Flourish Care, a Boston, MA-based provider of a maternal healthcare platform, has raised $5.7 million in seed funding led by Zeal Capital Partners.
The round also saw participation from Create Health Ventures, Collide Capital, Rogue Women’s Fund, Symphonic Capital, Slater Technology Fund, Catalytic Impact Foundation, Capita3, and others.
The company will use the funds to grow its operations and continue development.
Flourish Care is a maternal healthcare platform with a large network of doulas. As more states begin to cover doula services, the company is expanding nationwide to meet demand. Its model connects trained, community-based doulas with the healthcare system. Flourish Care now serves over 20 million people through health plans and Medicaid.
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Before starting Flourish Care, Bowley worked for 20 years as a biomedical engineer on women’s health and medical devices. After using a doula during her first pregnancy, she decided to make personalized doula support a standard part of Care.
Flourish Care has built one of the largest doula networks in the U.S. and has helped thousands of families. Its platform matches families with doulas and provides both virtual and in-person support. It also helps manage referrals, care coordination, and insurance payments.
By working with health plans, hospitals, clinics, and community groups, Flourish Care improves maternal Care and reduces unnecessary treatments. The company is also developing AI tools to identify patients who may need extra support earlier in pregnancy.
The United States has higher maternal health risks than many developed countries. Pregnancy and childbirth complications cost about $32.3 billion from pregnancy through a child’s early years. Studies show that care focused on prevention, like doula support, can save money by reducing C-sections, early births, and NICU stays.
Doulas are trained, non-medical professionals who support families during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Research shows that doula care improves outcomes for millions of births each year. For example, among Medicaid patients, doula support is linked to fewer C-sections, fewer preterm births, and fewer NICU admissions, which can be very expensive.
Flourish Care’s leadership team has strong experience in medical devices, digital health, and women’s health. Its board includes Bari Harlam, formerly of CVS Health, and Emma Cartmell, who has experience growing early-stage companies.
“When I was pregnant with my first child, I realized how much care happens between doctor visits and how unsupported many women feel,” said Melissa Bowley, founder and CEO of Flourish Care. “Now that more states are covering doula care, we’ve built a system to help every family access that support. Maternal care improves with a doula, and we’re working to make it available nationwide.”
“The healthcare system is now starting to support what families have long needed,” said Nasir Qadree, founder and managing partner of Zeal Capital Partners. “Flourish Care is building a model that brings doula care into healthcare systems and insurance networks. We’re proud to support Melissa and her team as they make high-quality doula care more accessible.”
“When doulas are part of healthcare systems and covered by insurance, outcomes improve for families, providers, and health plans,” said Emma Cartmell, managing partner of Create Health Ventures. “Major health insurers and women’s health groups are choosing Flourish Care because its model is proven to work. Mothers can trust they are getting support from trained, high-quality doulas, and strong demand shows this.”
About Flourish Care
Founded in 2020 by Melissa Bowley, Flourish Care is a maternal healthcare platform with a leading doula network. It offers both in-person and virtual support, working with healthcare providers to improve outcomes and lower costs. Major health insurers and Medicaid cover Flourish Care.
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