Eliminating the stigmas of STI testing through digital health
Frustrated with long wait times, unnecessary appointments and limited access to afterhours prescriptions, James turned his dissatisfaction with the medical system into a company that is revolutionising the healthcare industry.
James Sneddon is cofounder of Hyphen Health—an ecommerce sexual health business that has become Australia’s largest sexual health service. Hyphen Health has provided referrals for over 21,000 patients, has 500+ 5-star reviews, and recently been listed in the top 50 of Financial Review’s 2022 Fast Starters.
At I2N’s Startup Stories at I2N Hub Honeysuckle on Wednesday 1 March, University of Newcastle alumnus and cofounder James shared how his startup has not only relieved pressure from clinic waiting rooms and weeks’ long wait for appointments, it has also removed the stigmas that hold patients back from visiting their doctor.
With Hyphen Health’s instant referrals, patients have quick access to Medicare approved treatments without having to answer awkward questions. The success of their patient-activated model has proven results, and James and his team have now created three growth channels—Stigma Health, PrEP Health, RoidSafe—with plans to disrupt other stigmatised markets through their digital health models. Through a niche but essential health service, they have broken into the $200b Australian medical market and removed the taboos from STI testing.
Catch up on Startup Stories with James Sneddon
Top takeaways
- Experimentation with customers and markets has been key to increasing conversion, decreasing costs and has helped Hyphen Health find market fit.
- Sexual health is incredibly hard to market and not sexy. But by staying in their domain, Hyphen Health are beginning to conquer their industry.
- Don’t wait too long before making the leap to full time founder; work on making it happen soon, no matter how hard it is to do!
- For James, the I2N Accelerator program instilled confidence in his business, confirmed that he was on the right track, opened many doors and helped him progress beyond what he had imagined. It got him out of the house and kept him motived; feeding off the energy of the cohort was a gamechanger that propelled him and his business forward. Have a problem to solve and a business idea? Make an application for the 2023 I2N Accelerator program.
The University of Newcastle's I2N works with individuals and organisations from across the Hunter region and beyond to turn ideas and challenges into opportunity. As a leading driver of economic and business growth, the I2N cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset that is behind many of the region's most innovative businesses and leaders.
Keep up to date with future I2N events, programs and opportunities by subscribing to I2N's monthly newsletter or visit www.newcastle.edu.au/i2n
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