Ashlee McKenzie

With 15 years as a certified postpartum doula, I’ve walked alongside hundreds of families through the transformative fourth‑trimester journey. Those intimate experiences revealed a stark reality: countless new parents lack timely, compassionate support when they need it most.

Driven by that insight, I founded Vela, an AI‑driven app that predicts and prevents postpartum depression while delivering 24/7, evidence‑based companionship and guidance. Vela blends my hands‑on doula expertise with cutting‑edge predictive technology to empower families to thrive during those vulnerable early months.

My curiosity extends beyond the postpartum realm—I’m fascinated by human consciousness, resilience, and the mechanisms of healing. I firmly believe that thoughtfully designed technology can elevate health and wellbeing on a systemic scale.

When I’m not shaping Vela’s roadmap, you’ll find me dancing, lost in a good book, exploring nature, spoiling my cat, or simply marveling at the wild, beautiful tapestry of life.