[ { "id": 580, "name": "Bellabeat", "slug": "bellabeat", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/ed160215b7a30dc30384bfcf6e726bac65688aff.png", "website": "http://bellabeat.com", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "Founded in 2014, Bellabeat is a data-centered wellness femtech company behind some of the most fashionably designed tech-powered wellness products and one of the fastest-growing wellness subscription services for women. Throughout the years, Bellabeat built the go-to wellness brand with a compelling ecosystem of solutions and services focused on women’s health. The success of the Leaf and Ivy wearables enabled the brand to expand to international markets and kickstart industry discussions on the importance of innovating in the design and development of tech products. Today, Bellabeat is leading the market shift with hyper-personalized holistic wellness offerings aligned with a women’s menstrual cycle. ", "one_liner": "Tech-powered women's wellness.", "team_size": 134, "industry": "Consumer", "subindustry": "Consumer -> Consumer Electronics", "launched_at": 1384978624, "tags": [ "Fitness", "Health & Wellness", "Femtech" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": true, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2014", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Consumer", "Consumer Electronics" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Growth", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": [ { "question": "How did your company get started? (i.e., How did the founders meet? How did you come up with the idea? How did you decide to be a founder?)", "answer": "The company was co-founded by Sandro, a developer, and Urska, a designer & sculptor. Our journey began with building remote patient monitoring systems for medical clinics. However, as the public health system was slow in adopting new technologies, we saw an opportunity in the consumer market. We never went into this with the idea of being founders per se, we just wanted to build things that will help women. " }, { "question": "How did you decide to apply to Y Combinator? What was your experience applying, going through the batch, and fundraising at demo day?", "answer": "Our journey starts in 2013 when we won the Pioneers Challenge and met Michael Seibel, who later became one of our angel investors. We were really impressed by Michael's stories about the Y Combinator community and decided to apply to the program. The process was fairly vigorous and competitive, but our persistence paid off and we were accepted into the Y Combinator '14 batch. The experience itself was incredibly intense, as we were one of a few foreign, let alone hardware companies in our batch which made us work even harder to adapt to the different business mentality in Silicon Valley. Nonetheless, we successfully completed the program and moved on to fundraising on demo day. We were able to raise a significant portion of our seed round on the spot and immediately after demo day. Despite these challenges, we remained committed to our goals and were able to overcome the obstacles in our path, which made the experience a memorable and incredible one." }, { "question": "How have you kept in touch with the YC community and continued to use YC resources & programs since the batch ended?", "answer": "We stay connected with the Y Combinator community and maintain close relationships with our batchmates, other founders, and select teams from Europe. This helps us stay updated on each other's progress, find ways to help each other, and take advantage of Y Combinator resources and programs, which have been essential for growing our company and achieving goals." }, { "question": "What's the history of your company from getting started until the present day? What were the big inflection points?", "answer": "Bellabeat started as a company focused on addressing the lack of attention given to women's wellness in the market with the mission to understand and improve women's health & wellness from a holistic standpoint. Over the years, we have evolved to become a leading solution for women's health and wellness. In 2014, we were a part of the top cohort at Y Combinator and raised a substantial seed round. This was followed by the launch of our flagship product— Leaf Nature, the first wellness tracker designed for women, the following year. In 2019, we introduced a membership program offering personalized health and wellness guidance, further solidifying our position in the market. We continued innovating and in 2021, we launched Ivy, a new wearable device that provides personalized health guidance based on a woman's menstrual cycle and biometric