Like many immigrants, Tina Keshani’s family became entrepreneurs out of necessity. After moving to the U.S. from Kazakhstan, she watched her father build a business in Cleveland, Ohio—creating jobs and opportunity in the community. That experience shaped her early, teaching her that entrepreneurship normalizes failure and setbacks—they’re part of the process, not the end of it. Despite the challenges, she knew from a young age this would be her path.
Her parents encouraged a more traditional career, and she briefly pursued pre-med in undergrad before realizing economics was a better fit. Her first job out of college was in strategy consulting, but quickly found herself craving a more dynamic, fast-paced environment where she could build. She found that at Warby Parker, joining in its early days when buying glasses online was still novel. There, she helped launch the company’s first optometric telemedicine service in 2015—well before telemedicine became mainstream—giving her a front-row seat to scaling an innovative business.
At the same time, she was navigating her own women’s health challenges, which sparked a pivotal question: how can healthcare be more accessible, affordable, and even enjoyable for women?
After six years at Warby Parker, she set out to pursue that vision. At Harvard Business School, she met her co-founder, Sophia Richter, and together they founded their company in 2020 during their second year. We caught up with Tina as the company is quite literally taking flight.
What is Seven Starling’s mission?
We want to ensure that every woman has access to the specialized, affordable mental healthcare she deserves. We began with a focus on maternal mental health, an area in urgent need of attention.
“In the U.S., one in five women experiences a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. It’s the number one complication of pregnancy and childbirth, and a leading driver of maternal mortality. For many women, the postpartum period is also the first time they encounter a mental health challenge.”
Seven Starling is here to support them with specialized care during that critical period—and now, we’re expanding to support patients as they move into parenthood and beyond.
What are your recent milestones?
We closed our Series A Prime last year, bringing total funding to $22 million. Today, we support women across 22 states, with plans to expand to 30 states by the end of 2026. We’re also growing our Medicaid program—currently active in five markets and expected to reach an additional eight by the end of 2026.
At the same time, we’re expanding coverage with major health plans. In every state where we operate, we’ve built broad coverage, and 98% of our patients are able to access care using their insurance. We’ve also extended our services to support moms with children up to age five.
What are your tips for founders who are fundraising?
Go into fundraising with a clear, well-defined strategy. Be highly selective about the investors you engage with—focus on those who are a strong fit for your company. Look for investors who have backed tangential businesses and believe in your mission.
“Time is your most valuable resource, so don’t spend it on conversations that aren’t likely to lead anywhere. Just as importantly, start building relationships well before you begin fundraising.”
When the time comes, those investors will already know you, understand your company, and have been following your progress. Investing in those relationships early pays meaningful dividends later.
What’s it like working with Ulu?
It’s been a great experience. Ulu invested in our Series A in 2024, and we’ve worked closely with Maria Salamanca ever since. She’s incredibly accessible—I can text or call her with questions or ideas, and she’s always ready to jump in. The relationship feels genuinely collaborative and founder-friendly, and we’ve been thrilled to have Ulu as part of the team.
How are you utilizing AI?
In healthcare, it’s critical to scale thoughtfully and responsibly. AI has allowed us to automate some of the most complex and time-consuming parts of the process, creating a more seamless experience for both patients and providers.
We’ve invested heavily in areas like eligibility and insurance verification, making those processes faster and easier for patients. We also use AI to assist providers with charting and documentation, reducing administrative burden for our clinicians. Additionally, AI supports our patient-provider matching algorithms, helping ensure better, more personalized matches.
What are your dreams for Seven Starling?
I’m newly postpartum, so I’m experiencing this journey alongside our patients in a very real way. After my first child was born, I was actually a patient of our own service, and it meant everything to have that support during one of the most challenging times in my life. That experience has only deepened my commitment to this work.
Looking ahead, my focus is on expanding access—reaching more women across the country, partnering with more insurance providers, and ensuring care remains affordable. We’re starting with maternal mental health, but our vision is much broader: to grow with our patients through every stage of life—from early parenthood to menopause and beyond—supporting them through all the transitions that define a woman’s health journey.
