A mutual friend brought founders Eve Lee and Dr. Jody together, but a mutual goal resulted in a new kind of business.
When Eve Lee and Dr Jody Paige Goh met, they were just two people, introduced by a mutual friend, who shared an interest in women’s health. They had both seen negative aspects of traditional medicine when it came to serving women at different stages in their life and wanted to do something about it.
This idea they had solidified in 2023, when in July, elective egg freezing was made legal in Singapore. “[This] really brought fertility awareness to the mainstream consciousness,” says Eve. “And the fact that, by knowing your egg count, there’s something you can do [about your fertility]. It enabled action and brought women’s health to the fore.”
Together, she and Dr. Jody started with a mobile clinic, offering women the opportunity to find out their egg count. In just one day, they saw 140 women come in. “So definitely people care more now,” says Eve.
Dr Jody adds, “Since [it’s] been legalised, I think there’s been more and more interest in egg freezing. It’s good that people can know what options are available to them.”
It was thus the perfect time to launch Hey Taylor, a hybrid medical concept that combines a bricks and mortar clinic and an app. “The concept comes from asking, how do we care for women holistically through their life chapters?” says Eve, who has previously worked in telemedicine and founded a healthcare software service. The idea for Hey Taylor really materialised for her while working for an IVF clinic. “It’s so expensive and so emotionally draining for these couples,” she recalls. “And in some cases, all these things that they go through could have been avoided if symptoms or issues had been found earlier. It made me feel like there should be a layer of care that can address these problems early.”
Dr Jody, who has worked in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments of a few public hospitals, adds that she often sees women only seeking medical help when their symptoms are quite severe. “For example, primary dysmenorrhoea is the most common cause of period pains, but endometriosis can also be a cause of pain. Because of this, many women don’t realise their symptoms could point to something more serious. If endometriosis isn’t picked up early, it can lead to complications — especially if you’re trying to conceive or if the symptoms become severe.” She stresses that with Hey Taylor, both she and Eve want women to know that it’s not necessary to wait so long before seeing a doctor. “It’s why we decided to do women’s health in a primary care setting.”
It is also why in addition to the clinic, they have created an app that helps to monitor symptoms at home. “Everyone tracks their period right?” posits Eve. “So we can tap into that habit to alert you when your symptoms may not be quite right. And then the best part is that there’s recourse, because you can follow-up by coming in for a screening. So the app and the clinic really worked together.” The app runs on clinically-backed medical algorithms, offering patients ease of access to information they might need to understand their symptoms. If the data suggests they need to come in for an appointment, the app will prompt them to do so.
Dr Jody also thinks it’s important that the clinic is very accessible. “We want to offer quality women’s healthcare in a GP or primary care setting, which makes us accessible and also affordable.” They are also the first clinic in the country with a mutual no-wait policy, so as to minimise a patient’s wait time (and theirs as well).
Reception to the clinic has been very positive and both Eve and D. Jody are impressed with what they see from patients. “I think Singaporean women are very well informed. So they come in knowing quite a bit already,” says Dr. Jody. “A lot of them will have done a bit of research about their concerns and symptoms, and oftentimes I find that’s actually a good foundation to work on. Because when you already have a basic understanding, it’s easy for us to correct any misconceptions.” She notes however that there is still a bit of a stigma placed on some conditions, highlighting menopause and sexual wellness.
For Eve, Hey Taylor embodies everything she feels healthcare for women should look like. “I feel that many of the health changes women go through — from our first periods to menopause — often coincide with major shifts in identity, which makes it all the more challenging. I just believe there has to be a way for women to feel supported through it all, without feeling insecure or uncertain.” And before you think the catchy name has something to do with a certain singer, Eve shares its personal connection. “Hey Taylor is named for my future child, and is gender agnostic for that reason. When I was considering starting this business, weighing up the risks etc. I was also thinking about having a baby or not. It was a hard decision for me and eventually I decided to freeze my eggs. So the name is a tribute to my future child.”
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Text by: Karen Fong
