firsthand

Founded in 2021, New York-based firsthand is a support provider that offers peer support, social support, and health and medical support. The company’s services provide assistance to individuals that are enrolled in Medicare plans and are diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) as well as physical illnesses. firsthand helps individuals by pairing them with guides, called “firsthand guides,”; they have experience with SMI and are specifically trained to provide peer support to individuals in-person at their homes, churches, or shelters. 

firsthand also connects individuals with specialists who can help individuals enroll in local benefits and community resources such as housing support, nutrition assistance, and transit vouchers. Additionally, the company provides healthcare guides that help individuals assess and address both mental and physical health concerns, both urgent and long-term, and can provide referrals when necessary. The company also uses digital tools such as point-of-care decision support, health analytics, and risk stratification to streamline programs and track data. 

As of June 2023, the company operated in three states: Tennessee, Ohio, and Florida, working out of several cities within the states. The company had plans to operate across seven markets within the three states by the end of 2023.  firsthand operates on a B2B2C basis, working with Medicare plans to provide its services to individuals. 

Funding and financials

In February 2023, the company raised USD 28.1 million in a venture funding round led by GV, previously Google Ventures. The company set aside these funds to help increase the company’s reach and coverage.