data. Throughout our journey, we made a significant impact, launching various Leaf editions, Time smartwatch, as well as Spring- a smart bottle. We’re proud that our products are not only helping women reach their full potential, but also accompanying them during the most important parts of their lives. " }, { "question": "What is the core problem you are solving? Why is this a big problem? What made you decide to work on it?", "answer": "Realizing the lack of attention given to women's wellness in the market, we founded Bellabeat with the mission to understand and improve women's health by utilizing the cycle as a focal point of women’s health and wellness. We noticed that women, in pursuit of knowledge about their health & well-being, only relied on information gathered through reading online, joining forums, or visiting their physicians. While these sources are great to educate women, they’re missing a key point that women need in order to understand their bodies on a daily—biofeedback.When creating Ivy and combing it with our personalized programs and cycle input, we wanted to give women the tools they need to understand their bodies every day, receive actionable advice, and see the change for themselves. By delivering timely and appropriate guidance adjusted to the different stages of the menstrual cycle, every individual user’s unique bio-responses, and lifestyle tracked through sensor technology, we’re introducing women to a way of life that is in sync with their natural hormonal rhythm. A way that leads to a healthier lifestyle and a healthier future where women start working with their bodies instead of against them to achieve their wellness goals. " }, { "question": "What is your long-term vision? If you truly succeed, what will be different about the world?", "answer": "Our long-term vision is to revolutionize the understanding of women's cycle and wellness to empower them to live their full potential. By providing personalized guidance through our subscription option, we aim to bring a new perspective to women's health and wellness that goes beyond traditional approaches. Our goal is to become the leading femtech company in the world and help women lead healthier, better, and more equitable lives." } ], "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/bellabeat", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2014/bellabeat.json", "year_founded": 2014, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/bellabeatinc", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/GetBellaBeat", "fb_url": "https://web.facebook.com/bellabeat/", "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/bellabeat", "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/ed160215b7a30dc30384bfcf6e726bac65688aff.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 38307, "full_name": "Urska Srsen", "title": "Founder/CCO", "founder_bio": "Urska Srsen is the co­founder and CCO of Bellabeat Inc. Urska is the detail­ obsessed execution force behind Bellabeat’s brand and products.\nIn 2016 Urska was chosen by Forbes as the ambassador of the Technology field for their first European 30 under 30 list. She was nominated as best female entrepreneur in Croatia in 2016 by Veuve Clicquot and has also received the Jabolko Navdiha (Apple of Inspiration) award from the President of the Republic of Slovenia.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/UrskaSrsen", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/a497d0602d64e38da3c196c439281def8f7699bb.jpg" }, { "user_id": 15455, "full_name": "Sandro Mur", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": null, "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": null, "x_url": null, "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/7ea4ff493f1b0bdb4f8683278e825d8155ee804a.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [ { "title": "Bellabeat's Ivy bracelet tries to do it all -- but it can only do some • TechCrunch", "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/12/bellabeat-ivy-bracelet-health-tracker-review/", "date": "Nov 12, 2021" }, { "title": "Bellabeat Leaf's new wearable and app help women tackle stress • TechCrunch", "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/26/bellabeat-leafs-new-wearable-and-app-help-women-tackle-stress/", "date": "Jul 26, 2016" } ], "launches": [] }, { "id": 22970, "name": "Veera Health", "slug": "veera-health", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/ca91e3fbd25b407f5755068d3680f8a726f79a17.png", "website": "https://www.veerahealth.com", "all_locations": "MH, India", "long_description": "Veera Health is helping 110M women in India get treated for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Our app combines evidence-backed therapy with coaching & specialist support for a subscription fee.