This is really a story of putting your money where your mouth is. Serena Williams spoke out about her complicated delivery when her daughter was born in 2017. The U.S. actually has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed countries – and women of color are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes according to the CDC.
Williams is hoping to help these issues to change. Through Serena Ventures, and a group of fellow investors, she has announced a $3 million investment in Mahmee. This is a black-owned startup that is focused on improving perinatal and postpartum care for moms and babies. It was co-founded by CEO and entrepreneur Melissa Hanna and CTO Sunny Walia.
In a press release Williams wrote: “Given the bleak data surrounding maternal death and injury rates, I believe that it is absolutely critical right now to invest in solutions that help protect the lives of moms and babies. Mahmee’s data-driven approach is the right solution to one of the most significant problems in the system: that of fragmented care.”