Nodal nabs $4M to expand its mission of making surrogacy more accessible and transparent

By Riley Kaminer

For many hopeful parents, the path to surrogacy can be a long and costly journey. Dr. Brian Levine (pictured below) saw this struggle firsthand as an OB-GYN, watching families face soaring costs, months of waiting, and layers of bureaucracy. Frustrated by the inefficiencies, Levine set out to change the system, launching Miami Beach-based Nodal, a tech-driven marketplace aimed at connecting parents with vetted surrogates faster, more transparently, and at a lower cost.

Now, with a fresh $4 million seed extension led by NFX, Nodal is accelerating its mission to make family-building accessible and affordable. Additional investors include Amplo, Liquid 2, and Myelin VC. Overall, Nodal has raised $8.7 million in total thus far.

The new funding, which values Nodal at $15 million, will be directed towards refining the platform’s technology and strengthening partnerships with fertility clinics.

Levine noted that their approach allows Nodal to connect prospective parents with surrogates in record time. “We have saved our intended parents over $5 million in fees,” he told TechCrunch. “And we’re cutting the average wait from up to eighteen months down to just 45 days.” This quick turnaround is a critical improvement in a traditionally slow-moving industry. “You can have a baby on the Nodal platform before you get off the waitlist at a competitor,” Levine added.

Nodal’s business model aims to cut through an industry marked by high fees and complex processes. Parents pay a $500 monthly fee during their search, and once they’re matched, a one-time $15,000 facilitation fee – both significantly lower than the usual costs. Nodal also collaborates with fertility benefit providers like Carrot and Maven, aiming to make surrogacy more affordable for families navigating this often-prohibitive process.

The inspiration for Nodal goes back to 2021 when Levine saw how legalizing gestational surrogacy in New York suddenly drove prices up.

“The cost went from $75,000 to $150,000 overnight,” he recalled. “The largest fertility market in America opened up, but it priced out so many families who needed this service.”

Determined to address this imbalance, Levine used his background to create a system that leverages technology, simplifies processes, and puts control back in the hands of prospective parents.

Since launching three years ago, Nodal has matched over 100 families with surrogates across all 50 states, surpassing traditional agencies, which average 25 matches annually. While other players rely on manual approaches, Nodal’s streamlined model emphasizes transparency and efficiency.

“What I hope people take away is that this is a company completely focused on transparency, speed, and safety,” Levine said, highlighting how Nodal’s platform prioritizes both access and affordability.

The recent funding will also allow Nodal to double down on growth amid rising demand. Levine noted that they chose to raise now, in part, due to the uncertain landscape surrounding reproductive rights. “It would be myopic not to raise for women’s healthcare before the world potentially changes,” he commented, pointing to the importance of securing resources at this particular time.

Photo at the top of post by Omar Lopez.

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Riley Kaminer

I am a Miami-based technology researcher and writer with a passion for sharing stories about the South Florida tech ecosystem. I particularly enjoy learning about GovTech startups, cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence, and innovators that leverage technology to transform society for the better. Always open for pitches via Twitter @rileywk or www.RileyKaminer.com.