\r\n\r\nPCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women, and can lead to diabetes, depression and cancer. Patients spend up to 10 years and thousands of rupees searching for the right treatment, yet 90% are dissatisfied with existing options. With our program, 85% patients report feeling \"in control\" of their PCOS after just 1 month and are 4-times more likely to complete treatment.\r\n\r\nThe founders, Shobhita (COO) and Shashwata (CEO) got an inside view into this massive need when the former was diagnosed with PCOS. Shashwata studied data science at Yale University, holds an MBA from Wharton, and helped grow Fortune 100 and growth-stage consumer health / product companies at McKinsey. Shobhita studied Biology & Psychology at Tufts University and has worked with leading healthcare companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline, Accenture Life Sciences & UnitedHealth.", "one_liner": "We treat women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in India", "team_size": 4, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Consumer Health and Wellness", "launched_at": 1614924478, "tags": [ "Consumer Health Services", "Femtech" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2021", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Consumer Health and Wellness" ], "regions": [ "India", "South Asia", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/veera-health", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2021/veera-health.json", "year_founded": 2020, "city": null, "country": "IN", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/veera-health", "x_url": "", "fb_url": null, "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/ca91e3fbd25b407f5755068d3680f8a726f79a17.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 557745, "full_name": "Shashwata Narain", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashwatanarain/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/52dcfe8bc44f498e03091bab4e4726804caa8670.jpg" }, { "user_id": 601850, "full_name": "Shobhita Narain", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Deep healthcare expertise with experience in the pharma, hospital, and health payer space. I've worked previously at UnitedHealth Group, Accenture Life Sciences & GlaxoSmithKline.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/shobhita-narain-a668b971/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/39639fd5bfb7900d7f8d0c5bf87e701b324ecd32.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [ { "title": "Digital Health Startup Veera Health Raises $3 Mn Funding", "url": "https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/378354", "date": "Jul 26, 2021" }, { "title": "How these sisters’ startup aims to help 110 million women in India manage Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)", "url": "https://yourstory.com/herstory/2021/07/womens-wellness-startup-veera-health/amp", "date": "Jul 25, 2021" } ], "launches": [] }, { "id": 25682, "name": "LunaJoy Health", "slug": "lunajoy-health", "former_names": [ "Thriving Lane", "LunaJoy" ], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/759f8f57cd9cb1f3fd5e256bd1b9d89778775581.png", "website": "http://HelloLunaJoy.com", "all_locations": "Atlanta, GA, USA", "long_description": "LunaJoy is building the AI-powered care platform for precision mental health—starting with women.\r\nWe integrate intelligent automation with specialized clinical services to deliver scalable, life-stage-specific care—from adolescence to pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, miscarriage, perimenopause, and aging. By embedding AI agents into care navigation, triage, and decision support, we reduce costs, accelerate outcomes, and personalize treatment at scale.\r\n\r\nOur hybrid care model blends targeted psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, genetic testing, coaching, and holistic wellness—delivered by a curated workforce of women’s mental health specialists. Through continuous feedback loops, AI segmentation, and predictive insights, LunaJoy is built to scale.\r\n\r\nWe’re expanding our in-network footprint to make this care accessible across commercial and Medicaid populations—closing equity gaps for women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those most at risk.