding. Thus far, the corporate has reportedly raised round $254 million.
Elvie introduced the launch of its sensible bouncer Elvie Rise at CES in January of this yr. Elvie Rise transforms from a bouncer right into a bassinet and may be managed by an app. The corporate says the transformation permits mother and father to maintain infants in a single place with out transferring them between play and nap time. Elvie Rise additionally gives mother and father with insights into their child’s sleep patterns.
