How Black tech entrepreneurs are tackling health care’s race gap

(from left) Kevin Dedner founded Hurdle, a mental health startup that pairs patients with therapists. Ashlee Wisdom’s company, Health in Her Hue, connects women of color with culturally sensitive medical providers. Nathan Pelzer’s Clinify Health analyzes data to help doctors identify at-risk patients in underserved areas. Erica Plybeah’s firm, MedHaul, arranges transport to medical appointments.

Kevin Dedner; Kolin Mendez Photography; Aaron Gang Photography; Starboard & Port Creative

When Ashlee Wisdom launched an early version of her health and wellness website, more than 34,000 users — most of them Black — visited the platform in the first two weeks.

“It wasn’t the most fully functioning platform,” recalls Wisdom, 31. “It was not sexy.”

But the launch was successful. Now, more than a year later, Wisdom’s company, Health in Her Hue, connects Black women and other women of color to culturally sensitive doctors, doulas, nurses and therapists nationally.