Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that invests in a large number of startups twice a year. It created a new model for funding startups. Twice a year, the company invests a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups. The startup accelerator works intensively with the companies for three months, to get them into the best possible shape and refine their pitch to investors. Each cycle culminates in Demo Day when the startups present their companies to a carefully selected, invite-only audience.

Y Combinator

Flexport is a full-service global freight forwarder and logistics platform using modern software to fix the user experience in global trade. The platform arranges goods to be transported and tracks the inventory in real-time in orders carried by ocean, air, and road freight, enabling logistics companies to optimize transportation routes and inventory management. It is a licensed customs brokerage and freight forwarder built around a modern web application. Its freight service includes an online dashboard for businesses to easily understand, purchase, manage, and track the services required for global trade. Its team of logistics experts lets focus on core business by ensuring goods arrive at fulfillment/distribution centers on time and at the lowest cost. Flexport's mission is to fix the user experience in global trade and bring the world free trade through technology. The company was founded in 2013 by Ryan Petersen and is based in San Francisco, California.

Flexport

True Capital Management is a multi-family office that offers business management and investment advisory services. It provides a suite of services and an open architecture wealth management platform that empowers clients to grow. The company's services surrounds business and risk management, financial planning, and investment advisory. The company believes that a comprehensive life management approach is essential to creating, managing, and maintaining wealth. True Capital Management was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

True Capital Management

K5 Global Advisor LLC (“K5”) is a venture capital firm and incubation studio that supports founders across the business lifecycle. The firm was founded in 2018 by Michael Kives and Bryan Baum and has deployed capital of around $1B as of September 30, 2023. K5 invests across multiple stages, from seed through growth stage companies, with a focus on Enterprise SaaS, Vertical SaaS, and FinTech. In 2023, Keenan Rice and Daniel Marcotte, investors from Tokyo Black Capital Advisors, LLC, and both on the founding team of Looker (acquired by Google in 2020 for $2.6B), joined with K5’s early-stage SaaS investing team. K5 seeks to help innovative companies expand their networks and best position them to achieve growth targets.

K5 Global

Looking Glass seeks to invest in and support mission-driven founders during the earliest days of company building. We are most inspired by entrepreneurs solving today's biggest challenges across the themes of healthier living, human capital, and sustainability and the environment. The firm was founded in 2019 by Adam Besvinick and is headquartered in New York City.

Looking Glass Capital

Open Opportunity Fund is a $100 million venture fund that supports Black, Latinx, and Native American founders. The firm is operated by SoftBank Group Corporation. It was established in 2020 and is based in Miami, FL, United States.

Open Opportunity Fund

Jumpstart invests in healthcare startups that are developing tech-enabled services, biotech, diagnostic devices, and digital health. The company invests in seed and Series A healthcare companies building in tech-enabled services, biotech, diagnostic devices, health IT, digital health, and consumer health and wellness. Jumpstart Nova catalyzes the growth of its portfolio companies with the insight and support of the leaders of the healthcare industry.

Jumpstart Nova

Therify

Therify provides inclusive mental health benefits for companies. Through Therify's web platform, employees can access culturally responsive therapists, live community sessions, and self-guided content to support their emotional well-being.

<div><p>Therify connects marginalized employees including LGBTQ+ and people of color with licensed, culturally responsive therapists to treat mental conditions such as anxiety using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The platform provides a personalized treatment plan, live community sessions, and educational content.</p></div>

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

Mental Health Tech

<div>
  <p>
    Therify connects marginalized employees including LGBTQ+ and people of color with licensed, culturally responsive therapists to treat mental conditions such as anxiety using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The platform provides a personalized treatment plan, live community sessions, and educational content.
  </p>
  <p>
    In December 2021, the company raised USD 1.3 million in a seed funding round led by SoftBank Opportunity Fund. The proceeds will be used to grow its provider network and sales channels as well as expand its presence across Canada, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    Boulder Care is a telepsychiatry platform that connects patients who are opioid-addicted users to addiction specialists, care coordinators, and peer coaches. Patients can get personalized plans via video and text messaging and the app is intended to be used in conjunction with prescription medicines and lab tests.
  </p>
  <p>
    <b>Funding and financials</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    In June 2022, the company raised USD 36 million in a Series B funding round. The funds were earmarked to triple the size of the company’s medical care team, expand its geographical footprint, and increase its value-based care treatment options through partnerships with health plans.
  </p>
</div>


Boulder Care

<div>
  <p>
    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).
  </p>
  <p>
    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.
  </p>
</div>


7 Cups

<div>
  <p>
    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%.
  </p>
  <p>
    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. 
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


wayForward

<div>
  <p>
    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.
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    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 on top of vital tracking information—such as heart rate data.
  </p>
  <p>
    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.
  </p>
  <p>
    <b>Key customers and partnerships</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    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. 
  </p>
  <p>
    <b></b>
  </p>
  <p>
    <b>Fundings and financials</b>
  </p>
  <p>
    In May 2022, the company secured a USD 2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to measure the effectiveness of its 12-week program for treating primary care patients. The study will follow 300 patients across the US with symptoms of major depression for a period of three years.
  </p>
</div>


Meru Health

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

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

Therify

Mental Health Tech

Key stats

Company Brief

Funding

Investors

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless