Nodal Pitch Deck: All 8 Slides + Teardown

See all 8 slides of the Nodal pitch deck — a 2024 Seed deck — with a slide-by-slide teardown of what the deck does well and where it falls short.

Nodal’s 8-slide deck is a masterclass in identifying a high-friction, high-value market bottleneck. The company targets the $4+ billion global surrogacy market, which they characterize as an 'antiquated system' where less than 10% of needs are currently met. By positioning themselves as a technology-driven marketplace that handles screening, matching, and community support, Nodal aims to reduce the 12+ month wait times typical of traditional agencies. The deck successfully highlights a growing demand fueled by corporate fertility benefits and shifting demographics, while showcasing a team wit…

Key takeaways

The Surrogacy Bottleneck: A Slide-by-Slide Analysis

Nodal’s pitch deck is a concise, 8-slide presentation (numbered up to 9, though slide 7 and 8 appear to be missing or consolidated) that targets a highly emotional and financially significant sector: fertility and surrogacy. The deck focuses heavily on the macro trends driving demand and the operational inefficiencies of the status quo. By framing the current surrogacy market as a 'bottleneck,' Nodal positions its technology as the essential infrastructure for a modern fertility marketplace.

Slide 1: Title and Vision

The cover slide features the Nodal logo and the tagline 'Surrogacy the way it should be.' The imagery is high-quality and emotive, showing a close-up of a baby and a parent. This sets a professional yet compassionate tone, which is critical in healthcare and family-building sectors. There are no metrics or data points on this slide.

Slide 2: The Global Fertility Crisis

Slide 1 (labeled as such in the top left) establishes the 'Why Now.' It cites that 15% of the population struggles with fertility and that 2020 saw the lowest birth rate in 100 years. The slide uses a 'Market' footer and identifies four key demographics driving demand: women age 35+, same-sex couples (63% of whom plan to start a family), individuals with failed IVF transfers (1 in 6 couples), and single parents. It also includes press clippings from Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal to validate that surrogacy is a mainstream topic.

Slide 3: Market Inefficiency and Cost Disparity

Slide 2, titled 'SURROGACY IN 2022,' provides the core market data. It identifies a $4+ billion global surrogacy market with 8-10k matches per year, a figure that doubles every 4-5 years. The most striking data point is a bar chart showing cost vs. compensation. Between 2016 and 2021, the cost for Intended Parents (IPs) rose by 94.5%, while compensation for surrogates only rose by 62%. Nodal labels the current system of ~300 agencies as 'antiquated,' 'predatory,' and 'costly.'

Slide 4: The Demand Bottleneck

Slide 3 visualizes the 'Opportunity.' It uses a funnel graphic to show that while ~50% of US companies offer fertility benefits (with an estimate of 63% by EOY 2022) and 500,000+ individuals apply to be donors or surrogates, the '12 Top-Tier Agencies' act as a choke point. The result is that less than 10% of needs are met, leaving surrogates 'vulnerable' and parents facing '12+ month waits' and 'opaque costs.'

Slide 5: The Nodal Solution (Function)

Slide 4 introduces the product workflow: 'Matches in Moments, Not Months.' The process is broken into three pillars: We Screen, We Connect, and We Match. Nodal highlights 'Form Automation,' 'Medical Record Flagging,' and a 'Double Opt-In' matching system. This slide is the first to show the actual product interface on a mobile device and a laptop, emphasizing that this is a tech-enabled platform rather than a traditional service agency.

Slide 6: Product Overview and Ecosystem

Slide 5 outlines the 'Fertility Marketplace' structure. It categorizes the product into Screening, Matching, and Ancillary services (like financing and community). It identifies the users as Intended Parents, Surrogates, Attorneys, Clinics, and Agencies. The slide explicitly states the model is 'Strong B2C,' suggesting that while they facilitate a multi-sided market, their primary value proposition and brand building are directed toward the parents and surrogates themselves.

Slide 7: Value Proposition for All Stakeholders

Slide 6, 'A Platform to Benefit Everyone,' lists specific features for surrogates and parents. For surrogates, it offers access to Nodal Advisors, an education library, and the 'power to make the first move in matching.' For parents, it promises rapid matching times, lower fees, and consistent screening quality. This slide reinforces the 'relationship-based' nature of the platform while leaning on technology for speed.

Slide 8: The Team and Pedigree

Slide 9 (skipping 7 and 8) is the team slide. It is exceptionally strong for a Seed round. CEO Brian Levine, MD, is a founding partner at CCRM NY, a major fertility clinic. The board includes Jon Oringer (Shutterstock) and Edward Lando (Goody). The slide also features logos from previous employers and affiliated brands, including Birchbox, LinkedIn, Maven, and Parsley Health. This level of industry and tech experience provides the 'right to win' in a complex regulatory and medical environment.

