Monash-born InnovaIVF aims to make IVF safer, smarter and more successful

A Monash University research collaboration that began with a conversation at a seminar is now on the path to becoming a global fertility-tech start up.

InnovaIVF, a deep-tech spin-out founded by Monash engineer Dr Mohammad Haft Tananian, is developing imaging tools that improve IVF outcomes by using light - not biopsy - to reveal embryo and sperm health with unprecedented precision.

“My PhD at Monash sat at the crossroads of physics, optics and biology,” Dr Tananian says. “It was incredibly technical work, but it led to a technology that could directly improve people’s lives.”

From conversation to collaboration

The idea took shape when fertility specialist Dr Fabrizzio Horta described a long-standing IVF challenge: determining which embryo is most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy.

A conversation with Monash researchers Professor Adrian Neild and Associate Professor Victor Cadarso sparked a collaboration to adapt their optical imaging research to measure embryo metabolism - a reliable indicator of embryo health - without touching or harming the embryo.

That insight became the foundation for InnovaIVF’s non-invasive embryo assessment platform.

At a later seminar in Sydney, Dr Haft Tananian met Associate Professor Reza Nosrati whose research in AI-driven sperm analysis complemented his own work on embryo imaging. The collaboration led to the development of a portable sperm analysis device that measures sperm motility and morphology in real time, tackling the often-overlooked male side of infertility.

Rethinking IVF success

Globally, more than two million IVF cycles are performed each year, yet only around one in five results in a live birth. The process is expensive, emotionally draining, and often requires multiple attempts before success.

InnovaIVF’s imaging system measures an embryo’s metabolic activity - its energy signature - on day five of culture, enabling clinicians to identify those with the highest likelihood of implantation. It’s a faster, lower-cost and completely non-invasive alternative to biopsy-based genetic testing.

The complementary sperm analysis platform, built on AI and high-resolution imaging, aims to make fertility testing more accessible and scalable, particularly for regional clinics and emerging markets.

“We’re tackling IVF from both sides of reproduction,” Dr Haft Tananian says. “By improving embryo selection and sperm diagnostics together, we can improve outcomes and make treatment more accessible.”

Backed by Victoria’s deep-tech ecosystem

InnovaIVF’s growth has been fuelled by Victoria’s expanding innovation network. The company has received support from Breakthrough Victoria, Monash Innovation, and the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) as well as entrepreneurship programs through The Generator at Monash.

The startup is preparing to spin out from Monash University, with a minimum viable product (MVP) nearing completion and animal-phase validation planned as the next milestone. The team is also in early discussions with investors ahead of a pre-seed round targeted for early 2026.

“Even a five to ten per cent improvement in IVF success rates could mean tens of thousands more births each year,” Dr Tananian says. “That’s the scale of impact we’re working toward.”

Translating research into real-world impact

For clinicians, the appeal lies in gaining deeper biological insight without disrupting existing workflows.

Both the embryo and sperm platforms are designed to integrate seamlessly into routine fertility practice, the result of hundreds of hours of consultation with embryologists and IVF specialists.

“Clinicians have told us they’re excited to see a technology designed around their needs,” Dr Tananian says. “This is what happens when engineering and medicine co-develop innovation.”

The company is now in discussions with IVF groups and research networks globally to prepare for early adoption once validation is complete.

Engineering precision meets human purpose

While InnovaIVF’s story is rooted in deep research, its motivation remains profoundly human.

“Engineers love creating things,” Dr Tananian reflects. “But creating something that could help families have children — that’s a different kind of fulfillment.”

From its origins in Monash’s laboratories to its emerging commercial pathway, InnovaIVF reflects the momentum of Australia’s deep-tech sector translating frontier research into globally scalable solutions that unite precision engineering with empathy.

Behind every embryo, Dr Tananian says, is a family waiting for a chance. And with InnovaIVF’s technology, that chance is getting stronger every day.

View Mohammad’s interview with Breakthrough Victoria here

Learn more about InnovaIVF here