Tim DraperFounder and Managing Partne, Draper Associate · I back the ideas that look crazy first

13M babies are born preterm, & Galena Innovations is rewriting how preterm birth is diagnosed.

12 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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Tim Draper explains how 13 million babies are born preterm annually, the leading cause of death in children under five. The US spends $25 billion yearly on preterm birth care, with racial disparities reflecting deep inequities. A 60-year technology gap exists in diagnosis, though all preterm births converge on cervical remodeling, a potential target for intervention.

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13 million babies are born preterm yearly, and it's the leading cause of death for young children. Survivors face complications and hospital stays costing the U.S. $25 billion yearly, with racial inequities and a 60-year tech gap. Causes are varied but have one commonality: cervical change. In pregnancy, the collagen-rich cervix keeps the fetus inside the womb. At delivery, the role reverses, and it then facilitates Birth by changing. Positive pressure through pregnancy breaks down collagen, leading to cervical change and then birth. A baby!