David Stein

CATALYST FOR CHANGE. David Stein’s inspiration for founding Ash Wellness traces back to his school days, where discussions about sexuality left a lasting impact. “I remember in middle school during a social studies class, we discussed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the debate about whether it should be repealed,” David recalls. “I was a closeted gay person in that classroom, and it shaped my understanding of how important it is to be openly gay and be a role model for others in the LGBTQIA+ community to look up to.”

Ash Wellness is an at-home diagnostic testing company with a clear mission: inclusive, accessible healthcare for all. The company enables seamless integration of remote testing into existing care options, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can access the care they need.

David’s journey to Ash Wellness began with his education and early career in management consulting. He attended a small Jewish day school in Philadelphia and later studied finance at George Washington University. Despite his disinterest in finance, this path taught him valuable lessons about creating a healthy work environment and navigating professional politics.

“One startup I worked for was acquired and we were given only a few days’ notice before we were let go,” David shares. “My big takeaways there were to make sure I could build a sustainable future for my own company, and also be transparent with employees about its future.” The idea for Ash Wellness took shape during David’s undergraduate years in DC, where he first started sleeping with men but was not yet out as gay. A partner suggested he get tested for STIs, and the process was daunting. “I was freaked out,” David remembers. “Even if you were out and comfortable with your sexuality, it was inconvenient and intimidating.” After moving to San Francisco and coming out, David became more comfortable with testing and saw a business opportunity in making STI testing easier.

PIVOTING FOR IMPACT. Initially launched as a consumer company focused on at-home STI testing for the queer community, Ash Wellness had to pivot to a B2B model when COVID-19 hit. This shift ultimately enabled Ash to make a more significant impact by working with providers who could no longer see patients in person. “We built all the infrastructure and technology to power at-home testing, and started selling it on the B2B side,” David explains.

This pivot proved successful, and Ash now works with public health departments, universities, and digital health companies to facilitate at-home testing in all 50 states.

David faced numerous challenges as an LGBTQIA+ founder, including many inappropriate questions and awkward discussions with potential investors about LGBTQIA+ sexual health. Despite this, he remained driven by his goal of making healthcare more inclusive. “There are so few people like me in the generation above in business and tech because of the AIDS epidemic,” David reflects. “It’s a reminder of the importance of what we’re doing.”

With Ash Wellness growing rapidly, David is committed to ensuring the company retains its balanced and welcoming work culture. “There’s a lot of expectations of us, from investors and from ourselves,” David says. “There has to be a balance of enjoying the glory of constant growth versus having a minute to breathe and enjoy time with friends and family. His advice to LGBTQIA+ founders emphasizes balance: “Embrace your LGBTQ+ status but also recognize the realities of the world. Sometimes you have to work within existing systems and make people comfortable to effect change. I’d rather strike that balance and fail because it’s essential for creating real change.”