Khaylah Epps, CEO of Oma Health, passionately addresses the healthcare disparities faced by Black women in the South and advocates for nurse practitioners' vital roles in bridging these gaps. She details her innovative strategies to simplify healthcare access and tackle high costs. Investor Cyan Banister provides insightful feedback on the challenges of securing funding and the intricacies of pitching to investors. Their conversation highlights both the conviction required in making systemic change and the realities of navigating the complex healthcare landscape.
Khaylah Epps emphasizes the need for culturally competent healthcare solutions for Black women, driven by her personal experiences with healthcare disparities.
Oma Health's innovative model empowers nurse practitioners by streamlining administrative processes, allowing them to focus on patient care and improve health outcomes.
Deep dives
Addressing Healthcare Inequities
The founder shares her personal experiences with healthcare disparities that impact Black women, illustrating the alarming statistics associated with maternal and overall health risks. Kayla Epps highlights her grandmother’s story and her own fears as a Black woman, emphasizing that systemic failures contribute to preventable health issues in Black communities. This background serves as the foundation for her startup, Oma Health, which aims to provide culturally competent healthcare solutions specifically for Black women. By focusing on personal narratives, she underscores the importance of addressing these inequities while motivating the need for urgent change in the healthcare system.
Empowering Nurse Practitioners
Oma Health's model is designed to empower nurse practitioners by enabling them to open their own practices while focusing on delivering care rather than managing administrative tasks. The startup utilizes an AI-enabled business model that assists nurse practitioners with credentialing, billing, and scheduling, allowing them the freedom to concentrate on patient relationships. With the nursing profession expected to grow significantly, this innovative model positions nurse practitioners as crucial players in delivering affordable healthcare. The emphasis on support and efficient backend processes is intended to enhance nurse practitioners’ overall effectiveness and improve health outcomes.
Market Potential and Competitive Landscape
The women's health market is projected to be worth $108 billion by 2030, revealing vast opportunities for growth and innovation within this sector. Kayla Epps points out that many larger healthcare startups often overlook the southern regions of the U.S., where a substantial population of Black individuals live. By carving out a niche that focuses on culturally competent care, Oma Health aims to uniquely position itself against competitors who may not fully understand or cater to the specific needs of this community. This strategic positioning highlights the potential for substantial market penetration and emphasizes the importance of culturally aligned care in promoting health equity.
Funding and Future Vision
Oma Health is currently seeking to raise $1 million in pre-seed funding to finalize its product and bring it to market. Kayla outlines the firm’s development stage and emphasizes the need for funds to streamline the credentialing process for nurse practitioners, thus shortening what typically takes months into a much quicker timeframe. The company’s aspirations are grounded in a personal mission, encapsulating a broader vision to improve access to quality healthcare for Black women and beyond. The pitch closes with the founder expressing her dedication to building a healthcare system that is not only equitable but also sustainable, aiming to significantly impact communities in need.
*Disclaimer: No offer to invest in Oma Health is being made to or solicited from the listening audience on today’s show. The information provided on this show is not intended to be investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. The investors on today’s episode are providing their opinions based on their own assessment of the business presented. Those opinions should not be considered professional investment advice.