European Sperm Bank

What European Sperm Bank does

European Sperm Bank is a Copenhagen-based, privately-held cryobank founded in 2004 that supplies donor sperm and related reproductive services to aspiring parents across more than 100 countries. The company recruits, screens (5-7% applicant approval rate), and cryopreserves sperm from 900+ active donors, then distributes frozen straws either directly to consumers for use at licensed fertility clinics or through its network of 1,000+ partner clinics. Its service portfolio spans premium donor sperm in multiple motility grades (MOT5+ to MOT20+, priced €775-€1,720 per straw), genetic compatibility screening (GeneXmatch at €995 screening 400+ diseases, Known Carrier Match at €150), cryogenic storage subscriptions (€20/month or €200/year), Pregnancy Slots for sibling continuity (€350-€550), Family Limit exclusive donor packages (€8,000-€49,000), and free advisory consultations in 12 languages. Technology stack centers on nitrogen vapour dry shipper logistics, the Photo Match facial recognition tool, and the Personality Explorer matching engine.

The business operates a hybrid GTM combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce with a 1,000+ clinic channel partner network. Customers span three core segments — solo mothers by choice (9,000+ served), same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples facing male infertility — with double donation cases routed through the Fertio collective of fertility brands (of which European Sperm Bank is a member, alongside European Egg Bank). Pricing is multi-tiered with both per-straw unit pricing and multi-year bundled commitments for premium exclusive donors. Distribution is geographically concentrated in Europe (headquarters in Copenhagen with donation centres in Germany and the Netherlands) but commercially global, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. Since 2004 the company reports cumulative outcomes of 70,000+ children born to 60,000+ families.

European Sperm Bank operates as a licensed tissue establishment under EU Tissue Directive requirements, holding regulatory authorizations from the Danish Patient Safety Authority, the German Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection, and the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. It self-imposed a 75-family worldwide cap per donor (exceeding most national legal thresholds) and supports UN Global Compact principles. Leadership is led by Chief Commercial Officer Lene Ploug Bülow; the company employs 11-50 people, has not raised institutional funding, and operates without disclosed revenue or earnings metrics.

Name

European Sperm Bank

Legal name

European Sperm Bank

Website

https://europeanspermbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

European Sperm Bank is a Copenhagen-based cryobank, founded in 2004, that recruits and screens sperm donors and distributes frozen donor sperm to solo mothers, same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples facing infertility through 1,000+ fertility clinics across more than 100 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sperm Bank / Fertility Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fertility, Reproductive Endocrinology & IVF Centers (HLAFAJAD)

Keywords

• Donor sperm bank
• Fertility treatments
• Genetic screening
• Cryogenic storage
• Assisted reproduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sperm Straw Sales: Sale of frozen donor sperm straws (MOT5+, MOT10+, MOT20+) to customers via fertility clinics. Straws are priced based on MOT level, ID release status, and family limit options. This is the primary revenue stream. Prices range from €775 to €1,720 per straw depending on donor type and specifications.
2. Pregnancy Slot: A reservation service that secures the right to use the same sperm donor for multiple children (siblings), ensuring compliance with national family/pregnancy limits. Priced at €350 (standard markets) or €550 (UK, Australia, New Zealand). Fully refundable if pregnancy is not achieved.
3. Genetic Screening Services: GeneXmatch genetic compatibility testing (€995) and Known Carrier Match service (€150) provide genetic screening between the prospective mother and the donor. These are add-on services to the core sperm purchase.
4. Sperm Storage (CryoStorage): Cryogenic storage of sperm straws for customers who wish to reserve donor sperm for future fertility treatments or sibling planning. Billed monthly (€20/month, minimum 3 months) or annually (€200/year).
5. International Shipping: International logistics and shipping of donor sperm to fertility clinics. Shipping costs vary by region: Denmark €130, Europe €315, Outside Europe €715. Includes use of nitrogen vapour dry shippers.
6. Family Limit Options: Premium donor options with lower family limits (Family25, Family15, Family5, Family1) commanding significantly higher prices. Family15 costs €8,000, Family5 costs €22,000, Family1 costs €49,000 — each including sperm storage and a pregnancy slot.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

European Sperm Bank recruits, screens, and distributes frozen donor sperm straws (MOT5+, MOT10+, MOT20+) from 900+ vetted donors to prospective parents worldwide, with physical delivery routed exclusively through a network of 1,000+ licensed fertility clinics in 100+ countries. The offering is extended by genetic compatibility screening (GeneXmatch and Known Carrier Match covering 400+ diseases), a facial-recognition-based Photo Match donor matching tool, CryoStorage sperm reservation, Pregnancy Slot family planning, and exclusive multi-straw Family Limit packages (Family15, Family5, Family1) for siblings.

