Memphis continues to make history—and headlines—as a national leader in women-led businesses, and one local startup is proving just how powerful that leadership can be.
MedHaul, a Black woman-owned company in Memphis, has been selected for the prestigious Google for Startups AI Academy: American Infrastructure. The program supports early-stage startups using artificial intelligence to solve some of the country’s most pressing infrastructure challenges.
Founded by Memphis native Erica Plybeah, MedHaul provides non-emergency medical transportation for patients with complex needs—offering a lifeline to individuals who are often overlooked by traditional transit options. With this new support from Google, MedHaul is poised to scale its AI-powered solutions and deepen its impact across communities.
“This opportunity represents a major milestone for MedHaul,” said Plybeah. “Partnering with Google will help us bring AI to the frontlines of healthcare transportation—making it easier for patients to access care, and for providers and payers to reduce administrative burdens and improve outcomes.”
As part of the program, MedHaul will receive equity-free support, one-on-one mentorship from Google AI experts, access to cutting-edge technology like Vertex AI and Gemini, and advanced training in sales and marketing strategy.
This isn’t MedHaul’s first time earning Google’s attention. The company was also part of the Google for Startups initiative in 2020 and was awarded $50,000 in funding. With partnerships that include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Regional One Health, and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, MedHaul is already woven into the fabric of local healthcare access—and now it’s taking its impact to a national level.
This news also underscores something we already know to be true: Memphis is leading the way when it comes to women in business. A recent report confirmed that Memphis is the only major U.S. city where women own more businesses than men—a rare and powerful statistic. MedHaul is a shining example of what’s possible when local innovation, community need, and visionary leadership come together.
With AI-powered tools and Google’s backing, MedHaul is ready to transform how healthcare transportation works—not just in Memphis, but across the country.