\r\n\r\nWomen are twice as likely to experience mental health conditions, and 3x more likely to endure trauma. Yet the system is still built for the “average” patient—ignoring the biological, emotional, and social complexity of women’s lives. LunaJoy is rearchitecting that system with AI at its core—because when we invest in women’s mental health, entire communities thrive.", "one_liner": "AI-powered scalable infrastructure + mental health services, starting…", "team_size": 6, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Healthcare Services", "launched_at": 1643036138, "tags": [ "Mental Health Tech", "Digital Health", "Femtech" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": true, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Winter 2022", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Healthcare Services" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/lunajoy-health", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/winter-2022/lunajoy-health.json", "year_founded": 2022, "city": "Atlanta", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/lunajoy", "x_url": "", "fb_url": "https://www.facebook.com/LunaJoyHealth", "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/759f8f57cd9cb1f3fd5e256bd1b9d89778775581.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": { "name": "Nicolas Dessaigne", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/people/nicolas-dessaigne" }, "founders": [ { "user_id": 815822, "full_name": "Sipra Laddha", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/sipraladdha", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/57cf1470e7b4c4ba307b04f8de72a8eb41832e95.jpg" }, { "user_id": 821670, "full_name": "Shama Rathi", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/shama-rathi-35878b20b/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/aaf5884ab1da6f76fb39f9e9f7c7bacb2e2132f3.jpg" } ], "jobs": [ { "id": 70318, "title": "Licensed Mental Health Providers", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/lunajoy-health/jobs/FlF3cYz-licensed-mental-health-providers", "location": "US / Remote (US)", "type": "Contract", "role": "Science", "role_type": "Healthcare", "salary_range": "$60 - $65 / hourly", "equity_range": "", "experience": "3+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [] }, { "id": 70319, "title": "Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/lunajoy-health/jobs/VBsW430-psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-pmhnp", "location": "Remote (US)", "type": "Contract", "role": "Science", "role_type": "Healthcare", "salary_range": "$70 - $95 / hourly", "equity_range": "", "experience": "3+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [] }, { "id": 94299, "title": "Clinic Outreach Specialist (Sales Cold Caller)", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/lunajoy-health/jobs/CSr9DnS-clinic-outreach-specialist-sales-cold-caller", "location": "DO / PE / CL / CR / CO / AR / BR / HN / SV / MX / NI / BO / Remote (DO; PE; CL; CR; CO; AR; BR; HN; SV; MX; NI; BO)", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Sales", "role_type": null, "salary_range": "$8 - $12 / hourly", "equity_range": "", "experience": "3+ years", "visa": "US citizenship/visa not required", "skills": [] }, { "id": 102056, "title": "Supervising MD", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/lunajoy-health/jobs/OJV9M5U-supervising-md", "location": "GA, US / FL, US / US / Remote (GA, US; FL, US; US)", "type": "Contract", "role": "Support", "role_type": null, "salary_range": "$200 / monthly", "equity_range": "", "experience": "3+ years", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [] } ], "news": [ { "title": "LunaJoy Health Adds $4.2M in Funding; Launches ‘LunaCare’ for Women’s Mental Health", "url": "https://femtechinsider.com/lunajoy-health-funding/", "date": "Apr 17, 2024" }, { "title": "Armed with $2.4M seed funding, the physicians behind LunaJoy are bringing a mental health counseling platform to more women - Hypepotamus", "url": "https://hypepotamus.com/startup-news/armed-with-2-4m-seed-funding-the-physicians-behind-lunajoy-are-bringing-a-mental-health-counseling-platform-to-more-women/", "date": "Jan 12, 2023" }, { "title": "Women's mental health company LunaJoy closes big seed round - Axios Tampa Bay", "url": "https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/01/03/womens-mental-health-lunajoy-seed-funding", "date": "Jan 03, 2023" }, { "title": "Startup City: A year of Tampa Bay growth • St Pete Catalyst", "url": "https://stpetecatalyst.com/startup-city-a-year-of-tampa-bay-growth/", "date": "Dec 22, 2022" }, { "title": "This YC-backed St. Pete startup is changing the rules of women's health", "url": "https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/inno/stories/profiles/2022/09/13/y-combinator-telehealth-st-petersburg-startup.html", "date": "Sep 20, 2022" } ], "launches": [] }, { "id": 26809, "name": "Malama Health", "slug": "malama-health", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/9d2943532a551a14832239d052659c01f6312821.png", "website": "https://www.heymalama.co", "all_locations": "San