Product overview

European Sperm Bank is an international sperm bank offering a comprehensive portfolio of reproductive services centered around premium donor sperm. The core product is donor sperm with 900+ vetted donors (5-7% approval rate) available in MOT10+, MOT20+, and MOT5+ concentrations for IUI, IVF, ICSI, and ICI treatments. The offering extends through multiple complementary services: Photo Match and Personality Explorer for donor matching; GeneXmatch (400+ disease screening) and Known Carrier Match for genetic compatibility; Sperm Storage and Pregnancy Slots for future family planning; Family15/Family5/Family1 for exclusive donor limits; Assisted Home Insemination and Fertility Consultation for treatment support; and Double Donations via Fertio collective for egg+sperm needs. The company operates as part of Fertio alongside European Egg Bank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donor Sperm (MOT straws) Premium frozen donor sperm from 900+ rigorously vetted donors (5-7% approval rate), sold by the straw in MOT5+, MOT10+, and MOT20+ concentrations, available with ID Release or No ID Release options. Used by prospective mothers, solo mums, same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples for IUI, IVF, ICSI, and ICI fertility treatments at 1,000+ partner clinics across 100+ countries.
• GeneXmatch Genetic Screening Genetic screening service that compares the genes of the prospective mother with her chosen sperm donor to identify shared mutations, screening for more than 400 serious genetic diseases to reduce the risk of inherited conditions in donor-conceived children. For prospective parents who have chosen a donor.
• Known Carrier Match Genetic compatibility service for customers who already know their carrier status for specific genetic conditions. Compares the customer's existing genetic carrier report with the donor's genetic profile through Amplexa Genetics laboratory to identify compatible matches within 48 hours. For prospective parents with existing genetic carrier reports.
• Photo Match Digital photo-matching tool that uses advanced facial recognition technology to compare customer-uploaded photos with adult portraits of sperm donors to find donors with similar physical features. Free self-service tool for prospective parents seeking visual donor matching.
• CryoStorage (Sperm Storage) Cryogenic storage of donor sperm straws for customers who wish to reserve donor sperm for future fertility treatments or sibling planning. Billed monthly (€20/month, minimum 3 months) or annually (€200/year). For prospective parents planning future pregnancies or siblings.
• Pregnancy Slot Reservation service that secures the right to use the same sperm donor for multiple children (siblings), ensuring compliance with national family/pregnancy limits. Mandatory in Norway as of January 1, 2020 (max 6 families per donor). Fully refundable if pregnancy is not achieved. For customers planning siblings or ensuring continued access to chosen donor.
• Family Limit Exclusive Donor Packages (Family15, Family5, Family1) Premium donor options with lower family limits (Family15, Family5, Family1) that restrict the number of families a donor can help worldwide. Family15 (€8,000), Family5 (€22,000), and Family1 (€49,000) packages each include 5-year sperm storage and Pregnancy Slot. For customers seeking exclusive or limited-use donor access.
• Fertility Consultation Free 30-minute phone consultation with expert advisors covering donor selection, clinic finding, and treatment options (IUI, IVF, ICSI, ICI). Available in 12+ languages. For prospective parents seeking personalized guidance.
• Assisted Home Insemination (Denmark) Home insemination service for Danish patients where donor sperm straws are shipped to an authorized healthcare professional (doctor, midwife, nurse, or gynaecologist) who assists with the procedure. Includes 50% shipping discount and 6 months free storage with 3+ straws purchase. For Danish residents preferring home-based insemination.
• Double Donations Coordination Coordination service connecting customers with egg donors through the Fertio collective (including European Egg Bank) for fertility treatments requiring both donor eggs and donor sperm. For women and couples needing both gamete types for IVF treatment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000+ children born and 60,000+ families helped since 2004
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fertio (Collective of Fertility Brands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Sperm Bank is part of Fertio, a collective of brands dedicated to providing services throughout the entire path to parenthood. Through this partnership, European Sperm Bank can help customers find egg donors and facilitate double donations (both eggs and sperm) by connecting them with related Fertio brand services.
