The “Spermpocalypse,” A Problem No One Was Solving | Khaled Kteily, Legacy

Why It Matters

Legacy’s at‑home sperm analytics turn a hidden public‑health crisis into actionable data, empowering men to take charge of fertility and broader health outcomes.

Key Takeaways

• Male fertility decline is 40‑60% over past four decades
• Legacy offers at‑home sperm testing and health‑focused analytics
• Sperm age metric links reproductive health to overall longevity
• Harvard i‑Lab incubation accelerated funding and community support
• Proactive male testing reduces stigma and shares fertility responsibility

Summary

The video spotlights Legacy, a startup tackling the so‑called “Spermpocalypse” – a dramatic drop in male sperm counts and quality over the last 40 years. Founder Khaled Kteily explains that while infertility discussions focus on women, men now face a 40‑60% decline in sperm count, with each additional year of age further eroding fertility.

Legacy provides an at‑home testing kit that quantifies sperm health and translates results into actionable lifestyle recommendations. Leveraging one of the nation’s largest sperm data sets, the company is launching a “sperm age” metric that compares a man’s sperm vitality to his biological age, offering insights into broader health, longevity, and mortality risks.

Kteily credits Harvard’s i‑Lab for accelerating seed funding and building a supportive founder community, noting that without that backing the venture would have struggled. To date, Legacy has served 50,000 patients, processed 500 withdrawals, and receives weekly feedback from couples using its services to conceive, underscoring both market demand and product efficacy.

The initiative reframes sperm quality as a sixth vital sign, shifting fertility responsibility onto men and reducing stigma. By normalizing male testing, Legacy opens a new health‑tech market, informs personal health decisions, and could influence public policy on reproductive health and family planning.

Original Description

Male fertility is declining—but no one was talking about it.

Khaled Kteily (Harvard Kennedy School ’16) decided to change that.

After experiencing the stigma and discomfort of fertility testing firsthand, Khaled saw a problem hiding in plain sight. As founder and CEO of Legacy, he’s helping men better understand their fertility and health—serving tens of thousands of patients.

A finalist in the 2019 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge, Legacy is reshaping how we think about reproductive health.

“We helped take the burden off just the female partner—and gave couples more control.”

Film by Kieran Kesner