TBD Health Raises $4.4 Million In Seed Funding To Democratize Access To Inclusive Sexual Care

Stigma is one of the most under-addressed social determinants of health that can seriously impact the way that patients think about prioritizing their health needs and their care-seeking behavior. As a society, sexual practices are constantly evolving and so should our sexual healthcare with it. By not talking about it or making it shameful to talk about sex, and due to the pervasive lack of adequate sex education, we create a climate where people are under-informed or misinformed about their sexual health and what resources are available to them.

While there are certainly fantastic providers specially trained in sexual health, there are many more that are uncomfortable talking to their patients about sex. A recent study has shown that although “sexual health is generally considered an integral part of medical and allied healthcare professional training, many medical schools do not offer this as a mandatory curriculum, or minimize it”. Only about 40% of primary care doctors even ask about sex, and even fewer are sensitivity-trained or trauma-aware to be able to appropriately handle the broad spectrum of sexual experiences that people have. This dynamic can make it difficult for patients to raise any concerns or questions for fear of judgment and rejection.

Raised by a family of clinicians, Daphne Chen, cofounder and co-CEO of TBD Health – a sexual health platform offering sex-positive, supportive sexual healthcare, always believed that good health is the necessary foundation for a happy life. But, as a young woman, she had several experiences with the healthcare system that left her feeling alienated and avoidant. When looking for spaces to talk about sexual health without judgment or reproach, she would turn to friends for guidance and support.

“As someone who has experienced firsthand the judgment that doctors and clinicians pass when it comes to sexual health, I made it my mission to create a safe space for people to seek inclusive, trauma-aware care, as well as treatment and resources on their own terms, regardless of where they live,” she shares with me.

Years later, in 2020, Daphne teamed up with her cofounder and co-CEO Stephanie Estey to launch TBD Health – reimagining the future of healthcare for women and people with vaginas by rethinking the user experience of STI testing from the ground up. “Our USP is that we are hyper-focused on sexual health care – and making the experience as human and compassionate as possible end-to-end. We do this all day, every day – and are also non-judgmental, sex-positive, and sensitivity trained,” adds Estey.

Today the company announced a $4.4 million seed funding round led by Tusk Venture Partners, with participation from Springdale Ventures, Human Ventures, Expansion VC, Starbloom Capital, Hyphen Capital, and The Community Fund along with several strategic angels. With this new financing, TBD Health is expanding to all 50 states, democratizing access to its sexual healthcare offerings, consisting of at-home STD testing and emergency contraception available via telehealth or in-person in its Las Vegas Care hub.

Many people today don’t know where to go for basic sexual health needs and many states suffer from a lack of adequate provider coverage or underfunding, resulting in widespread sexual health deserts. Additionally, PCPs (primary care physicians) and gynecologists who might be able to help often have weeks-long waiting lists and for the 33% of Millennials that do not have a PCP or gynecologist to turn to, there are even greater challenges finding care.

“Daphne and I found comfort in one another after the countless questions related to sex, and sexual health – and, too often, experienced judgment and stigma at the doctors. At a time when women’s rights are being challenged by our government, it was critical for us to build a sex-positive healthcare company that makes it easy for people to prioritize their health,” explains Stephanie Estey, cofounder and co-CEO of TBD Health.

Recent CDC data found that one in five people in the U.S. have an STD, with almost half of all new STDs among people aged 15-24, and numbers are continuing to surge.

“We are really trying to take a new approach to supportive sexual healthcare by making users feel empowered rather than embarrassed or uncomfortable, starting with our at-home STD screening kit that reduces all the stigma, anxiety, and inaccessibility that usually comes with it. More and more we’re seeing local sexual health clinics nationwide shuttering due to a lack of funding and resources. This leaves an immense strain on those who urgently need care,” says Estey.

So far, they’ve seen two types of patients gravitating towards their platform: 1) those who are looking for same-day or next-day STI testing at one of their Care Hubs and 2) those who are looking for a convenient at-home kit subscription that allows them to make routine STI testing an automated and regular thing.

Serving their customers through educational content has also been one of the company’s main goals – they recently launched an online resource center with Lovehoney – a well-known sexual wellness platform, that promotes STI education and is aimed at destigmatizing sexual health. They have also launched partnerships with student groups at universities, kicking it off with the Students for Reproductive Justice at Boston University. “We’re looking forward to working with several other student groups this year as well as university administrators to provide TBD Health as a critically needed option for students on campus,” adds Estey.

“Since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, it’s critical people must have accessible options to reproductive and sexual healthcare,” Bradley Tusk, Managing Partner and cofounder of Tusk Venture Partners, the lead investor in TBD Health in this funding round, shared with me. “Precisely because of this, we are proud to back Daphne and Stephanie as they establish new standards for care through its STD testing kits, availability of emergency contraceptives, and in-person care hubs.

Ultimately, for Chen and Estey and their team, it’s all about the care, but also aftercare for their customers and users. They highlighted how they are adamant to see all their customers through the entire process – “we don’t just send you a kit and wish you well”, they both shared. “Telehealth screenings, emergency contraception, education on actionable next steps, and counseling are all important steps we have embedded into their offering,” concludes Chen.

As we look toward the future, there is no doubt that a new standard of supportive, sex-positive care is needed. Good sexual health care simply means good self-care. Let’s make it our priority, accessible to everyone.