Francisco, CA, USA", "long_description": "Malama offers doula-led holistic support during and after pregnancy at no cost to patients. Malama is in-network with Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, Kaiser, and several Medicaid Managed Care Plans. \r\n\r\nMalama is backed by the Stanford d.school, Y Combinator (S22), Alpine Investors and more. ", "one_liner": "Making motherhood safe, not scary", "team_size": 35, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare", "launched_at": 1657217779, "tags": [ "Health Tech", "Digital Health", "Healthcare", "Femtech" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": true, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2022", "status": "Active", "industries": [ "Healthcare" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": true, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/malama-health", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2022/malama-health.json", "year_founded": 2022, "city": "San Francisco", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/malama-health/", "x_url": "https://www.twitter.com/heymalama", "fb_url": "https://www.instagram.com/_malamahealth/", "cb_url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/malama-health", "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/9d2943532a551a14832239d052659c01f6312821.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/video_event/58/1662744171923-51a3q476yec-b35a2aa6da032a90d6e1178bb9934078/67afb0b702af56e89158dbbcfaedd88a.mp4?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAQC4NIECABPQ2AHNW%2F20261020%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261020T022708Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=6b50dddf5b8a14111eaffdf2e08979eec71398a6ce465121d140e4227390e59f", "company_photos": [ "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/c480d412ea65916e3f6b9a7e91fb931fb6b7f970.png" ], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 972065, "full_name": "Mika Eddy", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Mika is the co-founder and CEO of Malama Health, a maternal health company that delivers tech-enabled care for high risk perinatal conditions. Prior to Malama, Mika was the Director of Clinical Product Innovation at UnitedHealthcare, the largest health insurer in the world. There, she worked on achieving cost savings of $200M through digital health initiatives. Mika received her BA in human biology and MS in management from Stanford University, where she met her co-founders, Orlando and Daniela.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "http://www.linkedin.com/mikawang", "x_url": "https://www.twitter.com/mikastefanie", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/c298555347be7b7409c258c48129fd30a94b7cc5.jpg" }, { "user_id": 10964, "full_name": "Orlando Li", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Orlando is the co-founder and CTO of Malama Health. Prior to Malama, he was a senior software engineer at Airbnb working on experiences. Orlando met his co-founder Mika 10 years ago while he was pursuing MS at UCLA.", "is_active": true, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlandoli/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/454027c01dc2a2e66580972637d00edeff63dda9.jpg" } ], "jobs": [ { "id": 113404, "title": "Support Engineer, AI & Operations", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/malama-health/jobs/OM7Jb5N-support-engineer-ai-operations", "location": "US / Remote (US)", "type": "Full-time", "role": "Support", "role_type": null, "salary_range": "$60K - $80K", "equity_range": "0.10% - 0.30%", "experience": "Any (new grads ok)", "visa": "US citizen/visa only", "skills": [ "SQL" ] } ], "news": [ { "title": "Malama Health Awarded $2.4M Fast Track SBIR Grant from NIH to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Postpartum Women — Find a Doula in California | Check Medicaid Pregnancy Benefits | Malama", "url": "https://heymalama.co/press/malama-health-awarded-236m-fast-track-sbir-grant", "date": "Sep 30, 2025" }, { "title": "Managing Diabetes in Pregnancy with a Digital App | Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign | Stanford Medicine", "url": "https://biodesign.stanford.edu/our-impact/stories/managing-diabetes-in-pregnancy-with-a-digital-app.html", "date": "Dec 01, 2022" } ], "launches": [ { "id": 64437, "title": "🌸 Malama - Manage Diabetes in Pregnancy with Ease", "tagline": "We help avoid adverse outcomes related to diabetes in pregnancy", "body": "**tl;dr:** We make it easy for patients to log, track and receive tailored insights to avoid adverse outcomes related to diabetes in pregnancy. For providers, we eliminate manual data entry, enable remote patient monitoring and reduce administrative burden. **Check out our** [**app**](https://malama.app.link/ls0jrjcQjrb) **on GooglePlay/iOS!