• European Egg BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Egg Bank is the egg donation arm of the Fertio collective. European Sperm Bank refers customers who need both egg and sperm donors to European Egg Bank for coordinated double donation IVF treatments. The two brands operate together to serve customers requiring gamete donations internationally.
• Jordemoderhuset, CopenhagenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJordemoderhuset (Copenhagen Midwives) is an authorised healthcare professional practice that collaborates with European Sperm Bank for assisted home insemination (AHI) in Denmark. They receive sperm shipments and facilitate home insemination treatments under Danish law.
• 1,000+ Fertility Clinics WorldwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean Sperm Bank works with over 1,000 fertility clinics across more than 100 countries. These clinics receive sperm shipments, administer fertility treatments (IUI, IVF, ICSI, ICI), and serve as the primary delivery and treatment endpoint for customers. The company maintains a partner clinic listing on their website and helps customers find suitable clinics.
• Amplexa Genetics LaboratorycoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Known Carrier Match genetic testing service is carried out in collaboration with Amplexa Genetics laboratory. The lab processes genetic carrier reports from customers who already know their carrier status and compares them with the donor's genetic profile to identify compatible matches within 48 hours.
• Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed)coreOthersEuropean Sperm Bank is licensed by the Danish Patient Safety Authority in Denmark. The authority authorises the company's donor approval process and oversees compliance with Danish and EU tissue regulations. The authority is also involved in adverse event investigations when donor-conceived children develop serious diseases.
• Danish Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection (Germany operations)coreOthersEuropean Sperm Bank's donor recruitment and screening activities in Germany are authorised by the Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection in Hamburg, which oversees compliance with German regulations for tissue banks and sperm donation.
• Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS)coreOthersEuropean Sperm Bank's operations in the Netherlands are licensed and regulated by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport), which governs tissue and cell donation activities in the country.
• Shady Grove Fertility (US)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShady Grove Fertility, a network of 22 fertility clinics across the United States, has conducted research on MOT levels in 47,500 IUI cycles. Their data demonstrates that MOT20+ sperm provides a 50% larger chance of pregnancy compared to lower MOT levels for IUI treatment. This research is cited by European Sperm Bank to support recommendations for MOT20+ straws.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Xytex Cryo International: International donor sperm bank offering extended donor profiles and screening, competing in the same donor-sperm category as ESB.
• Fairfax Cryobank: US sperm bank providing screened donor sperm and genetic screening to individuals and clinics, mirroring ESB's core business.
• California Cryobank: One of the largest US donor sperm banks offering screened donor profiles and cryostorage, directly comparable in product and D2C-to-clinic model.
• Seattle Sperm Bank: US donor sperm bank with rigorous screening and donor profiles shipped to fertility clinics, closely aligned with ESB's offering.
• Cryos International: Danish sperm and egg bank shipping donor gametes to clinics in 100+ countries; the closest direct competitor to ESB in model, geography, and offering.
• The Sperm Bank of California: Donor sperm bank serving solo mothers and LGBT+ families, matching ESB's customer segments and identity-release donor model.

Others

• European Egg Bank: Sister brand within the Fertio collective providing donor eggs; adjacent and complementary rather than directly competing with sperm banking.

Broad incumbents

• IVI-RMA Global: Global fertility clinic network performing IUI/IVF/ICSI; operates in the same assisted-reproduction space and is a downstream channel/competitor to donor gamete suppliers.
• CooperSurgical (Fertility & Genomics): Large fertility-solutions company spanning genetic screening and donor gamete services, overlapping with ESB's genetics/screening capabilities as part of a broader portfolio.

Regional players

• London Sperm Bank: UK-based donor sperm bank supplying clinics; comparable offering but focused primarily on the UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/europeanspermbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/europeanspermbank

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about European Sperm Bank