Businesses are about iteration, building fast and listening more: Carina Kohli

Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series – START-UP STARS. We, at Adgully, wholeheartedly support the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the country launched in the last few years.

In this interaction with Adgully, Carina Kohli, Founder and CEO, Humm Care, speaks about how “Humm Care” represents harmony and connection, embodying the platform’s mission to simplify healthcare access and empower patients. She discusses the vision of transforming health-tech through innovation, overcoming challenges in scalability, and leveraging funding opportunities to expand. Kohli also highlights the impact of government initiatives in fostering growth and offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the health-tech space. With insights into global trends shaping healthcare, she outlines Humm Care’s plans for future expansion and continued commitment to delivering patient-centric solutions.

What does “Humm Care” represent, and why did you choose this name for your health-tech platform? 

“Humm” symbolizes “Us” (in Hindi), a collective, inclusive term that reflects our core mission of creating a supportive community around health and well-being. When we started this journey, we wanted a name that encapsulates togetherness and care, resonating with the families, individuals, and organizations we serve. Humm Care is about building connections and addressing healthcare needs in a way that feels personal, approachable, and meaningful. 

Could you elaborate on Humm Care’s vision of providing proactive healthcare solutions and how it aims to address the stigma around family-building, mental health, and women’s health in workplaces? 

Our vision is to bring proactive healthcare solutions into the workplace, fostering environments where individuals feel supported across all stages of life. We focus on areas that are often stigmatized – family-building, mental health, and women’s health – by providing accessible resources like counseling, educational webinars, and personalised proactive health and wellness programs. Our approach combines empathy with actionable solutions, creating a space where employees can thrive without fear of judgment. 

What were some of the biggest challenges that Humm Care faced in promoting family-building and inclusive healthcare in organizations? How did you overcome them? 

One of our biggest challenges was breaking through the silence and stigma surrounding sensitive topics like infertility, postpartum care, mental health, men’s health and women’s health, and workplace inclusivity.

It is a long journey and we’re yet a work in progress – so the challenge is yet to overcome. However, that being said, we have partnered with brilliant doctors and experts to build education and open dialogue to help organizations and individuals feel comfortable discussing these issues and seeking help. We have seen significant growth in adoption and engagement of our health programs post the pandemic. Through building a supportive community and leveraging data to build personalised health solutions, programs that balance emotional and practical support – we are building for people and organisations in India, ensuring that care truly goes beyond the workplace. 

How has Humm Care navigated access to funding and investment opportunities in India’s health-tech sector, and what role has this played in your growth journey? 

Navigating the funding landscape in India required us to clearly articulate our mission and show measurable impact. We focused on building trust with impact-driven investors by demonstrating the tangible benefits of our programs for employees and organizations. The funding we’ve secured has been instrumental in scaling our operations, enhancing our digital capabilities, and expanding our reach across sectors.

Have any government initiatives or policies supported Humm Care or the health-tech sector overall, particularly in promoting workplace inclusivity and employee well-being? 

While direct government collaboration is an area we are still exploring, initiatives like POSHAN Abhiyaan and maternity leave policies have supported our mission indirectly by emphasizing maternal health and workplace inclusion. These frameworks have laid the foundation for organizations to recognize the importance of employee well-being, making it easier for platforms like Humm Care to step in with specialized support.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs in the health-tech sector, particularly those focused on employee wellness and organizational support services? 

My advice is simple: stay close to your users. Listen to their feedback, and pivot pivot pivot! Don’t confuse the F word (failure) with the P word (pivot). Businesses are about iteration, building fast and listening more.

Healthcare is deeply personal, so empathy and adaptability are your greatest tools.

Also, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Building something meaningful requires energy and resilience, so prioritize your well-being as you grow your venture. 

How do you project the growth of the health-tech and employee wellness market in India compared to global trends, and what key drivers are influencing this growth? 

India’s health-tech and employee wellness markets are on a remarkable growth trajectory. Compared to global trends, the Indian market has unique challenges, including a diverse workforce and varying levels of healthcare awareness. However, drivers like increasing mental health awareness, hybrid work models, and a younger workforce that values work-life balance are accelerating this growth. I believe we’re at the cusp of a major transformation in how organizations view employee well-being. 

Could you share more about Humm Care’s plans to expand its services across organizations? What strategic goals are in place to enhance your reach and impact? 

Our focus is on deepening our impact through partnerships with organizations across sectors and building our basket of services further. We’re looking at leveraging technology to make our services more accessible while also offering customized programs that cater to industry-specific needs.

Expansion into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities is a priority too, as we aim towards bridging healthcare gaps in underserved regions. Our strategic goals include building more AI-driven tools and expanding our team of specialists and experts to ensure a personalized experience for all users. 

How does Humm Care plan to continue innovating its offerings, particularly in supporting diverse and inclusive workplaces and improving the gender ratio through post-maternity return programs? 

Innovation is at the heart of what we do. We’re continuously refining our programs to better support employees at every stage of their journey. For example, our post-maternity return programs include mentorship opportunities, flexible working policies, mental health counseling and manager/ team sensitization training through 1:1 sessions, e-learning and workshops.

We’re also exploring the use of data analytics to understand and predict employee needs proactively. Our goal is to create workplaces that are not only diverse, but also truly inclusive, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and be their healthiest self.