our Mission

For our founder, Peter Njongwe, the mission is deeply personal. His brother, Oben, passed away from uncontrolled hypertension at the age of 36, leaving behind a wife and two children. He went to bed one night and never woke up. Often referred to as the "silent killer," hypertension can damage the brain, heart, and kidneys for years without obvious symptoms—until it culminates in a stroke or heart attack. Peter believes that if his brother had been screened for hypertension and granted a clearer understanding of his health, he would still be alive today. Oben Health was started as a call to action to spare other families from this painful, yet preventable, reality.

Over the last several years, Peter built Oben Health alongside CTO Carl Swanson to provide digital support to community-based organizations. These groups—such as local barbershops—serve as anchors for essential services. Oben Health works alongside them to boost operational efficiency through automation and provide real-time data insights into patient progress. Our model benefits from the foundation built by prior barbershop hypertension interventions who have paved the way for effective intervention. When the Roots Community Health Center sought a technology partner to scale their Bay Area outreach, it led to a collaboration with Medical Director Dr. Tem Woldeyesus. This partnership accelerated our collective impact, allowing Oben Health to stand as a living tribute to its namesake.

At its core, Oben means "to elevate."

We are not just building software; we are building a bridge between clinical expertise and the neighborhoods that need it most. By turning trusted community spaces into sanctuaries of health, we are rewriting the narrative of preventative care. Our work ensures that a zip code or a busy schedule is no longer a barrier to a long life, empowering every individual to rise above their diagnosis and claim a healthier future.