Spotlight: Orlando Li @ Malama Health
Oct 14, 2025
Spotlight
A spotlight is a short-form interview with a leader in health tech. In this spotlight, you'll hear from Orlando Li, Co-founder and CTO of Malama Health.
What does Malama do?
Malama helps moms get better care through plan-covered benefits, while lowering costs for the health plans.
How did you end up working in health tech?
I’ve been a software engineer for over 10 years and met Mika (co-founder) a decade ago while I was at UCLA.
Three years ago, we decided to tackle a challenge she had experienced firsthand, starting with gestational diabetes and later expanding to broader Medicaid support. The pregnancy and postpartum journey is far from ideal, and we’re committed to changing that.
What’s one thing you wish you could change about U.S. healthcare?
I wish more people, especially Medicaid members, understood the benefits their insurance provides. There are so many free resources available during pregnancy – from doula support to free breast pumps and more.
What do you think U.S. healthcare will look like two years from now?
AI can significantly reduce administrative burdens, but a real human connection with your providers is becoming more essential than ever.
A spotlight is a short-form interview with a leader in health tech. In this spotlight, you'll hear from Orlando Li, Co-founder and CTO of Malama Health.
What does Malama do?
Malama helps moms get better care through plan-covered benefits, while lowering costs for the health plans.
How did you end up working in health tech?
I’ve been a software engineer for over 10 years and met Mika (co-founder) a decade ago while I was at UCLA.
Three years ago, we decided to tackle a challenge she had experienced firsthand, starting with gestational diabetes and later expanding to broader Medicaid support. The pregnancy and postpartum journey is far from ideal, and we’re committed to changing that.
What’s one thing you wish you could change about U.S. healthcare?
I wish more people, especially Medicaid members, understood the benefits their insurance provides. There are so many free resources available during pregnancy – from doula support to free breast pumps and more.
What do you think U.S. healthcare will look like two years from now?
AI can significantly reduce administrative burdens, but a real human connection with your providers is becoming more essential than ever.
A spotlight is a short-form interview with a leader in health tech. In this spotlight, you'll hear from Orlando Li, Co-founder and CTO of Malama Health.
What does Malama do?
Malama helps moms get better care through plan-covered benefits, while lowering costs for the health plans.
How did you end up working in health tech?
I’ve been a software engineer for over 10 years and met Mika (co-founder) a decade ago while I was at UCLA.
Three years ago, we decided to tackle a challenge she had experienced firsthand, starting with gestational diabetes and later expanding to broader Medicaid support. The pregnancy and postpartum journey is far from ideal, and we’re committed to changing that.
What’s one thing you wish you could change about U.S. healthcare?
I wish more people, especially Medicaid members, understood the benefits their insurance provides. There are so many free resources available during pregnancy – from doula support to free breast pumps and more.
What do you think U.S. healthcare will look like two years from now?
AI can significantly reduce administrative burdens, but a real human connection with your providers is becoming more essential than ever.
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Get updates on what’s new at Stedi
Backed by
Stedi is a registered trademark of Stedi, Inc. All names, logos, and brands of third parties listed on our site are trademarks of their respective owners (including “X12”, which is a trademark of X12 Incorporated). Stedi, Inc. and its products and services are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these third parties. Our use of these names, logos, and brands is for identification purposes only, and does not imply any such endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.
Developers
Resources
Get updates on what’s new at Stedi
Backed by
Stedi is a registered trademark of Stedi, Inc. All names, logos, and brands of third parties listed on our site are trademarks of their respective owners (including “X12”, which is a trademark of X12 Incorporated). Stedi, Inc. and its products and services are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with these third parties. Our use of these names, logos, and brands is for identification purposes only, and does not imply any such endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.