Inaccessibility to quality care is a common yet catastrophic situation, often detrimental to patients and their families. Individuals residing in a foreign country struggle to manage the healthcare for their families back home. Murielle Tiambo and Franck Eric Tiambo, the founders of KimboCare, experienced a similar situation while working in the bustling city of New York, away from their native place, Cameroon, Africa.
In response to this crucial issue, Murielle and Franck laid the foundation of KimboCare. With a vision to leverage cutting-edge technology, KimboCare emerged as a solution for healthcare funding. Having been honored as one of the “Innovators of the Year,” KimboCare stands as a testament to its uniqueness and commitment to improving healthcare accessibility.
The Genesis
The birth of KimboCare was in response to health inequalities across ethnic groups in the United States. Murielle Tiambo and Franck Eric Tiambo had a heart-wrenching experience managing healthcare for their family while working in New York, away from their family in Africa. They used to spend hours on the phone, sifting through care options, navigating unresponsive doctors, and enduring distressing health outcomes. Consequently, their struggles resulted in the untimely death of their family members due to inadequate support and delays in care. As immigrants, this narrative fueled their determination to change the story of millions of migrant workers worldwide, leading to KimboCare’s inception.
An Evolution
“We envisioned a solution that leveraged cutting-edge technology, harnessing the power of AI and blockchain to infuse unprecedented transparency into the financial support process for healthcare,” shares Murielle. With its traceable health gift card, “health credits,” KimboCare allows individuals accessibility to reliable care in over 700 medical facilities spanning more than 10 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It collaborates with leading healthcare institutions in each country; its partners include Marengo Asia Hospitals in Northern India, UCare Pharmacy in Cambodia, Clinicas Del Hombre in Mexico, RFH Hospitals in Kenya, and Lagoon Hospitals in Nigeria.
Over the years, the company evolved into a vital tool for organizations seeking transparency in global health funding, fostering trust and accountability in this sector. Its pioneering vision sets it apart. Launching a startup with a global operational footprint from the outset is a bold endeavor without any roadmaps to guide it. KimboCare’s work is not just a venture; it is a commitment that will enhance the lives of millions, driving meaningful change for a better future.
Murielle Tiambo: The Woman In-Charge
Murielle started her career working in a two-year graduate training program at Deutsche Bank. While working here, she acquired great leadership experience that shaped her leadership style as well as instilled in her the importance of strategic vision and impact. During her time at Deutsche Bank, she was thrust into critical initiatives in response to 2009’s financial crisis. This enriched her vision of the intricacies of running a company, helping her acquire all the essential skills to establish an ambitious global startup like KimboCare.
As she transitioned to strategy consulting, her working experience with CEOs, CHROs, and operational leaders in Financial and Healthcare services supercharged her expertise in market analysis, stakeholder management, and strategic frameworks. She leverages these insights to craft products and services at KimboCare that resonate with a global audience.
Bridging the Gaps
KimboCare strives to bridge the gaps in healthcare accessibility through innovative solutions tailored to diverse industry needs. The company provides individual services for immigrants to secure quality care for their families back home.
Working hand-in-hand with various organizations, KimboCare implements community-specific health interventions as part of their sustainability strategy and ESG mandates. The company also offers alternative health coverage options for employers, making it easier for employees to access preventive health checkups. Additionally, KimboCare provides unique benefits designed to help employees support their loved ones overseas.
Through these offerings, KimboCare aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem that enables access to healthcare on a larger scale with individuals, companies, and foundations.
Overcoming Challenges
As a migrant worker, building a startup came with its own set of challenges for Murielle. Although her background in strategic consulting helped her build the company, she soon recognized the challenging investor and startup scenario. “I had to effectively reestablish a network of like-minded supporters from the ground up,” adds Murielle. KimboCare increased its visibility within the tech innovation space and gained access to global accelerators like Microsoft for Positive Impact, US MassChallenge, and Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Last year, KimboCare was honored by Nasdaq in New York for its pioneering leadership in leveraging AI and Blockchain to enhance transparency in funding for global access to health and well-being.
Adapting to Change During the Pandemic
KimboCare observed a shift in the industry trends during its launch amidst the pandemic. However, the company embraced these changes successfully. Here are a few initiatives adopted by KimboCare:
- Harnessed technology to empower caregivers to maximize their limited time
- Championed telehealth services by partnering with innovative digital health solutions like Malaica & Wheels for Life and Izola to assist maternal health and neurodivergent conditions
- Rewarding caregivers’ efforts with “health credits” vouchers for optimal health outcomes for their loved ones
- Making KimboCare interoperable to navigate the ever-changing landscape
Exemplifying Leadership
In this intricate tapestry of caregiving, where cultural sensitivity and technological proficiency intertwine, effective leaders emerge not just as managers but as compassionate guides who foster a supportive environment for all. KimboCare recognizes the need for leaders in the caregiving industry to be culturally competent and tech-savvy. The company exemplifies these two principles through its tech-powered caregiving solutions for migrants and their families. Its platform is user-friendly and culturally sensitive to ensure diverse needs are met and respected.
KimboCare prioritizes timely communication with customers, healthcare providers, and patients. By making communication an integral characteristic of its cultural DNA, the company continues cultivating an effective ecosystem to address audiences’ needs.
Embracing Future Trends and Advising Future Innovators
As recognized by KimboCare, family care is a timeless tradition that is here to stay, and KimboCare’s health credits are a testament to this care. On the business front, employers’ eagerness to authentically engage with employees and customer base has been fulfilled by KimboCare’s gift card as an incentive. KimboCare’s capacity to seamlessly weave traceability and sustainability into its offerings ensures it meets the evolving needs of its stakeholders while promoting health and wellbeing globally.
In order to thrive in this ever-evolving business landscape, Murielle advises future innovators and entrepreneurs to solve real people’s problems. Building a start-up is not an easy feat; the journey involves mountains of challenges, constant self-doubt, and distractions. However, her unwavering commitment to making an impact in people’s lives drives her forward. Success isn’t just about business; it’s about creating tangible change for those who depend on us. She encourages future entrepreneurs to embrace this purpose.
Platforms like KimboCare take on the groundwork of evaluating healthcare providers, offering a carefully curated list of quality options tailored to meet a diverse range of patient needs.”
