Two Kenyans Unite to Bridge Medicine's Most Dangerous Gap With Amee Devani || EP.204

Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw

When Amee Devani watched her mother battle colorectal cancer in Kenya, she witnessed firsthand the stark reality of healthcare inequity. That experience would reshape her entire career trajectory—from investment banking at UBS to founding a digital health startup that's revolutionizing how hospitals manage post-acute care.

"I faint when they take my blood," Amee admits with characteristic candor. Yet today, as CEO and Co-founder of WellBeam, she's tackling one of healthcare's most persistent problems: the black box of care that swallows patients after hospital discharge.

This conversation with host Laurie McGraw reveals how a chance meeting on a Stanford cycling training ride led to a partnership that's now bridging the dangerous gap between acute and post-acute care. Amee and her co-founder Pascal—both Kenyans who met thousands of miles from home—shared more than a homeland. They shared mothers fighting cancer and a determination to fix a broken system.

What started as rejected startup ideas in Stanford surgeons' offices evolved into WellBeam after one crucial conversation with pancreatic surgeon Dr. Brendan Visser. His frustration was clear: exceptional inpatient care followed by total blindness once patients left the hospital. Fax machines. Phone tag. Patients bouncing back to the ER before anyone knew there was a problem.

Now, WellBeam serves as the critical infrastructure connecting hospital EMRs with home health, hospice, and skilled nursing facilities. The result? A 20-30% reduction in readmissions and millions in recovered revenue for physicians doing work they couldn't previously bill.

In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, Amee also discusses:

• The unexpected value of "having too much fun" at Cambridge and how it shaped her leadership approach
• Why she left the prestige of investment banking and consulting to work out of a shoebox office in London
• How catching the "startup bug" at Pavegen prepared her for the healthcare innovation journey
• The importance of building a village of mentors, especially as a female founder in healthcare
• Why healthcare's biggest problems aren't glamorous—and why that's exactly where innovation is needed
• Navigating slow healthcare sales cycles while maintaining startup momentum
• Leading as a new mother and CEO: ruthless prioritization and trusting your team

Chapter Markers

00:54 - Introduction & Background

04:17 - The Stanford Connection & Finding a Co-founder

07:13 - WellBeam's Origin & Solution

11:28 - Business Model & Market Approach

14:06 - Leadership as a Female CEO & New Mother

21:39 - Advice for Aspiring Female Founders

Guest & Host Links

• Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn
• Connect with Amee Devani on LinkedIn

Connect with Inspiring Women

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