Maaya

Maaya is a health-tech company, incorporated in Singapore and based in Bangladesh, focused on increasing access to healthcare in emerging Asian markets. The company was founded by Ivy Huq Russell, who was motivated by personal experiences with the healthcare system in Bangladesh during her first pregnancy and her mother's diagnosis with breast cancer. This led her to identify significant gaps in access to reliable health information and stigma-free expert advice, particularly for women concerning sensitive topics.

What began as a healthcare information blog in 2011 has since evolved into a comprehensive telehealth platform. Maaya provides an anonymous messaging service that allows users to ask questions about physical health, mental health, and psychosocial issues and receive answers from verified experts. The platform initially focused on women's health but expanded its services after observing that a significant portion of its users were male. Today, the company addresses a wide range of health concerns for all genders.

The business operates on a digital model, utilizing an application available in multiple languages, including Bangla, English, Urdu, and Sinhala. A key feature of the service is its use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and an AI-powered chatbot to handle a high volume of initial queries with significant accuracy before escalating complex cases to human experts. The platform supports a network of over 300 licensed healthcare providers and has served millions of users. Revenue is generated through various channels, including premium subscription services that offer faster response times, direct video consultations with doctors for a fee, and partnerships with corporations to provide services to their employees.

In February 2021, Maaya secured $2.2 million in seed funding, a notable amount for a Bangladeshi health-tech firm, to fuel product development and international expansion. Following this milestone, the company launched its services in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with plans for further entry into Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets.

Keywords: telehealth, digital health, healthcare access, Bangladesh, health-tech, women's health, mental health support, AI chatbot, medical advice, Ivy Huq Russell, anonymous health platform, reproductive health, healthcare in Asia, telemedicine, digital wellbeing, on-demand health experts, mobile health, Anchorless Bangladesh, Osiris Group, South Asia healthcare