Kristen Valdes of b.well Connected Health Wins EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Mid-Atlantic Award
On June 24, 2025, Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) proudly recognized Kristen Valdes, the founder and CEO of b.well Connected Health, as the recipient of the prestigious Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Mid-Atlantic Award. This accolade is not just a pat on the back—it’s a celebration of innovation and leadership in building high-growth companies. For 40 years, EY has been at the forefront of honoring entrepreneurs who truly reshape industries and drive significant changes in communities, while creating value that endures over time.
Valdes's selection for this notable award comes from a rigorous evaluation process undertaken by an independent panel composed of previous award winners, esteemed CEOs, and influential business leaders. The judges meticulously examined various facets such as Valdes's commitment to creating enduring value, her entrepreneurial energy, and her purpose-driven approach, alongside the significant growth and impact her company has achieved.
B.well Connected Health has earned a reputation for transforming the healthcare landscape by addressing a crucial issue: fragmentation within the industry. Their innovative platform seamlessly integrates health data from a variety of sources—ranging from healthcare providers, insurers, and pharmacies to labs and wearable technology—into a single, accessible repository for individuals. This enables the creation of personalized, actionable pathways for consumers, improving access to healthcare and enhancing care coordination.
As of now, b.well's platform is significantly improving care experiences for millions of Americans, making healthcare less complex and more tailored to individual needs. Amidst a marketplace buzzing with promises about AI and health data engagement, b.well has distinguished itself with tangible results—boasting over 60,000 consumer-mediated data connections and a comprehensive, whole-person health record.
Valdes runs b.well with a vision that sprang initially from her personal experience as a mother amid a chaotic healthcare system. She recalls the frustrations of trying to access her daughter's health information and the hurdles involved in getting reliable answers regarding her care. The moment she witnessed her child's health information consolidated in a single location, she realized the immense potential that such integration could hold—to ultimately create a more user-friendly healthcare environment. Valdes shared, "This award is as much for my dedicated team as it is for me. They believed in the vision. We understand that truly connected and personalized healthcare is not just an ambitious idea—it is critical for effective care delivery."
With her Mid-Atlantic win, Valdes is now in line for the national stage of the Entrepreneur Of The Year program, where she will compete for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 National Awards. The pinnacle of this journey will culminate in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®—one of the most prestigious events dedicated to high-growth, market-leading companies. The overall national award winner will advance to vie for the esteemed EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2026.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has a legacy of recognizing diverse leaders across various sectors—all celebrated for their creativity, daring spirit, and entrepreneurial excellence. Among those distinguished in past years are leaders from notable companies, including Sheila Mikhail of AskBio, Kendra Scott from Kendra Scott LLC, and Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, each known for their substantial contributions to their respective fields.
In essence, b.well Connected Health stands at the intersection of technology and personal healthcare, solving the persistent problems embedded in health data fragmentation. Their FHIR-based platform not only consolidates disparate healthcare data but also empowers healthcare providers to deliver more relevant and customized consumer experiences. As Valdes puts it, b.well's goal is to ensure that consumers are at the heart of every healthcare interaction, enabling them to receive proactive health insights and easily navigate their care options. b.well firmly believes in a future where seamless health management is a standard practice, breaking down the barriers that have historically hindered consumer access to healthcare information and services.
By addressing these perennial challenges, b.well not only elevates the patient experience but also reinforces its position as a leader in healthcare transformation. In doing so, it paves the way for a future where healthcare is not just reactive but rather anticipatory and responsive to individual health needs, reshaping the very foundations of healthcare delivery across the nation.