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TLDR: Issue #063 Summary
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David Stein (Founder of Ash)
Co-founded Ash in 2019 out of Cornell Tech with a mission to expand discreet at-home STD testing for LGBTQ+ communities
Led the company through a major market expansion during COVID
Background in public health, digital health, and systems design
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The New Standard for At-Home Health
The Problem
Traditional diagnostic testing is often slow, inconvenient, and inaccessible for patients facing stigma or transportation challenges. Before 2020, most clinics lacked the infrastructure for remote testing. When COVID shut down in-person care, the need for accurate, scalable at-home testing became unavoidable.
The Solution
Launched in 2019 out of Cornell Tech, Ash set out to make at-home diagnostics simple and discreet. The company expanded rapidly during COVID to help clinics deliver remote testing. Ash now provides the tech and logistics powering scalable at-home diagnostics, supporting 100+ biomarkers across all 50 states. In recognition of its innovation and impact, Ash was named one of the world’s top health-tech companies by TIME in 2025.
The Market
At-home diagnostics is a fast-growing segment as patients demand privacy and convenience. Providers are shifting to hybrid care and looking for turnkey testing solutions. Ash enables organizations to offer modern at-home diagnostics without building their own infrastructure.
Meet the Founder
Before launching Ash, David Stein built his career across education, tech startups, and public-sector consulting. During his MBA at Cornell Tech, he began studying gaps in diagnostic accessibility, which sparked the idea for Ash.
When COVID hit, Stein led the company’s expansion from STI kits to a full diagnostics platform used by clinics, universities, and healthcare organizations nationwide. He continues to guide Ash as it supports partners across all 50 states.
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