What Nodal Does Well

Nodal excels at identifying a 'hair-on-fire' problem. By quantifying the gap between the 500,000 applicants and the 10% of needs met by top agencies, they make the case for a scalable technology solution undeniable. The cost-disparity chart on Slide 2 is a powerful piece of evidence that the current agency model is extracting too much value without passing it on to the surrogates, creating a clear opening for a marketplace disruptor.

The team slide is another high point. In healthcare, 'founder-market fit' is often as important as 'product-market fit.' Having a MD who founded a major fertility clinic as the CEO immediately solves the credibility hurdle that many tech-first startups face when entering the medical space.

What is Missing from the Nodal Deck

The most glaring omission is the lack of unit economics and financial projections. While the deck identifies a $4B market, it does not explain how Nodal captures that value. Is it a flat matching fee? A percentage of the total surrogacy cost? A subscription for agencies? Slide 5 mentions 'Financing' and 'Concierge' services, but the revenue mix remains theoretical.

Additionally, there is no 'Ask' slide in this version of the deck. We know from publisher reports that they raised $4.7M, but the deck does not specify what that capital was intended for—whether it was for engineering, marketing to acquire surrogates, or clinical partnerships. The deck also lacks a competitive landscape slide; while it mentions 'traditional agencies,' it doesn't address other emerging fertility tech competitors.

Lessons for Founders

1. Quantify the Bottleneck: If you are building a marketplace, don't just say the market is big. Show exactly where the friction is. Nodal’s use of the 500k applicants vs. 10% met need is the most persuasive part of the deck.

2. Use Macro Tailwinds: Nodal points to corporate fertility benefits as a major driver of demand (Slide 3). Connecting your startup to a broader economic shift (like HR departments increasing benefits) makes your growth feel inevitable to investors.

3. Highlight the 'Double Opt-In': In marketplaces involving sensitive human services, 'agency' (the power to choose) is a product feature. By highlighting that surrogates have the 'power to make the first move,' Nodal addresses potential ethical concerns while improving the quality of the match.

4. Pedigree Matters in Regulated Spaces: If you are in healthcare, lead with your clinical credentials. Nodal’s team slide isn't just a list of names; it’s a map of industry influence that spans medicine, consumer tech, and venture capital.

Frequently asked questions

How much did Nodal raise with this deck?
According to publisher reports from Business Insider, Nodal raised $4.7 million in a Seed round in 2024. The deck itself does not state the amount being raised or the valuation.
What is the primary problem Nodal is solving?
Nodal addresses the 'bottleneck' in the surrogacy market. Slide 3 notes that while 500,000+ individuals apply to be donors or surrogates, the top 12 agencies meet less than 10% of the need, resulting in 12+ month wait times for intended parents.
How does Nodal's technology improve the surrogacy process?
Slide 4 details a 'Function' workflow that includes automated form screening, identity/background checks, and medical record flagging. This replaces the 'analogue screening' used by traditional agencies to move from 'months' to 'moments' for matching.
What is Nodal's revenue model?
Slide 5 categorizes the model as 'Strong B2C' within a 'Fertility Marketplace.' While specific pricing is not listed, it mentions 'lower matching fees compared to most agencies' on Slide 6 and identifies revenue opportunities in screening, matching, and ancillary services like financing.
Who are the key people behind Nodal?
The team is led by Founder and CEO Brian Levine, MD. The board includes Jon Oringer (Founder of Shutterstock) and Edward Lando (CEO of Goody). The team slide (Slide 9) also lists advisors from Parsley Health and Female Founders Fund.
Cover slide of the Nodal pitch deck — Seed 2024
Nodal pitch deck, slide 1 (2024)

Nodal pitch deck: the facts

Company
Nodal
Year
2024
Stage
Seed
Slides
8
Sector
Healthcare / Fertility
Deck type
Seed Pitch Deck
Outcome
$4.7M Raised
Headquarters
North America

Nodal pitch deck PDF

The full Nodal deck is embedded on this page and can be read slide by slide in the browser — no download or account required. Each slide is covered in the breakdown above.

