For many LGBTQIA+ people, healthcare has never felt like a safe or supportive space. Whether it’s the fear of being misgendered, a lack of informed clinicians, or past negative experiences, too many LGBTQIA+ people still avoid healthcare and medical treatment altogether. That avoidance isn’t a personal failing – it’s the result of a healthcare system that hasn’t evolved fast enough.
This Pride Month, we’re spotlighting five HealthTech startups helping to change that, by building tech that prioritises inclusivity from the ground up, with services designed by and for LGBTQIA+ people. The goal isn’t just access – it’s care that feels respectful, informed, and genuinely affirming.
Why Inclusive HealthTech Still Matters In 2025
In 2025, you’d hope the basics of equitable healthcare would be a given – but the data still tells a different story, as millions of LGBTQIA+ individuals across the U.S. report avoiding appointments because they expect judgement or misunderstanding. Transgender people, in particular, face steep challenges: from finding hormone therapy providers to navigating insurance systems that weren’t built with them in mind.
That’s where HealthTech comes in – not as a cure-all solution to the problem, but as a way to remove friction and create a more inclusive environment. Through thoughtful platforms, better matching tools, and clinical partnerships, these HealthTech’s are offering care that reflects real-world experiences and needs.
The Startups Driving Change
1) Folx Health
- Website: folxhealth.com
- Founder: A.G Breitenstein
- Founded In: 2019
- No. of Employees: ~70
FOLX Health offers digital healthcare services designed for the LGBTQIA+ community and has quickly become a go-to for queer healthcare. The HealthTech’s completely online model was originally known for bringing gender-affirming hormone therapy directly to people’s homes, they’ve since broadened their services – now offering everything from STI testing and PrEP to holistic wellness programs; centering the entire process to where patients are most comfortable.
As a startup, FOLX has expanded rapidly since its founding in 2020, not only by expanding their offering, but also launching an enterprise solution for employers. For employers, their enterprise offering also continues to gain traction – helping teams offer meaningful healthcare benefits that actually align with the needs of their LGBTQIA+ employees.
“As a non-binary lesbian and healthcare industry veteran, I have seen and experienced firsthand just how broken the current system is for the queer and trans community […] It’s about time we build a platform ourselves, so Queer and Trans people feel seen, heard, and celebrated.”
A.G. Breitenstein, Founder and CEO
2) Violet
- Website: joinviolet.com
- Founders: Gaurang Choksi
- Founded In: 2020
- No. of Employees: ~60
Violet is tackling one of the most persistent problems in LGBTQIA+ healthcare: clinician readiness. Instead of just building another directory, they’re training providers from the inside out – measuring real-time cultural competency and providing ongoing upskilling to improve care outcomes.
Patients can use Violet’s system to find providers who are not only qualified but truly get them. That connection – where you feel understood without needing to over-explain – is what builds trust and keeps people coming back. Their tools are now used by major health systems looking to build more inclusive teams from the ground up.
“Violet has created provider data that powers identity-centered care, allowing every patient to find the right provider for them. […] We won’t stop until every single patient in this country can access the care they deserve.”
Gaurang Choksi, Founder & CEO
3) Plume
- Website: getplume.co
- Founders: Matthew Wetschler and Jerrica Kirkley
- Founded In: 2019
- No. of Employees: ~120
Plume started with a clear mission: make gender-affirming hormone therapy easier to access. But over the past year, they’ve expanded into something broader – a full-service care model created for and by trans people.
Today, Plume users can access not just HRT, but also primary care, mental health support, and curated health education. Every aspect of the platform – from intake forms to virtual appointments – has been built with the realities of trans and non-binary life in mind.
“The trans community has long been denied the healthcare it deserves and Plume is changing that. Our Telehealth model allows us to scale quickly in new markets and provide expert care at an affordable price for our members,”
Dr. Matthew Wetschler, Co-Founder and CEO
4) Voda
Voda is a mental wellbeing app crafted specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community, combining clinical expertise with AI-driven personalization. It offers tools like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), guided meditations, and a broad range of resources that cater to the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people.
The app emphasizes inclusivity at every touchpoint, creating a supportive environment for users to learn about identity, build resilience, and find vetted professionals when needed. Voda’s rapid growth and recent awards demonstrate its meaningful impact on the landscape of LGBTQIA+ mental health support.
“I saw that there was a clear gap in accessible mental health resources for my community. While excellent apps like Headspace and Calm already exist, they often do not address the unique challenges faced by people like me, such as dealing with stigma, coming out, and shame. ”
Jaron Soh, Co-Founder and CEO
5) OutCare
- Website: outcarehealth.org
- Founders: Dustin Z. Nowaskie & Jordan Nowaskie
- Founded In: 2015
- No. of Employees: ~20
OutCare began as a simple idea: create a public directory of LGBTQIA+-affirming providers. But it’s grown into a major national network, connecting patients with doctors, therapists, and clinics that understand their lives.
One unique aspect of OutCare is how it blends community and clinical insight. Many of its contributors are volunteers – including healthcare workers, students, and advocates – helping to verify provider profiles and keep information up to date. In 2025, OutCare began rolling out partnerships with several universities and telehealth platforms, helping train the next wave of inclusive clinicians.
“Recognizing the need for OutCare was an early revelation for me, stemming from personal encounters with the healthcare system during my adolescence, where I grappled with feelings of discomfort and lack of support […] It was the firsthand experience within these flawed systems that intensified my resolve to champion an enhanced and equitable national healthcare service for LGBTQ+ communities!”
