With dozens of startups emerging in recent years, from digital health apps to regenerative medicine companies, “femtech” has drawn increasing attention and venture capital. Herself Health, a new healthcare technology company designed to deliver advanced primary care to women over 65, has received $7MM in Seed round funding led by founding partner Juxtapose. Additionally, the US-based healthtech has announced the opening of its first clinic.
The company, co-built by Juxtapose and CEO Kristen Helton, will also welcome former President and CEO of WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and current partner at the Consello Group, Mindy Grossman, to its board.
Herself Health will become the first fully value-based advanced healthcare business exclusively focused on women. Taking into account physical, mental, social, sexual, and spiritual needs, the company links women’s health goals with their life goals.
To develop a plan for care with their patients, Herself Health clinicians perform an extensive interview and health evaluation, which includes addressing common concerns like osteoporosis, weight management, and emotional well-being. As a geriatric care provider, the company hires the best providers and trains them in geriatrics to deliver value-based, patient-centered care outcomes.
“With the launch of Herself Health, we are breaking the mold of one-size-fits-most healthcare, which traditionally falls short of providing the best care for women of this generation,” said Herself Health CEO Kristen Helton. “Our innovative and patient-obsessed care experience empowers women to keep growing bolder in mind, body, and spirit at any age.”
Helton previously co-founded the integrated biosensor company Profusa and founded and led Amazon’s first foray into healthcare service, Amazon Care. Amazon Care is a virtual-first and on-demand service built first for Amazon employees and then expanded to serve other employers and their workforces. Under Helton’s leadership, Care grew from an idea to virtual care in 50 states and in-home care in 15 cities with over 100k patients. With a customer satisfaction score of 4.7 out of 5, Care boasts one of the highest ratings for healthcare services.
Herself Health is built by women for women, bringing keen insight and empathy to traditional primary care. Today, women are misdiagnosed at higher rates than men, take longer to diagnose, and often express frustration at not feeling heard. These issues are compounded with healthcare’s universal shortcomings, including not giving patients enough time with doctors and expecting them to navigate their own care across specialists.
“Kristen and Herself Health have created a model for healthcare that will give a wider population elevated and meaningful experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have access to,” shared Mindy Grossman, Herself Health’s latest board addition, who previously served as the CEO of WW. “I’m thrilled to partner with a founder and company who share the mission of democratizing wellness for all.”
Herself Health is taking an omnichannel approach, starting with the launch of its first clinic, opening today in Minneapolis. Soon, the brand plans to expand to include home-based and virtual care touchpoints. At its inaugural clinic, patients can be treated for geriatric health, women’s health, and weight management. Patients will work towards personalized goals alongside a patient care team who will provide care based on clinical evidence that identifies how conditions present in women specifically.
“At Juxtapose, we partner with leaders who have a proven track record and a clear vision for the opportunity ahead,” shared Jed Cairo, Founding Partner at Juxtapose, a leading creation-oriented investment firm. “From her work in research and startups to Amazon, Kristen has a strong track record of transforming insights around customer and patient-led needs into comprehensive and delightful healthcare experiences. We’re thrilled to partner with her as she works to redesign value-based care for the growing population of aging women.”
Founded by Patrick Chun and Jed Cairo in 2015, Juxtapose is a creation-oriented investment firm exclusively focused on building industry-transforming businesses from the ground up. The fund has supported the creation and financing of technology companies such as Care/of, Tend, Orchard, Great Jones, DayForward, and Modern Age.
