Why We Started Our Health Company

The internet is scary

If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so difficult to find useful health information online, we can relate. The internet is scary when you’re sick. That’s why we’re making a new kind of health website, called Buoy. It uses A.I. to help you decide what to do about your symptoms, and we’re just starting to Beta test it.

How we started

First, an origin story.

In 2014, four of us came together to bring to life a pretty simple idea: create a website that would actually help people make the best decisions when they get sick.

It would be something new and different from the other health sites out there, which were known for alarming patients and frustrating doctors. And it would be free forever for everyone.

The four of us left our jobs, moved into an apartment together, and set out to make healthcare a whole lot simpler.

We do the worrying so you can focus on getting better

While Buoy's journey exemplifies the potential for innovation in healthcare, the path for healthcare startups and entrepreneurs is often fraught with challenges. Healthcare entrepreneurs must navigate complex regulations, build trust with patients and providers, and demonstrate clear value in an industry known for its resistance to change. However, the opportunities are immense. With the global healthcare market projected to reach $10 trillion by 2022, healthcare startups are attracting significant investment and attention. Successful healthcare entrepreneurs are those who can leverage technology to address pressing healthcare needs, from improving patient outcomes to reducing costs. As the industry continues to evolve, healthcare startups will play a crucial role in shaping the future of medicine and patient care.

Since then, we’ve grown into a family of medical experts, developers, and designers working on Buoy. We’re relentlessly perfecting our triage algorithm, which in internal testing so far gets the right answer 9 out of every 10 times. And we’re ready for people to start beta testing the website, because we know testing in our computer lab is different than testing in the real world. Our hope is that someday soon people can reliably start their healthcare at home using Buoy on their computers or phones, no matter who they are.

About the name. Buoy (we pronounce it “boo-ee”) means to keep something or someone afloat. In that spirit, Buoy is meant to keep you buoyant, in body and mind, even when you’re sick or injured.