**\n\nHi everyone, we’re Mika, Orlando, Shalmali and Daniela aka the team behind [Malama](https://www.heymalama.com).\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=64437&key=user_uploads/972065/4ecb7ffa-cfed-4ff5-a6b8-104967e166b2)\n\n_from left to right:_\n\n**🎯** [Orlando](https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlandoli/) keeps us on target: 10+ years as an engineer, 4+ years at Airbnb. Chat with me about #food #ruby-on-rails\n\n**👀** [Mika](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikawang/) acts as our eyes towards the future: 10+ years in healthcare, mom of a 21 month-old tyrant, previously Director of Clinical Product Innovation at Optum. Chat with me about #GDM #interoperability #digitalhealth #parenting\n\n**💖** [Daniela](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-bahamon-arango/) carries our creative heart: 10+ years designing beautiful products for women, previously founder of Maison Alma, ex-L’Oreal and LVMH. Chat with me about #branding #design #community\n\n**🧠** [Shalmali](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalmalibane/) tends our inquisitive mind: 7+ years in research, currently all but the dissertation at Stanford Medical school getting a PhD in Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology. Chat with me about #pregnancyresearch #studyinclusivity #trialdesign #bias\n\n# What is diabetes in pregnancy and why does it matter? 🧐\n\nRoughly [1 in 6 births](https://www.idf.org/our-activities/care-prevention/gdm) are affected by some sort of hyperglycemia - or high blood sugar - in pregnancy, with the average annual economic burden around [$6k per case](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30940641/). Further, [50% of women](https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/gestational.html) with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) will go on to develop type II diabetes, which costs 1 in 7 U.S. healthcare dollars today.\n\nWe started working on this after our cofounder, Mika, developed GDM in pregnancy and was told her son was in the 99th percentile growth range and would likely need a C-section to be delivered. Luckily, she was able to manage her GDM through diligent tracking, trigger identification and diet changes, and now we are bringing this knowledge to help millions of other women who experience the same anxiety, panic and isolation each year.\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=64437&key=user_uploads/972065/ede51043-7ada-46cf-8816-74861dcc7e4a)\n\nShort-term risks of GDM include a 1.5x greater likelihood of requiring an emergency C-section, and a 1.4x greater likelihood of preterm birth. For babies of mothers with GDM, there is an increased risk of cardiac defects, and lifelong metabolic abnormalities.\n\nDiabetes during pregnancy has also increased significantly in recent years. [Recent studies](https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/diabetes-during-pregnancy.htm) found that from 2000 to 2010, **the percentage of pregnant women with gestational diabetes increased 56%** while the percentage of women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy increased 37%. Experts are alarmed by the [continued increase](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/08/gestational-diabetes-worrisome-increase-pregnancy/) and disproportionate effect on racial and ethnic minorities.\n\n# **Our ask 🙏**\n\n* **Download our** [**app**](https://malama.app.link/ls0jrjcQjrb) (_bonus_: share your feedback with us at [founders@heymalama.com](mailto:founders@heymalama.com))\n* **Share this post!** Please help spread the word, as you never know who it may help (_many women are not open about a sensitive diagnosis and are suffering in silence_)\n* Connect us with **Providers** (OBs and MFMs, Nutritionists, Certified Diabetes Experts), **Patients**, and **Payers** (particularly innovative Medicaid payers)\\*\n\n _\\* quick blurb to copy & paste:_ A team of Stanford students and researchers recently released an [app](https://malama.app.link/ls0jrjcQjrb) to reduce administrative burden and improve management of diabetes during pregnancy. Check them out and contact [founders@heymalama.com](mailto:founders@heymalama.com) for more.", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/GlJ-malama-manage-diabetes-in-pregnancy-with-ease", "votes": 146, "created_at": "2022-07-07T19:01:36.879Z" } ] }, { "id": 27159, "name": "Almond", "slug": "almond", "former_names": [], "small_logo_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/4c35bd0b00b8f8b7f91cc07954a3f36515544f2e.png", "website": "https://www.almondobgyn.com/", "all_locations": "Los Angeles, CA, USA", "long_description": "Almond is like One Medical but for women’s health: we make it easy to get great ObGyn care fast, both at our in-person offices and over telehealth.