FounderFuel is a mentor-driven venture accelerator that helps new startups make progress on the venture path. The company is a four-month intensive program supported by a network of veteran entrepreneurs, operators, and executives. The program pushes companies to refine visions, expand the network and rapidly accelerate output. FounderFuel was founded by Real Ventures in 2011 and is headquartered Montreal, Canada.

FounderFuel

[Desjardins Venture Capital](http://www.dcrdesjardins.com/En/index.asp) is the venture capital fund management arm of the Mouvement des caisses Desjardins.  It manages the assets of Desjardins Venture Capital, a limited partnership, six Desjardins investment regional funds, as well as Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins, a public fund whose assets under management are projected to reach $1.425-billion over the next 10 years. Desjardins Venture Capital makes its network and expertise available to businesses.

Desjardins Venture Capital

Founded in 2008, Anges Québec is a network of more than 230 angel investors whose mission is to invest capital and time in innovative Québec-based companies from all sectors of activity. The members of the Anges Québec network have, to date, invested more than $ 80 million in the Québec economy, with more than 210 investments in more than 115 innovative companies. Thanks to its professional development center, Anges Québec supports its members in the constant acquisition of new knowledge and skills inherent in the investment.

Anges Quebec

The Campus des Technologies de la Santé/CTS Healthcare provides services to promote the growth and development of companies in the medical sector.  Their mission is to ensure the development and sustainability of health sector companies and to contribute to their national and international influence. To achieve this goal, services are offered to both Quebec and international companies.  These services are based on the following philosophies: •The importance of a strong network; •Access to experienced mentors; •Business intelligence and prompt action

Campus des Technologies de la Santé/CTS Healthcare

AQC Capital is an investment fund created to provide financial support to Anges Québec members. The fund is mainly sponsored by Investissement Québec to support angel investors who invest in innovative seed or start-up companies in Quebec. This joint effort by the angels and Investissement Québec has made more than $30 million available to entrepreneurs, allowing them to benefit from more substantial financial leverage in order to considerably increase the development of their business.

AQC Capital

Boreal Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Montreal, Canada. The firm seeks to invest in startups operating in Medtech, health tech, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cleantech, industry 4.0, and other science-based innovations.

Boreal Ventures

Investissement Québec offers a range of financing solutions to SMEs and large companies. Investissement Québec partners in consulting and financing to support their client's expansion project in Québec. They offer the combined advantages of financial institutions and economic development agencies.

Investissement Quebec

Real Ventures is an early-stage venture firm focused on serving daring entrepreneurs with the ambition to create successful, global companies. Since 2007, Real Ventures has dedicated itself to building the Canadian startup ecosystem on the belief that people, not money, build game-changing companies. Real Ventures provides stage-specific guidance, mentorship, and access to networks and resources to fast-track founders’ personal and company growth. Real Ventures manages $325 million across five funds and its active portfolio of 100+ companies is currently valued at $10 billion. www.realventures.com

Real Ventures

MEDTEQ is a non-profit organization for industrial research and innovation in medical technology. The organization accelerates the development of innovative technological solutions to improve patients’ health and quality of life by mobilizing Canadian talents. They bringing together the key players in healthcare and innovation allows them and their partners, to offer Canadians access to novel solutions. MEDTEQ’s mission is, through collaborative, industry-led projects, to accelerate innovation and position, on a global scale, products and services developed by the Canadian medical technologies industry.

MEDTEQ+

HALEO Clinic

HALEO’s mission is to improve human health and performance by increasing access to high quality care for poor sleep.  Our specialty clinic is accessible through our mobile app, providing professional and digital SaaS solutions that are clinically proven to improve sleep and mood. Our services help organizations reduce costs related to productivity losses, accidents, burnout and disability by helping their employees sleep better.

Haleo is a Canadian virtual sleep clinic that uses techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and image reversal therapy to treat sleep disorders via a mobile app. The company’s services were designed for individuals such as first responders, manufacturers, transporters, front-line healthcare professionals, and other shift workers who are prone to sleep disorders. The company has partnered with several organizations including the Montréal Police Department. The company also provides its services directly to consumers and offers educational content via its blog.

New technologies are opening up mental health services to previously overbooked and underserved populations.

Mental Health Tech

Boulder Care is a telehealth provider that offers virtual addiction treatment for substance use disorders, primarily focusing on opioid and alcohol use disorders. The company provides medical care, medication management, peer recovery coaching, and case management services through a mobile app, allowing patients to connect with a multidisciplinary care team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, peer recovery specialists, and social services support. Boulder Care's treatment approach includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT), prescribing medications such as buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) for opioid use disorder and naltrexone, acamprosate, and others for alcohol use disorder. The company also delivers naloxone doses to patients to help reverse opioid overdoses.The company has implemented value-based payment arrangements with insurers, tying its financial success to patient outcomes. As of May 2024, Boulder Care had served over 12,000 patients across multiple states, with a concentration in Washington, Oregon, and Ohio. The company reports retention rates of 70%–80% of patients remaining in treatment after six months, significantly above the national average. Boulder Care had also expanded its services to include treatment for adolescents as of January 2024.Key customers and partnershipsBoulder Care has established partnerships with numerous health plans and employers to provide access to its services, including Elevance Health, UnitedHealth Community Plan, and Centene.

