Melanated Healthcare LLC
Year founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Founder: Lecresha Sewell, CEO
Amount of capital raised: N/A
Notable investors: N/A
Explain what your company does: Melanated Healthcare is a digital health platform that connects black and persons of color to melanated healthcare professionals. Melanated Healthcare decreases health disparities by increasing access to culturally congruent, exceptional care. Melanated Healthcare is addressing health disparities by offering telehealth services to all persons of color including Blacks/African American, Hispanics, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, and Asians.
What are some major milestones in the company’s history?
Our company was formed on Sept. 4, 2020, and the minimum viable product launched on May 24, 2021. Melanated Healthcare became a registered trademark on July 27, 2021. Our company completed XLerate Health in the fall of 2021. We were in the fall 2021 Louisville cohort for the REUNION. Our company was selected to partner with University of Louisville for the PRePARE Program, an EDA grant program in the fall of 2021. To date, we have over 800 downloads and more than 100 healthcare professionals on the platform.
What is your company working on right now?
Our company is working on raising capital to enhance the platform to facilitate telehealth services and expanding our team. Additional staff needed for Melanated Healthcare are chief technology officer, information technology support specialists, sales and marketing.
What’s on the horizon for your company in 2022?
Full commercial launch with telehealth, expanded provider network, and potential partnerships.
Why grow your company from Kentucky?
According to the Louisville Metro Health Equity Report 2017, the population is increasing and becoming more diverse. Patients who do not receive care from healthcare providers that share the same racial or cultural background have worse health outcomes and patient experiences. Racial health disparities are associated with substantial annual economic losses nationally, including an estimated $93 billion in excess medical care costs.
Kentucky has a large rural population and people who reside in those areas often have worse health outcomes due to limited access to quality healthcare. Access and a multitude of other factors contribute to Kentucky’s current ranking as one of the least healthy states in the nation. To eliminate health disparities and meet the needs of our evolving population, Melanated Healthcare is necessary. Melanated Healthcare is the solution for health equity for all and revitalization of Kentucky’s health.
