Start-up closes oversubscribed round to reduce maternal health disparities

The Brooklyn-based start-up Mae Health has closed an oversubscribed seed round to improve black maternal health outcomes.

Mae is a “culturally responsive” digital platform that aims to address the clinical, social and cultural needs of underserved expectant mothers, with an early focus on black expectant mothers.

The company seeks to reduce disparities in maternal health by combining a risk-tracking platform with community-based doula support to provide women with support that they otherwise would not have access to.

The funding round, led by Jumpstart Nova, is hoped to help Mae expand and drive “meaningful change” for black mothers, their communities and the birth workers supporting them.

“Doula support, birth education and earlier and more continuous risk identification have the power to drive more equity in birth outcomes and to improve the health of individuals, families and entire communities,” Maya Hardigan, founder and CEO of Mae, told Femtech World.

“Our singular goal is to broaden access for those with the greatest need. Closing this funding round affords Mae the opportunity to continue to invest in ensuring black mothers have access to the critical birth services shown to meaningfully improve our outcomes.”

Black Americans face a maternal mortality rate more than two and half times higher than other demographic groups.

The US has also seen an alarming increase in maternity care deserts, with an estimated 16 per cent of black babies born in areas with limited or no access to maternity care services.

Mae has prioritised Medicaid partnerships, as Medicaid covers nearly half of all births and upwards of 65 per cent of black births nationally.

The company says it is partnering with states and Managed Care Organizations to deploy maternal health initiatives and new regulatory changes, including providing support and coverage through 12 months postpartum and promoting fully covered doula benefits to individuals covered under Medicaid.

Kathryne Cooper, partner at Jumpstart Nova, said: “Saving black mothers is worth funding and investing in Mae will generate significant returns.

“Despite over US$50bn invested in the US pregnancy care market, total morbidity costs for all US births are estimated to be US$32bn and many of these costs are avoidable. We are failing our mothers.

“Mae has created a culturally competent care model fit for diverse patient populations, a growing population that represents nearly half of the births in the US.”

Angelene Love, a community-based doula in Michigan with whom Mae is partnered, said: “The support that Mae offers both families and doulas is unmatched.

“Mae provides educational support that they otherwise would not have access to, and I’ve been able to amplify my reach to provide more families with doula support.”