Nur Shafiqah Shahirah

Nur Shafiqah Shahirah

Nur Shafiqah Shahirah

Nur Shafiqah Shahirah

Nur Shafiqah Shahirah

Nur Shafiqah Shahirah

Currently building Koi Health

I'm an immigrant, first-time founder, and woman of color building tech-enabled solutions that make caregiving more human. I started Koi Health to make respite care more accessible for families like mine - especially those caring for loved ones with dementia. I’ve been honored as a Robin Hood Blue Ridge Labs Fellow and lead a passionate team rethinking how we support both caregivers and care workers. My work is rooted in personal experience, driven by equity, and built with the belief that care shouldn't come with a waiting list. Feel free to reach out to me whenever!

I'm an immigrant, first-time founder, and woman of color building tech-enabled solutions that make caregiving more human. I started Koi Health to make respite care more accessible for families like mine - especially those caring for loved ones with dementia. I’ve been honored as a Robin Hood Blue Ridge Labs Fellow and lead a passionate team rethinking how we support both caregivers and care workers. My work is rooted in personal experience, driven by equity, and built with the belief that care shouldn't come with a waiting list. Feel free to reach out to me whenever!

Discover Koi Health

Discover Koi Health

Discover Koi Health

Curious thoughts I've been thinking about

If you have any other questions, please email us.

What would it take for respite care to be treated as essential, not optional?

We talk about caregiver burnout like it’s inevitable but what if regular respite was built into every care plan, covered by Medicare, and scheduled before a crisis?

Why isn’t private insurance required to cover respite care the way it covers physical therapy or behavioral health?

If caregiving is a long-term health reality, then shouldn’t the breaks that preserve caregivers’ mental and physical health be covered too?

Could neighborhood-based care clusters become the new front line of aging in place?

Framer is the fastest tool to build sites with, because you can ship your design immediately, instead of having to rebuild your design in code or a second tool.

Why do home care agencies still operate on outdated, one-size-fits-all scheduling models?

Most agencies won’t take clients unless they commit to 20+ hours a week. But millions of families just need 2–3 hours here and there. What would it take to make short-term care financially viable for agencies and accessible to families?

What could Medicaid waivers actually look like if they prioritized flexibility?

So many HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waivers exist, but navigating them is a nightmare. How can we simplify access and give families more control over the kind of care they need?

Why aren’t younger founders building more in aging and long-term care?

The population is aging fast, yet the category still feels niche and slow-moving. What would happen if more capital, talent, and storytelling were directed toward the caregiving economy?

Curious thoughts I've been thinking about

If you have any other questions, please email us.

What would it take for respite care to be treated as essential, not optional?

We talk about caregiver burnout like it’s inevitable but what if regular respite was built into every care plan, covered by Medicare, and scheduled before a crisis?

Why isn’t private insurance required to cover respite care the way it covers physical therapy or behavioral health?

If caregiving is a long-term health reality, then shouldn’t the breaks that preserve caregivers’ mental and physical health be covered too?

Could neighborhood-based care clusters become the new front line of aging in place?

Framer is the fastest tool to build sites with, because you can ship your design immediately, instead of having to rebuild your design in code or a second tool.

Why do home care agencies still operate on outdated, one-size-fits-all scheduling models?

Most agencies won’t take clients unless they commit to 20+ hours a week. But millions of families just need 2–3 hours here and there. What would it take to make short-term care financially viable for agencies and accessible to families?

What could Medicaid waivers actually look like if they prioritized flexibility?

So many HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waivers exist, but navigating them is a nightmare. How can we simplify access and give families more control over the kind of care they need?

Why aren’t younger founders building more in aging and long-term care?

The population is aging fast, yet the category still feels niche and slow-moving. What would happen if more capital, talent, and storytelling were directed toward the caregiving economy?

Curious thoughts I've been thinking about

If you have any other questions, please email us.

What would it take for respite care to be treated as essential, not optional?

We talk about caregiver burnout like it’s inevitable but what if regular respite was built into every care plan, covered by Medicare, and scheduled before a crisis?

Why isn’t private insurance required to cover respite care the way it covers physical therapy or behavioral health?

If caregiving is a long-term health reality, then shouldn’t the breaks that preserve caregivers’ mental and physical health be covered too?

Could neighborhood-based care clusters become the new front line of aging in place?

Framer is the fastest tool to build sites with, because you can ship your design immediately, instead of having to rebuild your design in code or a second tool.

Why do home care agencies still operate on outdated, one-size-fits-all scheduling models?

