At the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture, healthcare innovators gathered on the Soko Mrkt stage to discuss their experiences in building businesses focused on advancing heart health. Led by medical myth buster Joel Bervell, each panelist selected a word—such as ‘team,’ ‘policy,’ ‘disruption,’ ‘market’ and ‘ROI’—to shed light on its importance in shaping their companies.
Kwame Terra, founder and CEO of bHER Health Systems, discussed the significance of having a strong team. He stressed that as an early-stage company, having a qualified and dedicated team is crucial to attracting investors, grant writers, and funders. He also shared that providing internship opportunities is one way they attract talented individuals committed to the company’s mission. “I invite students to have the equity, as well as cash in the startup to give them opportunity and exposure to what it means to be a part of an early-stage company,” shared Terra.
Crystal Dobson, founder and CEO of CardiacFIT, underscored the importance of healthcare policy, particularly concerning underserved communities. She pointed out that ensuring access to quality healthcare, promoting community engagement, and achieving equity are vital priorities. “It is important to advocate for policies that support these types of things because there are so many people who don’t have access to quality cardiac care that look just like us,” said Dobson. Cardiac Fit aims to tackle barriers in the healthcare system by developing sustainable solutions for patients with chronic conditions.
Ashley Wisdom, founder and CEO of Health in Her Hue, discussed the concept of disruption in healthcare. She explained that true disruption involves challenging the flawed system and institutional racism rather than just building new solutions on top of it. Health in Her Hue exemplifies this approach with their provider directory, making it easier for Black women and women of color to find providers who understand their experiences. “We allow our members to filter for providers based on race and ethnicity and now we have health systems and health insurance companies starting to think about ways that they can build features and capabilities to better serve their Black members and patients,” said Wisdom.
Jennifer “Jaki” Johnson, founder and CEO of WellMiss, highlighted the significant market for trauma care, especially for Black and brown women. She noted, “8 out of 10 of the leading causes of death are associated with unaddressed trauma,” explained Johnson. WellMiss addresses this market by providing whole-person integrative trauma care. This includes access to an integrative doctor, trauma-focused therapist, coach, registered dietitian nutritionist, yoga therapist, and personal care coordinator. “Comprehensive support is essential for effectively serving this large and crucial market,” said Johnson.
Star Cunningham, Founder and CEO at 4D Healthware, discussed the return on investment (ROI) in healthcare. Illustrating how their approach benefits both patients and their caregivers, she recounted a story where a patient’s daughter thanked them for enabling her to focus on work without anxiety, knowing her mother was well-monitored. This comprehensive approach yields both tangible and intangible returns. “That downstream impact on ROI is our primary focus, ensuring ancillary benefits come back,” said Cunningham.