San Francisco biotech startup Sperm Racing has found an unlikely path to profitability: live-streaming human sperm races with influencers and college students. Co-founder Eric Zhu, 18, built the company around the idea that sperm motility serves as a blunt biomarker for male health. The absurd premise masks a real concern — studies show young men today produce roughly half the sperm their grandfathers did.

The company, currently valued at $50 million, monetizes the chaos through branded content, a pineapple-flavored fertility gummy called Sperm Worms, and plastic-free boxer briefs sold under the Andros line. Partnerships with creators like Dutch Brahs, who brought visibly weak samples to a March office visit, help generate the viral clips the algorithm demands.

Recently the team pivoted again — canceling a planned Chase Center event to launch a monthlong World Cup with 128 countries. Co-founder Shane Fan explained that constant content flow beats one-off celebrity matchups. Engineering matchups for maximum virality, including politically charged pairings like Russia vs. Ukraine, shows how far the company will stretch its premise for engagement.