Driving Innovation: Meet Erica Plybeah, Founder of MedHaul

Erica Plybeah has had the same mission for her company, MedHaul, since day one: Eliminate health care transportation barriers for those who need it most. It’s a powerful idea that’s proven to be a critical component to health care access.

MedHaul’s service is particularly invaluable to vulnerable populations, including low-income, elderly, or disabled patients, and those living in rural communities. In fact, the highest demand for MedHaul comes from those seeking access to cancer care, kidney care, maternal care, and behavioral or mental health services.

But MedHaul wasn’t always in demand. “I’m not from Memphis, I don’t have family here, and I didn’t attend high school here, so it was pretty challenging to navigate various networks in the beginning,” says Erica. What’s more, as a Black woman in tech, she found it more difficult than her peers to initially raise capital. 

“Most folks [in Memphis] weren’t used to seeing Black women as venture-backed tech founders,” says Erica. But when she landed investors like Morgan Stanley and Google, local networks had to pay attention.

Throughout her entrepreneurial experience, Erica looked to Epicenter for support. “Epicenter has been an integral part of our journey from the very beginning,” she reflects. “They’ve provided us with invaluable education, unwavering support, and access to essential resources that have fueled our growth.”

So, where is that growth going next? Erica is currently on the road to expanding across 14 states, including Washington D.C., as MedHaul works toward seamless transportation integration for everyday health care and clinical research.

The Epicenter Innovation Center provides founders like Erica with rent-free workspace equipped with a wealth of resources and opportunities for her and her team. Entrepreneurs enrolled in the incubation program have access to a collaborative coworking environment, skill-building workshops, and events to help grow their networks. The goal? Catalyze innovation and empower the next generation of business leaders to build companies like MedHaul in Memphis. Learn more at epicentermemphis.org.