Deal highlights

• Stylish apparel line that protects from Zika and other viruses
• Made of innovative fabric with nanotechnology
• Globally known brand for expertise in maternal and newborn health
• Established cash flow-positive business

As seen in:

The world is not safe for women

Insect borne illnesses: Zika, Lyme, malaria, dengue, Chikungunya, etc., pose serious health threats for moms and babies. They spread quickly across the US and Latin America and trigger public health alerts.

Among significantly affected countries are USA, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and over 100 more. The effects of these viruses can be quite severe for pregnant women and their babies, with microcephaly as one consequence of Zika.

Current preventive solutions like mosquito repellents have proven to be ineffective. Research by our partner clinic in El Salvador (run by Americares) has documented that women avoid wearing skin based repellents because they smell bad and are expensive.

Our study found that only 89% of women are not comfortable applying repellent directly to their skin. Vaccines, bed nets, community spraying and mosquito traps are not enough.

Women need an inexpensive way to protect themselves from Zika as they move about during the day. This is especially critical for countries without a sophisticated medical system. 

Introducing NovaVeil – a line of protective apparel by Maternova, incorporating stylish design and nanotechnology

A labor of love between Maternova, Inc. and a renowned Brazilian designer Alessandra Gold, NovaVeil is the first line of stylish protective apparel that allows women to feel empowered and confident, knowing that they are protecting themselves beautifully.

NovaVeil is using a patented nanotechnology-enhanced textile that repels the mosquitoes that carry viruses, This textile allows us to manufacture stylish but affordable garments that women can wear during the day to protect themselves against the Zika virus.

NovaVeil line:

We use the world's best scientific minds alongside the ideal creative partner to develop original and innovative solutions.

Each detail is crafted specifically for impacted climates and consider the habits of the mosquitoes – they bite in the day and they especially like dark colors – so the designs feature a lighter calming palette.

Maternity dress

First ever dress designed to appeal across cultures, expand to fit a growing belly and imbued with nanotech repellent

• Thoughtfully constructed for women of all sizes and heights

• Interior dress comes with simple cinching ties

• Ruched hem adjusters for full or mid length options

Cardigan

• lightweight elongated cardigan

• includes a hood to protect the head and hair

• sleeves that extend over most of the hand for maximum coverage and protection.

Scarf

• Lightweight breathable scarf

• able to cover the head or the lap

• can cover an infant bassinet or an infant nursing with mother

Leggings

• Light colored leggings

• Protect the lower half of the body and ankles, an area of particular interest to the virus carrying mosquitos.

Chemicals used by pregnant women must be safe for the mother and for the fetus. NovaVeil is protecting women using a special fabric that does not result in the absorption of repellent chemicals into the skin.

The Environmental Protection Agency reviews clinical and environmental data to ensure consumer protection. By using a chemical already approved by the EPA we 1) ensure that it is safe and 2) save years of approval and testing.

By ensuring a long life for a maternity garment and other pieces, we bring down the average cost per day of protection significantly.

According to studies, skin-based repellents are avoided because of odor. By providing an odorless solution in the form of apparel, we increase the chances that women will use it and be protected.

Skin-based repellents are a hassle and are quite costly. NovaVeil makes protection from mosquitos effortless – wearing clothing is easier than applying repellent every few hours.

Mosquitos in some countries, including Puerto Rico, have evolved to be able to resist permethrin – this widely recommended insecticide is simply not effective in many areas.

Nanotechnology processes allow the insect repellent to be bound to textile fibers at the molecular level. It is this process which gives the textile its long life through many washings.

A patented technology enables us to offer something that is exclusively our own. It can not be copied and allows us, with our partners, to maintain quality control.

And.. stylish.

Maternova considers style as a part of dignity. Women should be able to protect themselves and their babies while still looking stunning.

We’ve partnered with Alessandra Gold - the fashion designer behind the NovaVeil line.

Born in Brazil and headquartered in Miami, Alessandra knows how to design for women and is 100% committed to creative approaches to protecting women.

• trained at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York

• named as this year's top 10 Miami designer

• named one of 8 Latin American designers to watch by Glamour magazine

• designs featured in Sports Illustrated, Nylon, and Vogue

Solution for the whole world

Retail line for established markets

We will sell the NovaVeil line at retail prices so that higher-income women have access to stylish apparel that protects against Zika. Doctors and midwives will sell products through their clinics, governments will buy product in bulk, and individuals will buy retail so that the average woman in Europe, the U.S. and Brazil can be protected.

Subsidized line for lower-income women at risk

Part of the proceeds from the retail line will be used to subsidize a line of protective apparel for low-income women in the countries hardest hit by viruses. Humanitarian organizations will be able to purchase in bulk for distribution for displaced populations at risk of mosquito borne illness.

About Maternova, Inc. 

Maternova, Inc is a globally recognized women’s health solutions company. We’re the purveyors of hope and innovation: our mission is to improve the quality of life for women and newborns everywhere by accelerating access to life-saving technologies. We create health-enhancing solutions that young women will want to integrate into everyday life.

We have the right pieces in place to launch NovaVeil  

We already distribute medical technologies around the world. We work with governments, hospitals, humanitarian organizations and clinicians. In other words, we have the customers and the distribution system in place.

A trusted brand

Maternova negotiates exclusive distribution agreements with innovators and entrepreneurs as well as corporates. We use a series of product screens to select life-saving innovations, and the innovators work with us because of our reach and reputation.

A proven, working business model

A 15,000-strong provider network

Through our self-built mailing list and social media, we reach over 15,000 frontline providers and procurement agencies who equip them. This network allows us to 'take the pulse' of the needs of clinicians, and to test and validate innovations rapidly.

Existing products portfolio

Survival Duos: one of Maternova’s products on the market:

See more products at maternova.net.

Happy customers & partners

Mentions in major press outlets

Hear the recent piece on BBC.

Support by grants and experts

Maternova’s protective apparel concept is supported by some of the leading experts on global health and Zika. Maternova is part of an elite cohort of innovators cultivated by CAMtech and Massachusetts General Hospital. This cohort is advised by Dr. Michael Callahan, a top authority on Zika and head of the Zika Foundation. We are also supported with a seed grant from Grand Challenges Canada.

We're in the growing medical device market

What your investment will fund

• Develop final prototypes for the protective apparel

• Research demand for a full anti-Zika kit (apparel, repellent, bednets, etc)

• Work with pattern maker to create patterns

• Place order with the manufacturer

• Launch marketing campaign

• Deliver first run of the finished garments

Where we are now

Within two months of developing the NovaVeil idea we have done the following:

• sourced the patented textile

• partnered with a talented fashion designer from Brazil

• produced the first run of maternity t-shirts for testing

• designed four initial maternity pieces for the NovaVeil line

• set up a partnership with a clinic in El Salvador (Americares)

• designed a user testing tool

• received requests from around the world,  

• Got early validation from the independent technical review teams in May 2016 from CAMtech, Mass General Hospital's Zika awards

Why we want you to join us

We want investors who are mothers, fathers, grandparents and daughters.

We need passionate people who understand that to protect women, to reduce the number of women dying in childbirth and to improve the health of adolescent girls, we need innovative, pioneering business models.

We believe it’s a great time to be a woman. We are so excited to connect with your at the moment when innovation is desperately needed.