2025 Best Startup Businesses in Maryland: b.well

Kristen Valdes, founder and CEO of b.well, created the health care platform after a deeply personal experience navigating the system for her daughter Bailey, who suffers from an autoimmune disorder. Despite Kristen’s expertise as a health care executive, it took seven years to secure Bailey’s proper diagnosis. They endured countless misdiagnoses, expensive repeat procedures, and fragmented health data management. 

The experience inspired b.well, named after Bailey (“B”), which empowers consumers to advocate for themselves through comprehensive health data access and understanding. The company partners with health care organizations to provide a configurable platform that transforms healthcare into a simple, consumer-centered, on-demand experience, addressing the industry’s complexity and fragmentation. 

What inspired you to launch your business? 

As a mother navigating complex health care challenges for my daughter, I experienced firsthand how fragmented and impersonal the system can be. Feeling overwhelmed by disconnected medical records and impersonal interactions, I knew there had to be a better way. That’s why I founded b.well, a digital health software company dedicated to transforming healthcare experiences. Our mission is to restore humanity to health care, giving families true control and understanding of their health journey. 

What challenges have you faced as a new business? 

Building b.well in Baltimore meant challenging the health care status quo. As a local startup, we’ve fought to prove that innovative technology can truly transform patient experiences. Securing funding, breaking into a traditional industry, and convincing health care leaders to reimagine patient engagement, these weren’t just business challenges, they were our mission to reshape how Maryland thinks about health care. 

What accomplishments are you most proud of? 

Our proudest moment was seeing a major Baltimore health care provider implement our platform and immediately transform patient experiences. Watching families gain unprecedented access to their health information, seeing providers streamline their workflows. This was the moment when we knew b.well was more than software, we’re creating a health care revolution, right here in Maryland, one patient connection at a time. 

How do you support the larger community? 

b.well supports Baltimore’s community by creating tech opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs, offering mentorship programs for women and minority technologists, and partnering with local organizations like UpSurge Baltimore. We provide internships, skills training, and career pathways in health care technology, actively volunteer with local nonprofits, and demonstrate our commitment through a diverse leadership team that reflects Baltimore’s rich cultural landscape. 

What programs do you have in place to enhance employee morale? 

At b.well, our values aren’t just words, they’re how we live and work. We’ve created a culture of “b.you,” where every team member is empowered to bring their authentic self to work. Our flex-unlimited PTO, quarterly innovation challenges, and transparent leadership mean our employees aren’t just building software, they’re transforming health care. We celebrate differences, encourage bold thinking, and treat our team like the innovators they are. 

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by information provided by the honorees and other resources. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.