\r\n\r\nThe problem with traditional ObGyn practices is that physician time is misused, so patients get slow care. We're rebuilding back-office tech that saves physicians time, and we're hiring a wider range of care providers roles, which let us deliver better outcomes to patients and reduce the amount of time it takes to get their issue resolved.", "one_liner": "We make it easy to get great ObGyn care in-person and over telehealth", "team_size": 8, "industry": "Healthcare", "subindustry": "Healthcare -> Consumer Health and Wellness", "launched_at": 1658432706, "tags": [ "Consumer Health Services", "Telehealth", "Consumer", "Healthcare", "Femtech" ], "tags_highlighted": [], "top_company": false, "isHiring": false, "nonprofit": false, "batch": "Summer 2022", "status": "Inactive", "industries": [ "Healthcare", "Consumer Health and Wellness" ], "regions": [ "United States of America", "America / Canada", "Remote", "Partly Remote" ], "stage": "Early", "app_video_public": false, "demo_day_video_public": false, "app_answers": null, "question_answers": null, "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/almond", "api": "https://devasheeshg.github.io/yc-api/batches/summer-2022/almond.json", "year_founded": 2021, "city": "Los Angeles", "country": "US", "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/almond-obgyn/", "x_url": "https://twitter.com/AlmondObGyn", "fb_url": "https://www.facebook.com/almondobgyn/", "cb_url": null, "github_url": null, "logo_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/4c35bd0b00b8f8b7f91cc07954a3f36515544f2e.png", "app_video_url": null, "dday_video_url": null, "company_photos": [], "primary_partner": null, "founders": [ { "user_id": 196433, "full_name": "Tara Raffi", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "- McKinsey consultant; served large US hospital systems\n- Early Ops and Marketing team member at Factual, a location-data tech company\n- Built McKinsey’s internal tech incubator; grew fund to $50M invested globally and hired team of 5, focused on user-centered design and healthcare", "is_active": false, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/tararaffi/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/fe0c1530790074fe4e0ffbdbd8d1e540cc326bdc.jpg" }, { "user_id": 922870, "full_name": "Carly Allen", "title": "Founder", "founder_bio": "Carly Allen (Co-Founder & Chief Brand Officer of Almond) built her career in CAA's marketing division. Her background is in marketing and entertainment. She was Head of Production for global campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, Nike, Marriott, Chipotle, and Bonobos, among others. Her focus has been in building purpose driven brands, which is desperately needed in the ObGyn space. Her late father was an ObGyn so she is deeply connected to this space. ", "is_active": false, "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-allen-90a403130/", "x_url": "", "avatar_thumb_url": "https://bookface-images.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/avatars/68b6710407a51cdf34a7a4bd9f7e51a77fcb83f6.jpg" } ], "jobs": [], "news": [ { "title": "Meet Almond. First Full-Service, Tech-Enabled OB-GYN In The Country", "url": "https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2024/08/15/meet-almond-the-first-full-service-tech-enabled-ob-gyn-in-the-country/", "date": "Aug 15, 2024" }, { "title": "Y-Combinator Alum Almond Raises $7M to Pursue Its Vision of Holistic OB/GYN Care – Femtech Insider", "url": "https://femtechinsider.com/almond-seed-round/", "date": "Nov 28, 2022" }, { "title": "Almond launches full-service Ob-Gyn care to rebuild patient experience • TechCrunch", "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/22/almond-launches-full-service-ob-gyn-care-to-rebuild-patient-experience/", "date": "Nov 22, 2022" } ], "launches": [ { "id": 65126, "title": "👩‍⚕️ Almond – ELEVATED CARE FOR DOWN THERE 🚺⬇️", "tagline": "We make it easy to get great ObGyn care, fast", "body": "We’re [Tara](https://bookface.ycombinator.com/user/196433) and [Carly](https://bookface.ycombinator.com/user/922870), and we’re excited to introduce [Almond:](https://almondobgyn.com/) we’re building a better healthcare experience for women 🌸 ✨\n\nTL;DR\n\nAlmond is like One Medical but for women’s health: we make it easy to get great ObGyn care, both at our in-person office and over telehealth.