Startups Cayaba Care and On the Goga will receive $250,000 apiece from a partnership between Penn Medicine and the Wharton Fund for Health.
Credit: Zenna HaroonThe Penn Medicine-Wharton Fund for Health will invest $250,000 apiece into Cayaba Care, a maternal support startup, and On the Goga, a workplace well-being company.
The Fund for Health supports for-profit startups addressing social determinants of health for underserved Philadelphians. Cayaba Care and On the Goga will use the funding granted to advance their efforts in improving community health outcomes.
Founded in 2020 by Adaeze Enekwechi, Cayaba Care aims to close race-related maternal health disparities by integrating community health workers and doulas into standard maternity care.
“The Fund for Health’s support enables us to expand holistic, community-centered maternity care in Philadelphia, ensuring more mothers receive the comprehensive support they deserve,” Enekwechi said in the press release.
On the Goga offers team workshops and a customizable well-being hub focusing on mental health, financial well-being, and team-building resources.
“This investment empowers us to address social determinants like stress and mental health, helping to create healthier, more connected workplaces across Philadelphia,” founder and CEO Anna Greenwald added.
Ajeenah Amir, Penn Med’s Director of Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships, highlighted the alignment between the companies’ missions and the goals of the Fund for Health.
“These efforts align closely with Penn Medicine’s mission, making both companies ideal fits for the Fund [for Health],” Amir said.
Launched in 2021, the Fund is a partnership between Penn Medicine and the Wharton ESG Initiative. Penn students collaborate with Wharton ESG staff to identify companies that meet investment criteria. Along with Cayaba Care and On the Goga, the Fund has now supported nine companies, including Twentyeight Health, a telemedicine service improving women’s health care access, and Fabric Health, a company simplifying benefits acquisition for families.
Amir, who was recently named the Fund for Health’s co-director alongside Rajith Sebastian, the ESG Initiative’s Head of Impact Investments, emphasized their commitment to maximizing local impact.
“Moving forward, we will continue to seek founders for investments that strengthen social determinants of health,” she said.
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