Silicon โValley Venture โขCapitalist’s Pursuit of Accountability Following Surrogacy Death โคSparks Controversy
SAN FRANCISCO -โฃ cindy Bi, a venture capitalistโ backed by prominent figures in the tech industry, has launched a relentless campaign followingโ theโ death of her son, Leon, born via surrogate. The case has ignited debate surrounding the legal and ethical complexities of third-party reproduction, andโ raised questions about oversight withinโฃ the fertility industry.
leon died shortly after birth in February 2023. Bi immediately began a multi-pronged effort to assign duty, contacting the FBI on twelve occasions and filing complaints with over a dozenโข state and federal regulators, โขas well as professional organizations, against Smith, the surrogate; SAI, theโข surrogacy agency; the hospital; and Clarity Escrow.
The fallout extended to Bi’s public life. Despite the tragedy occurring around Leon’s due date, she launchedโ a new $30 million venture fund, supported by investors including Marc Andreessen and David Sacks, โdescribed as President Trump’s “AIโ and crypto czar.” Bi also generated meaningful online attention, posting a ChatGPT-written “endorsement from heaven” attributed to Leon, supporting her work, alongside numerous posts across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly โฃTwitter), linkedin, and a dedicated website advocatingโฃ for surrogacy reform. These posts included Smith’s personal data – full name, photo, โaddress, employer, mortgage licence โnumber, and son’s first name -โ publicly available on Bi’s website. She repeatedly questioned her husband โabout Smith’s apparent lack of grief following Leon’s death.In a particularly disturbing incident, a โphoto of Leon’s corpse was sent to Smith’s 7-year-old son’s iPad.
Bi has publicly discussed her history ofโค abandonment,stemming from her parents’ divorce when she was in her twenties,and her diagnosis of bipolar disorder,for which she began taking lithium in early 2021. She began exploring surrogacy options after discontinuing the medication,stating she no longer felt “sedated.”
A therapist consulted by Bi and the surrogate, valdeiglesias,โ stated she had only declined to recommend approximately aโ dozen out of 792 intended parents for surrogacy or gamete donation โขin the last decade, emphasizing she does notโ aim to “gatekeep.” โขThe therapist added that disclosure of serious mental illness is ultimately the responsibilityโ of the intended parent. One of Bi’s fertility doctors indicated he relies on the psychological interviewer’s recommendations and does not independently scrutinize intended parents.
The case highlights the relative ease with which individuals can navigate the surrogacy process, even without rigorous psychological vetting. Bi herself expressed frustration โฃwith the lack โฃof control inherent in surrogacy, writing on Instagram, “Surrogacy is supposeโค to be the safest route.”