Boulder Care

<div>
 
 7 Cups provides an emotional-support platform with a network of volunteer listeners. Users can anonymously access either one-on-one chats or group chats 24/7, free of charge for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships and those related to the LGBTQ+ community. It also teaches users skills such as meditation to improve their lives. If users want additional support, the company also provides access to an online therapy platform with a network of 180 licensed therapists for a subscription plan of USD 150 per month. 7 Cups is available for users above 13 years of age (users between 13 and 17 years old engage with listeners who are specifically trained in teenage interactions).
 
 
 Volunteer peer listeners get free training and support as well as flexible scheduling. Once a user requests a chat, it will be directed to available listeners and if the user requests a specific listener, he will be connected as soon as the listener accepts the demand. The service is anonymous and the listener has no access to the details of the user unless the information is disclosed to the listener by the user in their conversations. As of January 2022, 7 Cups has facilitated more than 51 million conversations, served 25 million individuals, and had 300,000 trained listeners. The listeners serve in 180 countries in 140 languages.
 
</div>

7 Cups

wayForward provides technology-supported behavioral health and emotional wellness services for employers planning to make services available to their employees. It uses a screening procedure designed by neuropsychologists to triage and help employee members get clinically relevant mental healthcare. The company provides a self-guided app, text-based coaching, video visits, telepsychiatry, and if required, in-person visits or an on-site counselor. wayForward leverages its evidence-based approach and artificial intelligence in delivering its services and claims that it has been able to reduce anxiety symptoms by 48% and depression symptoms by 59%.The company raised USD 2 million in a seed round in June 2020, which brought total funding to USD 4.5 million. DarioHealth, a chronic disease management platform based in Israel, signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of wayForward in May 2021 for a total consideration of USD 30 million. As of May 2021, the wayForward had approximately 20,000 members and was available in North America, Australia, and Europe.

wayForward

Coa is a mental health company that conducts online classes led by licensed therapists for mental health users. The classes focus on conditions such as stress, anxiety, confidence and relationships. The company raised USD 3 million in a seed round in October 2020 from investors led by Crosslink Capital.

Meru Health is an online platform that connects patients experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, burnout, and other mental health issues to licensed therapists. The company was founded by Kristian Ranta in 2016 after his older brother died from suicide after battling depression. The platform offers a 12-week program and personalized text-based coaching services and virtual workshops. Meru also provides access to progress reports and anonymous peer support groups as well as sleep, nutrition, and mindfulness advice. The program utilizes a wearable device that monitors heart rate variability and provides real-time feedback, allowing patients to visualize the connection between their mental and physical health.In March 2024, Meru Health introduced a 100% fees-at-risk pricing model for healthcare payers and employers, guaranteeing outcomes, access, and engagement. This value-based care approach aims to incentivize enrollment, quality care delivery, cost management, and medical cost savings.The company reported a 10x YoY growth in its customer base in 2020 and plans to serve 10 million users by 2027. The company also achieved 8x YoY growth in revenue in 2020 amid an increase in demand in mental health services brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.Key customers and partnershipsMeru Health partners with major health insurance providers, including Humana, Aetna, and Moda Health. In January 2022, the company joined Evernorth's national behavioral health provider network, making its services available to Cigna health plan customers accessing benefits through their employer or individual and family plans.Meru Health also works with employer groups to provide mental healthcare for employees. In September 2022, Meru Health and clinical trial platform Curebase <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13230">announced a partnership </a>to carry out a three-year clinical trial to measure the effectiveness of Meru Health’s 12-week digital depression treatment targeting primary care patients. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

Meru Health

Online peer-to-peer platform and support system that connects mental health communities.

Mobile-based apps and FDA-approved software that incorporate evidenced-based cognitive behavioral therapy to prevent, treat, or manage mental and behavioral conditions in conjunction with or as a replacement for traditional medication.

Products for behavioral health and mental health tracking, measurement-based care, and real-time remote monitoring of patients.

Subscription or membership-based platforms and apps to connect therapists, psychiatrists or behavioral health coaches with patients.

Offers virtual offerings for mental health consultations

Mental healthcare services offer personalized care tailored to a user's needs and treatment progression

There are mental health providers offering services specifically to help LGBTQ+ or BIPOC individuals

Several mental health technology providers offer therapy services rendered by AI/ML technology

HALEO Clinic

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless