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Alessandra Henderson

Co-founder & CEO at Elektra Health | On a mission to smash the menopause taboo

Alessandra Henderson, CEO & Co-Founder of Elektra Health

Alessandra Henderson is the Co-Founder & CEO of Elektra Health, a next-gen women's healthcare platform on a mission to smash the menopause taboo. Elektra empowers the 50M women navigating menopause in the US – and the millions more abroad – with evidence-based education, care & community.12

Prior to Elektra, Alessandra spent 10+ years building early stage consumer businesses from the ground up at Artsy, the MIT NYC Startup Studio, and Human Ventures.3 She holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and MBA from Sloan MIT, where she received the Martin Trust Community Fellow Award and the Patrick McGovern Entrepreneurship Award.3

Alessandra co-founded Elektra Health with Jannine Versi and founding physician Dr. Anna Barbieri (OB/GYN, Mount Sinai) to bring high-quality hormonal healthcare into the 21st century.2 Alessandra's personal health journey led to the creation of Elektra Health, as she became obsessed with hormonal health and women's health after experiencing the impact of hormones on her own body.2

Elektra Health offers an end-to-end, proprietary care platform that supports women across every step of their menopause journey, from education to personalized care plans and 1:1 support from women's health experts.1 The company has launched partnerships with Mass General Brigham Health Plan and EmblemHealth to extend its services to their members and employees.1

Highlights

Jul 25 · linkedin

I’m testing something new!

📬Women’s Health Weekly Round-Up

Here are the top 5 women’s health headlines that caught my eye this week! Follow me to stay smart on key happenings across women’s health research, investment, regulation, and general industry news.

Have thoughts on the featured articles? Interested in going deeper? Comment below to contribute your voice to the conversation – I’d love to hear from you!

  1. The variation in women's health across the US, in 3 maps (Advisory Board): The Commonwealth Fund released a report revealing how states rank across women’s access to care, quality of care & health outcomes. MA, VT, and RI top the list, while many southern states rank the lowest.

My thought bubble: No matter where you live, the devastating disparities in outcomes across states should be a wake up call. To quote the report’s lead author Sara R. Collins: “The scorecard’s findings are deeply concerning and underscore the urgent need for federal and state policies to expand women’s access to affordable, timely reproductive care and other essential health services, regardless of who they are, what they earn, or where they live.”

https://lnkd.in/et3zsyXA

  1. Employers Eye Menopause Benefits, GLP-1 Coverage (SHRM): In addition to expanding GLP-1 coverage, a recent Mercer survey showed 18% of large employers plan to offer menopause benefits in 2025, up from 4% in 2023.

My thought bubble: while I love the enthusiasm, I challenge employers looking to drive meaningful health outcomes & impact to look beyond “checking the menopause box” from their existing women’s health solution, and instead to partner with a dedicated menopause platform (hi, Elektra Health!).

https://lnkd.in/eQ8zNG93

  1. Higher Prices on Tampons, Pads Prompt Hard Choices for Americans (WSJ): As if things could get worse for menstruating people in the US :( a recent report revealed that higher price tags on pads and tampons has forced women to choose between feminine products or basic necessities. This comes after recent headlines revealed the presence of toxic metals in 14 top tampon brands.

My thought bubble: UGH.

https://lnkd.in/eanSRXsb

  1. ‘Dream come true’: study suggests drug could extend women’s fertility by five years (Guardian): A recent study reveals that immunosuppressant rapamycin could potentially increase a woman’s lifespan by 9-14% and decrease ovary ageing by 20%.

My thought bubble: We’re in early innings of this research, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

https://lnkd.in/e4PjkXbk

  1. Why women delay health screenings (Beckers Hospital Review): A recent survey reveals 43% of women 35+ missed or delayed preventative health screenings last year. Top reasons? Anxiety, fear of pain, affordability concerns, and not believing the screening was necessary.

https://lnkd.in/eyRRk3Qy

Thanks for reading this far!

Did you like the roundup? Not your cup of tea? Please share or comment below. Your feedback is so important to me!

Mar 19 · linkedin

🇺🇸 POTUS: "I’m going to make sure women’s health is prioritized across the government."

Let's be clear: women are fighting for our lives:

  1. Women globally live 5 years longer than men on average but spend 25% more of their lives in poor health. (WEF & McKinsey Health Institute)

  2. Women are underrepresented in clinical trials and receive far less research dollars.

  3. And let's not forget the tragic roll back of reproductive rights with the Dodds rulings and state restrictions.

That's why I'm thrilled to see President Biden and his incredible partner lead the charge to fight for and expand women's healthcare.

We have a long LONG way to go, but grateful to a part of the community of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, academics, and advocates building towards a solution.

Because women deserve better. 

Related Questions

What inspired Alessandra Henderson to start Elektra Health?
How has Alessandra's personal health journey influenced her work at Elektra Health?
What are some of the biggest challenges Alessandra has faced as a first-time female founder?
How does Elektra Health's approach differ from traditional menopause care?
What partnerships has Elektra Health established with health plans and employers?
Alessandra Henderson
Alessandra Henderson, photo 1
Alessandra Henderson, photo 2
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Experience

Co-founder & CEO at Elektra Health
VP of Network at Human Ventures Co; Founding Executive Director at Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship; Content Partner Director at Artsy

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Entrepreneurship & Innovation - MIT Sloan School of Management; Bachelor of Arts in Art History and East Asian Studies - Vanderbilt University

Location

New York, New York, United States