Founder Spotlight: Nonye Ekpe, Balm.ai

FemImpact Africa
Apr 10
4 min read

At FemImpact Africa, we believe in the power of visionary founders to shape the future of Africa. In this Founder Spotlight series, we celebrate African trailblazers, diasporans and innovators creating lasting impact in women’s health, financial inclusion, and climate solutions across the continent and beyond.

About

Nonye Ekpe is the founder and CEO of Balm, a healthtech startup founded in 2022, dedicated to democratizing global healthcare access. Balm focuses on preventing and reversing metabolic conditions like PCOS, obesity, and hormonal imbalances. Headquartered in California, the company is currently raising to close its seed funding round.

A sociologist and tech entrepreneur originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Nonye has extensive experience supporting early-stage innovation, having worked with Leadspace, Passion Incubator, and Data Science Nigeria. She is a former FourthWave fellow and was selected for TechCrunch Disrupt’s Battlefield 200 in 2023. Nonye now resides in San Jose, California, where she is building Balm at the intersection of equity, technology, and healthcare.

"I’ve observed how income, environment, lifestyle, and access consistently influence health outcomes—a universal challenge I’m committed to addressing."

10 Questions with Nonye Ekpe

1/ What problem does Balm.ai solve specifically, and how?

"We tackle healthcare inequity by addressing disparities in access and outcomes. With PCOS Care, we empower women with tailored health solutions. Balm Research uses social determinants of health (SDOH)—like income and lifestyle—to identify and bridge gaps through data and AI. Balm Health supports mental and metabolic wellness, partnering with businesses for group preventative sessions. Our approach combines technology, data analytics, and human-centered design to make healthcare equitable."

2/ What inspired you to start the company?

"Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, and now living in the U.S., I’ve seen how income, environment, lifestyle, and access shape health worldwide. My sociology background and experiences—like organising startup accelerator programs with Passion Incubator, Leadspace, and Data Science Nigeria and working on Nigeria’s iDICE project—showed me technology’s power to solve social issues. I founded Balm.ai to turn that insight into action, driven by a personal mission to make health a right for all."

3/ What has been your biggest challenge?

"Our biggest challenge has been proving that technology can transform healthcare meaningfully. Convincing stakeholders to trust AI and data, especially for sensitive areas like mental health and disparities, took time. We will overcome this by prioritizing transparency, privacy, and real results."

Black woman using voice function on cell phone

4/ What is your traction to date?

"We’ve made strides with PCOS Care supporting women, Balm Research mapping health gaps, and Balm Health delivering preventative sessions to businesses with over 250 employees impacted. Our selection for Fourthwave and TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield 200 in 2023 boosted our visibility, and we’re gaining momentum across North America and Africa, plus partnerships with forward-thinking companies and healthcare providers."

5/ What's the big vision for Balm.ai?

"My vision is a world where healthcare inequity is history. Balm.ai aims to scale personalized, data-driven solutions globally—PCOS Care for every woman who needs it, Balm Research for every community, and Balm Health for every workplace. From Lagos to California and beyond, we’re building a future where health isn’t determined by where you’re born or what you earn."

Advert for a Balm Health PCOS Management session

6/ What's one piece of advice for other founders?

"Stay anchored in your purpose. My time in the entrepreneurship world taught me that challenges—funding, doubt, setbacks—test you, but a clear “why” keeps you going. Build a team that believes in your mission and let conviction guide your decisions."

7/ What has been your fundraising or growth journey so far? Any key lessons or tips?

"We’ve driven our growth through bootstrapping, personal savings, grants, and early support from angel investors who trusted our vision, complemented by strategic partnerships from my networks. My key lesson: relationships matter more than pitches—build them early and authentically. Tip: Conviction is everything—stay true to your beliefs, and that steadfastness will carry you forward."

8/ What is exciting to you about the opportunity for innovation in Africa, or by Africans?

"Africa’s ability to transform challenges into breakthroughs is truly inspiring. My work in Nigeria, showed me how Nigerians innovate under pressure—creating digital solutions in remote areas with remarkable ingenuity. Nigerians are resilient, finding joy despite pain and turning that pain into purpose with a hardworking, determined spirit. With Africa’s vast population, even if purchasing power lags behind the Western world, there’s immense potential to leverage those numbers strategically. Africans and the diaspora are using technology to tackle global issues like health inequity, and I’m thrilled to lead that charge with Balm.ai, building not just local businesses but solutions with worldwide impact."

9/ Which FemImpact Africa community members would you like to hear from?

"I’d love to connect with partners passionate about democratizing healthcare, including health professionals, investors, and skilled innovators. I’m happy to support corporate partners focused on enhancing employee wellness. Let’s work together to drive impact."

10/ Anything else you'd like to share?

"As I wrap up, I want to leave you with this: we’re living in an amazing era where you can become anything you dream of. AI is a game-changer—tap into it to ignite fresh ideas, transform your vision into real products, and pursue your goals with courage. Take action, believe in God and in yourself, and see what incredible things unfold. As a Christian, my faith drives this mission. I’m thankful for every milestone and challenge that’s brought us here, and I hope you’ll take quantum leaps, be bold and courageous, and embrace AI to shape your own path forward."

Nonye Ekpe is founder and CEO of Balm.ai. To get connected to Nonye, contact the FemImpact Africa team.

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