\n\n**We’re growing quickly.** Even before we opened our first location we hit $90k run rate revenue, and we’re booking out 3 weeks in advance.\n\n**You can book an appointment with us in LA.** Our first full service clinic just opened in Los Angeles (see a couple of photos below)!! Book an appointment at [www.almondobgyn.com](http://www.almondobgyn.com) or call 424-237-8406. Share with your friends and family to help the women in your life have a better option for ObGyn care. \n\n**Membership is affordable and we take all major insurance.**\n\n* Membership is $250 annually but our founding members can get their first year of membership for $150. \n* For visits, you can either use insurance or pay out of pocket. We accept Cigna, Aetna, Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, and United HealthCare.\n\n### ObGyn today is broken\n\nAs women, we’ve had too many frustrating experiences with our ObGyn care. We may love our doctors but the process _around_ seeing the doctor can be terrible: long hold times to schedule, waiting a month or longer for an appointment, and often leaving an appointment with unclear next steps. Our modern world gives us so many great service experiences, yet when it comes to the most important aspect of our lives – our health – we are forced to put up with a slow, confusing process. \n\nBillions of dollars have been poured into modernizing primary care, yet women are still waiting for a better option for ObGyn care. The overturning of Roe is a harsh reminder that women still aren’t given the resources or the rights to be full decision makers over their own bodies. We are building Almond because women deserve better. \n\n### Why better ObGyn care matters\n\nThe impact of better ObGyn care is massive. There are 130M women in the US and they all need ObGyn care every year. On top of that, ObGyn is where women typically have their first intense, high stakes experiences with healthcare. We spend $200B a year on ObGyn care in the US; it is the second largest specialty by spend, after only primary care. Yet currently, women don’t have a brand they can trust and where they know they’ll have a great experience.\n\nAt Almond we believe women should have an extraordinary care experience: one that offers quality, transparent care, delivered faster. \n\n### We’re freeing up the ObGyn’s time so they can focus on what matters most\n\nOne of the first problems to tackle in ObGyn care is that doctor time is used inefficiently, wasting already limited ObGyn capacity. This makes access to care slow, and patients often feel their questions are unaddressed or they get unfit care.\n\nWe’re able to make care more convenient because we use doctor time better – we build software tools to take unnecessary tasks off their plates and we hire a wider range of care providers, not just doctors. By freeing up time for ObGyns they can spend more time on what matters most – delivering great care in every interaction, and seeing the patients that need their attention sooner.\n\nWe also believe getting [ObGyn](https://almondobgyn.com/) care should feel like a true-self care experience for patients, so our offices and software are designed to be convenient, reliable, and intuitive.\n\n### We would love your help\n\n1. We are hiring engineers. We’re particularly interested in meeting people who are passionate about what we are working on – e.g., they are women that have felt this pain themselves or are energized by the idea of building a better health system in the US. Here are our JDs for [backend](https://www.notion.so/Almond-Back-End-Engineer-423ff23660864e29be34fbd828ff0b6f) and [frontend](https://www.notion.so/Almond-Front-End-Engineer-7280fd76c3664dd1bb52864cc43f0126) eng roles. For any interested candidates, please reach out to us at [hello@almondobgyn.com](mailto:hello@almondobgyn.com). \n2. Book an appointment at [www.almondobgyn.com](http://www.almondobgyn.com) or call 424-237-8406. And share with your LA-based friends and family! \n3. We are hiring [gynecologists](https://almondobgyn.com/care-team). If you know somebody great who wants to change the way women’s health is delivered in the US, please send them our way at [hello@almondobgyn.com](mailto:hello@almondobgyn.com)!\n\nThanks!!\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=65126&key=user_uploads/922870/c0c6c5af-10c4-41ab-b887-bbc16b2fd08a)\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post&id=65126&key=user_uploads/922870/8a3c56d2-7154-4c53-9ecf-a24b647d3e3a)\n\n", "url": "https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/GwQ-almond-elevated-care-for-down-there", "votes": 52, "created_at": "2022-08-04T07:36:41.475Z" } ] } ]