Dustin Z. Nowaskie, Founder and Chief Medical Officer
6) Haven Health
- Website: havenhealth.care
- Founders: Mike Piscadlo & Matty Brownell
- Founded In: 2024
- No. of Employees: ~20
Haven Health provides modern, affirming primary care both in-person and via telehealth. Haven Health is reimagining a primary care experience for LGBTQIA+ people – combining inclusive providers with transparent pricing, and expanding access to preventative and ongoing care without requiring a subscription or insurance barrier
“We believe that effective care starts with human relationships first, supported by technology second […] 60% of LGBTQ+ patients said they prefer in-person care to hybrid and virtual-only alternatives. Our patients demand an intimate environment to build trusted relationships.”
Matty Brownell, Co-Founder and CXO
7) equalityMD
- Website: equalitymd.com
- Founders: Justin Ayars
- Founded In: 2021
- No. of Employees: ~10
equalityMD is an AI-powered, virtual-first healthcare platform matching LGBTQIA+ patients with culturally competent providers. EqualityMD’s technology and data analytics improve access for underserved groups, with special emphasis on intersectionality, historic data gaps, and offering both individual and B2B solutions for inclusive care.
“You have a whole community of people, very diverse community that touches on every other demographic out there that is not getting the care they need. Or more often the case, if they do go to a health care provider, they’re not being their authentic self. And if they’re not being your authentic self with your provider […] How can they treat you properly? And that’s always been the concern that goes for everybody.”
Justin Ayers, Founder and CEO
8) Included Health
- Website: includedhealth.com
- Founders: Owen Tripp & Colin Quinn
- Founded In: 2011
- No. of Employees: ~1600
Included Health is a digital care navigation platform with highly specialized services for LGBTQIA+ patients and their families. The company connects users to clinically and culturally competent providers, offers advocacy, insurance navigation, appointment booking, and support across a broad range of healthcare needs.
Included Health’s solutions are widely adopted by employers and labor unions to reduce insurance costs without cutting corners and help ensure equitable, inclusive healthcare options for all members of their workforces
“People are actively seeking out doctors and providers who are not only clinically competent, but also culturally competent in the way they interact and provide care. Included Health members are overwhelmingly seeking out providers who look and identify like them, meaning they are selecting providers based on characteristics like sexual orientation, gender, race and ethnicity. That kind of identification and understanding matters more than employers might realise.”
Colin Quinn, Co-Founder and CEO
8) GenderGP
- Website: gendergp.com
- Founder: Dr Helen Webberley
- Founded In: 2016
- No. of Employees: ~20
GenderGP has been supporting trans and non-binary people long before inclusive healthcare became a talking point in mainstream medicine. Run as a fully remote, global clinic, the service offers access to hormone therapy, medical advice, counselling, and transition-related support—covering not just adults, but younger patients and their families too.
The team works with patients in over 40 countries, providing continuity and clarity in a space that’s often anything but. GenderGP has stayed focused on delivering safe, evidence-based treatment to the people who need it – backed by a model that prioritises autonomy and informed decision-making.
“The aim is to empower that person’s own doctor to provide the care […] If their own doctor doesn’t want to, or can’t, we can refer to one of the prescribers that we know understand trans care.”
Dr Helen Webberley, Founder
9) Brightline
- Website: hellobrightline.com
- Founders: Naomi Allen & Giovanni Colella
- Founded In: 2020
- No. of Employees: ~200
Brightline focuses on mental and behavioral health for children, teens, and their families – meeting them online with tools and support designed for real life. In 2023, they introduced a dedicated program for LGBTQIA+ youth, helping young people navigate challenges like gender identity, coming out, and social stigma with the help of affirming therapists and coaches.
Brightline’s strength lies in how personal it all feels. Their clinicians take the time to build trust with young people, especially those who may not have found that elsewhere. For LGBTQIA+ youth facing a world that doesn’t always get them, having that kind of support can change everything.
“This is a scientific reality: the current rollback of support for gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary youth has a meaningful risk of increasing youth depression and suicide.”
Naomi Allen, Co-Founder and CEO
10) Cleo
- Website: hicleo.com
- Founders: Chitra Akileswaran & Madhavi Vemireddy
- Founded In: 2016
- No. of Employees: ~260
Cleo is a global, end-to-end family care platform dedicated to supporting individuals, caregivers, and families through every phase of life. Known for its holistic and proactive approach: the platform uses advanced analytics and its proprietary Family Health Index to identify and support at-risk members before issues escalate.
Serving more than 200 enterprise clients, Cleo provides culturally competent assistance worldwide, with tailored resources for the LGBTQIA+ community – including support through the unique challenges of LGBTQIA+ family-building, parenting, and caregiver journeys
“Historically, healthcare has had a very broken relationship with BIPOC and other minoritized groups, who the medical community has a legacy of not only dismissing, but actively harming. Cleo strives to close this gap of care and repair the broken trust of healthcare in these communities by making resources more available and our experience as inclusive as possible.”
Chitra Akileswaran, Co-Founder
Building Healthcare That Feels Human
The startups featured here aren’t just changing how LGBTQIA+ healthcare works – they’re changing how it feels. That matters just as much.
Because real equity isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about designing systems where everyone feels welcome, heard, and supported. And as these founders and clinicians continue to listen and adapt, they’re proving that thoughtful tech, built in collaboration with the communities it serves, really can close the gap.
Partnering with Purpose
At Storm3, we work with HealthTech innovators who aren’t afraid to do things differently. If your company is developing inclusive care models, improving access, or just looking to build a team that reflects the world you’re trying to serve – we can help.
Our consultants know this space, and we know how to find the people who’ll take your mission further. From product and engineering to commercial and ops, we connect growing startups with the kind of talent that moves healthcare forward.
Let’s build something better.
Talk to our team about scaling your HealthTech business or hiring with inclusion in mind.
