Charlotte Healthcare Startup Gets $329,000 To Roll Out AI Maternal Health Platform

A new AI-based system aimed at improving birth outcomes for women of color just got a major boost. UnitedHealth Care awarded $329,000 to EchoHer, which plans its Charlotte debut this fall.

The system tracks health data from mothers' real-world stories, turning their input into useful facts for medical staff. Users can post their experiences through a mobile app, while hospitals check results on a special screen.

"Instead of measuring outcomes solely by survival rates, we collect narrative data from Women of Color — capturing how they feel during their healthcare journeys — and translate these stories into actionable insights for hospitals, clinics, and policymakers," said Neshé Conley, founder and CEO of Ebony Women Health Corp, according to Charlotte City News.

Conley's own tough times with medical care pushed her to start the company. "My own maternal journey was filled with pain, loss, and moments when my voice wasn't heard," Conley said. "What hurt the most wasn't just the health complications — it was feeling dismissed, silenced, and unsupported in some of the most vulnerable moments of my life."

The project grew stronger through gALPHA Charlotte, a month-long program that teaches new business owners. This training helped Conley build her company's plans.

Local health officials stepped in to help. The county's health department linked EchoHer with its Mothers and Babies program, plus Triple P Level 4. Both aim to make moms and kids healthier.

"The city wants to ensure that founders like Neshé aren't just welcomed but supported in turning their vision into real-world impact," said Shahid Rana, director of the Charlotte Economic Development Department.

After having her fourth child, Conley picked Charlotte as her new home in mid-2023. She mixed her know-how as both a mom and health expert to build EchoHer.

While starting in Charlotte hospitals this fall, the company wants to reach more cities soon. Tests will begin at local medical centers before spreading to other places.