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Telemedicine’s popularity amid the early stages of the pandemic rose exponentially, bringing to light the existing digital divide in America’s healthcare system. Thanks to telehealth startups like HealNow — which is considered the New York-based DoorDash for pharmacies — we’re beginning to see more and more digitized solutions for pharmacies to conveniently connect with patients in their areas. The pandemic amplified patients’ concerns with retrieving their medication in-person, and so HealNow stepped in to fill a void that is directly connecting pharmacies with the patients they serve. “What we really wanted to do was bridge the gap between pharmacies and their patients by giving them technology so that patients could pay co-payments online, schedule deliveries/pickup, and answer any questions pharmacists usually ask in person or over the phone,” HealNow co-founder Halston Prox said to AfroTech. Prior to launching HealNow alongside co-founder Joshua Smith, Prox had nearly a decade...
Black-owned health tech company HealNow is rising up in the startup world and announced that it has recently closed a $1.3 million round of funding to further its mission in the healthcare space. According to TechCrunch, HealNow raised $1.3 million in seed funding from SoftBank Opportunity Fund and Alabama Futures Fund to continue helping pharmacies improve their patient onboarding process and revolutionize their experiences with tech. The funding will primarily go toward building out the sales and marketing arms of the startup to continue fueling its growth. TechCrunch reports that HealNow — which was founded by Halston Prox and Joshua Smith — was created to “become the central nervous system for order and delivery of prescriptions,” per Prox’s words. The outlet shares the average payments processing system isn’t always applicable to pharmacies, big or small, because of the complexities that health insurance and the regulatory landscape hold — which is where HealNow comes into...
On a mission to advocate for healthier smiles, SmileDirectClub — the first MedTech platform for teeth straightening — will be partnering with cosmetic dentist Dr. Amira Ogunleye. According to a press release, Dr. Amira Ogunleye, who has worked with patients like LeBron James, Michelle Williams, and Dwyane Wade, will advocate for increased access to cost-friendly, effective, and safe dental care. The oral thought leader will also educate patients and colleagues to highlight the innovative telehealth platform. “I’m thrilled to partner with SmileDirectClub as we share a deeply rooted value and purpose-driven passion for increasing access to quality dental care, in addition to a desire to create more diversity in the dental industry,” said Dr. Amira Ogunleye in a press statement. “As a graduate of Howard University, leading dental professional and mentor, I know how much representation in the industry matters, as well as how important it is for ensuring equitable access to care. I look...
As a teenager, Dr. Rachel Angel hit the ground running, working full-time in addition to her role as a student. Navigating the difficulties of balancing both roles, she acknowledges built character, but she knew it would be critical to position herself in a high-paying job role she could succeed in. After a pivotal conversation with her classmate, she was then compelled to become a pharmacist. Upon graduating high school, Angel’s path would lead her to become a student at the University of Hampton, where she would eventually earn a d octor of pharmacy degree. She once again wore various hats during her tenure at the University, which included working two jobs at an assisted living facility and a pharmacy to begin developing her career path. Eventually, her efforts would lead her to serve as an intern, landing a job as a pharmacist. Despite finally securing a job role predestined by years of hard work, Dr. Angel felt crippling survivor’s guilt entering a space in which few Black...
Small African farmers are facing a multitude of problems that affect the progress of agricultural production on the continent. But software-for-agriculture startup Khula has an innovative solution that’s helping this niche industry thrive again. TechCrunch reports that the South African-based company just announced the raise of a $1.3 million seed round to help further scale its farming software and expand nationwide. The round, which closed last year, was led by AECI — one of Africa’s biggest agrochemical companies — and included participation from South African impact investor E Squared Investments. With financial-backing from its lead investor, Khula now has access to AECI’s wide distribution network which is poised to help the platform scale its inputs app. AECI’s support will go a long way as a long-term partner that’s genuinely interested in the execution of the platform’s services. “Khula has very attractive fundamentals, a sizable addressable market, app development...
This time last year, Black Women Photographers (BWP) was busy launching a global community and database to help Black women get paid for their work. One year later, the platform is celebrating its anniversary with a new fund that’s continuing that mission. Over the last year, founder Polly Irungu has been a vocal advocate encouraging companies to invest in and hire Black women photographers for various projects through her ever-growing digital database. The movement she started disrupted industries in a way that finally made the world wake up to this overlooked group of creatives, but now its revolutionary nature is taking it a step further with a $40,000 grant fund — in partnership with NikonUSA — and an additional $10,000 worth of photography gear. According to Irungu, there will also be an additional $1,250 grant opportunity from Flickr who is also partnering with BWP. “One year ago today, we launched this global community and directory. ? ,” the platform announced on its...
Morning anxiety is real when stresses like a massive to-do list, an inbox full of emails, and a slew of scheduled conference calls are the first thing on your mind. While it’s logical to think the sooner you get started on your day, the more stuff you’ll get done, research shows that millions of people feel their productivity plummets when under stress and full of anxiety. Taking some time to develop a morning routine that combats stress can be a game-changer that increases your productivity throughout the day. Prep the Night Before Having an effective morning routine starts with the night before. Depending on your schedule the next day, you might need to go to bed a bit earlier. If you’re due in the office, you want to decide what you’ll wear the night before, pack your lunch, and do anything else you can to prep the night before. This can make your mornings run smooth and reduce the urge to panic and stress. Review Your To-Do List Reviewing your to-do list in the morning instead...