Leda Health

Leda Health was founded in 2019 by Madison Campbell as MeToo Kits and later rebranded as Leda Health after the Greek myth of Leda.[3] Campbell's decision to start Leda Health was driven by her own experience as a survivor of sexual assault, as she sought to help survivors face challenges in collecting evidence.[4] Leda Health developed an "early evidence kit" that would allow sexual assault survivors to collect evidence without the need to visit a hospital or police station.[5] The company introduced an at-home alternative to standard hospital rape kits, allowing assault survivors to collect DNA evidence themselves.[4][6] In 2021, Leda Health expanded its services to include Plan B, STI testing.[4][7]

In 2022, Leda Health was included in the Fortune's Change the World list.[8] As of November 2022, Leda Health raised $9.2 million in venture capital from investors including New York Ventures, Asymmetry Ventures and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.[2]

In 2023, a significant breakthrough came when a bill was passed in Maryland, acknowledging the existence and potential benefits of self-administered evidence collection kits.[9]

In October 2023, Campbell announced that Leda Health had relocated its headquarters to Lawrenceville, one of the largest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] Construction of the new headquarters is expected for completion by November, 2023.[10] The company was previously headquartered in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.[10]

Leda Health's kit faced criticism over potential evidence contamination and possible inadmissibility in court.[11][12] Over these concerns, the kits were banned in Washington and cease and desist letters in several other states were sent to the company asking to stop selling their kits.[13][14][15][16]

• Official website