Serena Williams has recently invested three million dollars along with Mark Cuban, American investor and businessman, in a start-up for maternal health, through her firm Serena Ventures. Under the name Mahmee, the company is building a digital infrastructure to connect the health industry and prevent critical circumstances in postpartum care.
Thanks for the shoutout! https://t.co/GjAD0VBrJ4
— Mahmee (@getmahmee) July 15, 2019
The Tennis player gave birth to her daughter, last year. After childbirth, she shared the life-threatening complications she experienced and how, as a black woman, she was three times more likely to die from pregnancy or parturition related causes.
Serena Williams almost died after giving birth to her daughter. She writes for @CNNopinion about the mothers who don't get the treatment they need for pregnancy complications – and how we can help them https://t.co/uuBEBlFGSr
— CNN (@CNN) February 21, 2018
Williams said in a statement, ‘I am incredibly excited to invest and partner with Mahmee, a company that personifies my firm’s investment philosophy.’
The Los Angeles based company, founded in 2014, monitors moms and baby’s health so that any red flags can be assessed before they become life-threatening. Mahmee CEO Melissa Hann, comments on her initiative, ‘Technology’s not going to save the world, it’s not going to save the maternal health care industry’. She co-founded the company with her mother, Linda Hanna-Sperber, a nurse and lactation consultant, and a third co-founder, Sunny Walia.
Hanna showed her gratitude to Williams for getting onboard with the company. With the new funds, Mahmee plans to hire more engineers, clinicians, and sales staff to support its expansion. The start-up is focusing on cities with especially high maternal mortality and morbidity rates.
