Companies to Watch - Nov 15, 2018

These startups are changing health and wellness

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The health and wellness industry is experiencing staggering growth, both in New York and globally. The New York metro area has the largest bioscience workforce in the country—plus a new life sciences hub and other city investments in health innovation—so it’s no surprise that the next great health tech companies are setting up shop here.Below is a shortened version of our look into these companies that are solving problems in mental health, diabetes, the healthcare industry, to name a few. Be sure to read the whole post to see more.PS: have you gotten your flu shot yet? If not, find your nearest clinic here or by texting flu to 877877.

Spring HealthWhat does your company do?Spring Health co-founder and CEO April Koh: Spring Health is a comprehensive mental health benefit for employers. We help your employees understand their mental health issues and connect with best-in-class providers to get the right treatment at the right time.In what ways does society’s perception of mental health still need to evolve?AK: Stigma still remains—which is why I'm so proud of the fact that our clients sometimes have their CEOs announce the Spring Health benefit to their teams. Executive-level support for better mental health goes a long way. It's crazy to think that Spring Health is contributing to a culture shift for our customers — we're helping employers start the conversation about mental health, and we're helping them show their employees that they care about these important issues.

One Drop

What does your company do?One Drop founder and CEO Jeff Dachis: We strive to transform the lives of people with diabetes by creating and managing the world’s leading digital diabetes management solution.What's unique about working in public health? What's is the best piece of advice for startups addressing health issues?JD: At One Drop, we are all about data: we do extensive user research to learn as much about people with diabetes as possible. The best piece of advice we can offer is: do your research. Public health issues can affect broad swaths of the population, so you need to understand what you can do to help the most people. And every user, myself included, has different needs. Diabetes, and our health in general, isn't a one-size-fits-all. 

What does your company do?Maude co-founders Éva Goicochea and Dina Epstein: We make modern sex essentials: A vibe, two lubricants, condoms, and a massage candle (launching this week!).Maude is an “inclusive company” — pleasure accessories designed for both men and women. Is the industry moving towards a more unisex approach to pleasure? How does Maude define diversity and inclusion?EG: The industry is still very bifurcated—incumbents speak to men, newer brands speak to women. Since sex is human, we think that an inclusive approach is common sense and we don't conflate sex with gender. Whatever you do behind closed doors is up to you. 

Wellthy

What does your company do?Wellthy co-founder and CEO Lindsay Jurist-Rosner: We have set out to improve the healthcare experience for the 66 million Americans who are taking care of an aging, chronically ill, or disabled loved one. Wellthy is a care concierge. Families are assigned a dedicated Care Coordinator (think personal healthcare assistant) who creates a plan and gets tasks done, all through a modern online experience. We also partner with employers that provide Wellthy as an employee benefit.What’s the most urgent problem the healthcare industry will have to address in the next five years?LJR: The most urgent problem is how we'll take care of our aging population. We do not have enough geriatric primary care doctors, we don't have enough living facility options, and we don't have enough in-home aides/companions. We have a massive shortage now and the need is only growing.

LiluWhat does your company do?Lilu co-founder and CEO Adriana Vazquez Ortiz: Lilu creates products that empower moms during their transition to new parenthood. Our technology is designed for real users and backed by science, so that postnatal care is comfortable and compatible with all of life’s successes.Lilu helps moms going through difficult lactation experiences. What technology are you using? And how is your technology making that experience easier?AVO: We developed custom-engineered massage cushions that help moms by complementing the suction of a breast pump, with a gentle massage. We then embedded them into a proprietary bra, so that moms can put it on and off easily when they are ready to pump. In this way, the Lilu Massage Bra is the first and only bra that can help moms who are struggling with lactation and pumping, pump more milk, more comfortably and efficiently.Join Us

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