What the Nodal pitch deck was used for

This deck is Nodal’s **seed-stage investor pitch deck** for its surrogacy-matching platform, associated with the company’s **$4.7M seed round announced in September 2022**, even though the library metadata labels it as a 2024 seed.[2][10][11][14][15] The 8-slide deck, featured in Business Insider’s pitch deck library, was used to raise early venture funding to launch and scale Nodal’s tech-first marketplace that addresses supply–demand bottlenecks in fertility and surrogacy services.[2][10][11][14][15] The round was led by Amplo with participation from a group of well-known consumer and women’s health investors, and the company positioned itself as a modern, transparent alternative to the traditional surrogacy agency model.[2][10][11][13][14]

Business model: Nodal operates a **surrogacy-matching platform** that connects intended parents with vetted surrogates and wraps the matching process with education and support for all parties involved.[2][3][10][11][14]

Round
Seed
Lead investor
Amplo led the $4.7M seed round associated with this pitch deck.[2][8][10][11][13][14]
Investors
Amplo (lead for the original $4.7M seed), Scott Belsky (Behance), Chelsea Hirschhorn (Frida), Kate Ryder (Maven Clinic), Great Oaks Venture Capital, Interplay Venture Capital, Additional angels and funds not fully enumerated in public sources
Industry
Healthcare / Fertility; digital health / femtech; surrogacy marketplace.[2][3][10][13][14]

Year: 2022 (seed round announced September 2022; some databases mis-label as 2024 but primary press and company sources place the $4.7M seed in 2022).[2][4][8][10][11][14]

Raising: Seed capital to build and launch Nodal’s proprietary surrogacy-matching platform, invest in product and user experience, and fund marketing to reach intended parents and surrogates, while establishing partnerships (e.g., with Maven Clinic).

Raised: $4.7M seed funding announced in September 2022, linked to the deck in Business Insider’s pitch deck library.[2][8][10][11][13][14][15]

Total funding: Externally reported totals differ: several databases and press pieces state Nodal has raised **$4.7M** in funding (the original seed), while others report cumulative funding of **$8.7M** or **$13.7M** including a later seed extension; for this specific deck, the relevant verified amount is **$4.7M seed funding in 2022**.[1][2][3][4][8][10][12][13][14]

Use of funds as presented: Invest in development of Nodal’s proprietary matching technology and user experience, expand education and support resources for surrogates and intended parents, and fund marketing and partnerships to scale adoption of the platform.[2][10][11][14]

What happened after the Nodal deck

The deck successfully supported Nodal’s initial $4.7M seed raise in 2022, enabling product launch and early partnerships; subsequent reporting indicates the company later secured an additional $4M seed extension round, expanding its capital base and continuing to invest in technology and platform growth.[2][3][4][10][11][13][14]

What the Nodal deck got right

What could have been stronger

How an investor would read this deck

What draws attention

Risks that stand out

Questions this deck invites

What founders can take from the Nodal deck

Nodal pitch deck: common questions

What does Nodal do?

Nodal is a **surrogacy matching platform** that connects intended parents with vetted surrogates through a technology-driven marketplace, aiming to make the process more transparent, equitable, and empowering for both sides.[2][3][10][14] It layers education and support on top of matching so parties better understand medical, legal, and financial aspects of surrogacy.[2][11][14]

Where can I see Nodal’s seed pitch deck?

Business Insider’s pitch deck library lists an **8-slide seed pitch deck** from Nodal and links to an article about the company’s surrogacy platform and funding; the deck focuses on the supply–demand bottleneck in fertility services and Nodal’s tech-first screening and matching approach.[2][10][11][14][15] The deck itself is not fully transcribed publicly, but secondary analyses describe its core narrative and structure.[11]

How much did Nodal raise with this pitch deck, and who invested?

The deck was used in connection with Nodal’s **$4.7M seed round announced in September 2022**, even though some secondary aggregators label the round as 2024.[2][4][8][10][11][14] Amplo led the round, with participation from investors including Scott Belsky, Chelsea Hirschhorn, Kate Ryder, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Interplay Venture Capital, and other angels and funds.[2][6][8][10][13][14]

What was Nodal raising money for in its seed round?

According to press and company materials, Nodal’s seed funding was used to **build and launch its proprietary matching platform**, improve the surrogacy experience, invest in product and user experience, and fund marketing to reach intended parents and potential surrogates.[2][10][11][14] The company also announced a partnership with Maven Clinic to give users access to virtual care services around family-building.[14]

What happened after Nodal’s original seed pitch deck and funding?

Later coverage reports that Nodal subsequently raised a **$4M seed extension round led by NFX**, bringing total funding to **$8.7M** and valuing the company at around $15M post-money, but these events occurred after the original seed deck and are not part of the deck-era story.[3][4] The seed extension funding was earmarked primarily for further investment in the technology and platform.[3]

Sources

Funding and outcome facts on this page were researched on 2026-08-30 from the pages below.

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