Most agencies won’t take clients unless they commit to 20+ hours a week. But millions of families just need 2–3 hours here and there. What would it take to make short-term care financially viable for agencies and accessible to families?

What could Medicaid waivers actually look like if they prioritized flexibility?

So many HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waivers exist, but navigating them is a nightmare. How can we simplify access and give families more control over the kind of care they need?

Why aren’t younger founders building more in aging and long-term care?

The population is aging fast, yet the category still feels niche and slow-moving. What would happen if more capital, talent, and storytelling were directed toward the caregiving economy?

Curious thoughts I've been thinking about

If you have any other questions, please email us.

What would it take for respite care to be treated as essential, not optional?

We talk about caregiver burnout like it’s inevitable but what if regular respite was built into every care plan, covered by Medicare, and scheduled before a crisis?

Why isn’t private insurance required to cover respite care the way it covers physical therapy or behavioral health?

If caregiving is a long-term health reality, then shouldn’t the breaks that preserve caregivers’ mental and physical health be covered too?

Could neighborhood-based care clusters become the new front line of aging in place?

Framer is the fastest tool to build sites with, because you can ship your design immediately, instead of having to rebuild your design in code or a second tool.

Why do home care agencies still operate on outdated, one-size-fits-all scheduling models?

Most agencies won’t take clients unless they commit to 20+ hours a week. But millions of families just need 2–3 hours here and there. What would it take to make short-term care financially viable for agencies and accessible to families?

What could Medicaid waivers actually look like if they prioritized flexibility?

So many HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waivers exist, but navigating them is a nightmare. How can we simplify access and give families more control over the kind of care they need?

Why aren’t younger founders building more in aging and long-term care?

The population is aging fast, yet the category still feels niche and slow-moving. What would happen if more capital, talent, and storytelling were directed toward the caregiving economy?

Experience

Oct 2024 – Present

Koi Health Inc.

Co-founder & CEO

As Co-Founder & CEO of Koi Health, I lead a mission-driven team focused on making short-term respite care more accessible for families caring for aging loved ones, particularly those living with dementia. I oversee company strategy, product development, and partnerships, working closely with community organizations, caregivers, and care workers to ensure our solutions are grounded in real-world needs.

Koi was born out of my own experience navigating caregiving within my family. That perspective shapes everything we build—tools that are flexible, culturally responsive, and rooted in dignity. As a first-time founder, immigrant, and woman of color, I’m committed to reimagining care with equity at the center and creating systems that serve both those who give and receive care.

Sep 2024 – Dec 2024

Robin Hood Foundation Blue Ridge Labs

Founder Fellow | Entrepreneur in Residence

As a Founder Fellow at Robin Hood Foundation’s Blue Ridge Labs, I led early-stage research and community-driven design to develop tech-enabled solutions for low- to moderate-income caregivers in New York City. I conducted deep market discovery through interviews, focus groups, and on-the-ground immersion to understand the unmet needs of family caregivers - particularly those navigating dementia without formal support. This work led to the creation of Koi Health, and included early product development, pitch refinement, and stakeholder engagement. I collaborated with public health experts, home care agencies, and caregivers to shape a solution that centers dignity, flexibility, and access.

Jun 2022 – Present

Tik Tok | Instagram | LinkedIn

Social Media Manager & Content Creator

Leveraging market research, I crafted a diverse content strategy for a broad audience, generating engaging videos, photos, and social media posts with Adobe Creative Suite and Canva. My skill in managing partnerships with national and international brands, from PR agency relations to content delivery, boosted brand awareness significantly.

Apr 2021 – Jun 2022

No Code Ops

Operations Lead, Community

I was a community architect and growth catalyst. I nurtured a thriving paid community of operations professionals (10% monthly growth, +80 NPS) by curating a creator program with industry veterans, providing engaging free content (5,000+ subscribers) and fostering partnerships through global events (30% active member increase).

Jun 2021 – Sep 2021

Toasty Limited

Chief of Staff

A data-driven growth strategist, I propelled company visibility and customer success through actionable market analyses, strategic partnerships, engaging social media (35% increase), and personalized customer demos (15% acquisition boost).

Jun 2020 – Jan 2021

Nuvolo

Business Development Associate

Bridged the gap between sales and marketing, I identified untapped markets, crafted buyer personas, and positioned new products, driving a 45% sales funnel growth and $300K revenue increase. My meticulous crafting of 120+ email copies, ensuring consistent and engaging brand messaging, resulted in a 40% email open rate surge.

Education

2023

Master's in Technology Management

Columbia University

2020

Master's in Management and Organizational Leadership

Pennsylvania State University

2019

Bachelor's in Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Work with me