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Virtual maternal care startup Lōvu Health raised $8 million in Series A funds led by SJF Ventures, CEO Noel Pugh tells Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: The U.S. ranks 64th in maternal mortality, while an estimated 80% of deaths are preventable.

The big picture: Investors are betting on tech to close gaps in access, especially amid Medicaid cuts and clinician shortages.

Follow the money: Rogue Women's Fund, Symphonic Capital, Emmeline Ventures, Majella Ventures, Oakwood Circle Ventures, Sand Hill Angels, Swizzle Ventures, and Terrasys participated in the round.

Pugh forecasts the company will hit profitability at the end of 2026. She does not plan to raise any additional capital, she tells Axios Pro.

How it works: Lōvu offers real-time patient monitoring, personalized care journeys, and a marketplace of third-party vendors — including doulas and mental health providers — to streamline referrals and support.

Between the lines: Lōvu positions itself as an extension of OB/GYN practices rather than a replacement, aiming to reduce burnout while generating new revenue streams for doctors.

Pugh says the company also has plans to publish in peer-reviewed literature.

Lōvu is in the process of submitting an abstract to ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) about data it's collected on roughly 1,000 mothers who've gone through its platform. 

What they're saying: "The only way you can scale to meet the demand of this market is to partner with existing resources," says Pugh. 

"If we're going to make a change in outcomes, that's the only way to go," adds Lōvu chief health officer Santosh Pandipati, who is also a practicing maternal fetal medicine doctor.

"You can't bypass the hospital. You can't bypass the delivery system," Pandipati says.

Reality check: Scaling in maternal health isn't just about tech — it requires overcoming entrenched reimbursement challenges and slow provider adoption. 

The bottom line: Lōvu is betting it can help transform an overstretched, inequitable maternal care system into a personalized, tech-enabled model.

Exclusive: Lōvu Health lands $8M for virtual maternal care

SJF Ventures led the Silicon Valley startup's Series A.

Illustration of a pregnant woman wearing a hospital gown with a pattern of exclamation marks on it. 

Virtual maternal care startup Lōvu Health raised $8 million in Series A funds led by SJF Ventures, CEO Noel Pugh tells Axios exclusively.Why it matters: The U.S. ranks 64th in maternal mortality, while an estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="80%" data-vars-click-url="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/04/u-s-pregnancy-related-deaths-continuing-to-rise/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20more%20than,rate%20among%20high%2Dincome%20countries." data-vars-content-id="ed8ec53a-4d69-414c-964b-39fa7e7858d0" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Lōvu Health lands $8M for virtual maternal care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/04/u-s-pregnancy-related-deaths-continuing-to-rise/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20more%20than,rate%20among%20high%2Dincome%20countries." target="_blank">80%</a> of deaths are preventable.

Exclusive: Lōvu Health lands $8M for virtual maternal care

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