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

Merck is a biopharmaceutical company that offers medicines and vaccines for various diseases. The company is driven by a mission to discover, develop, and provide innovative products and services that save and improve lives.

Merck

Telefonica, S.A. operates as a diversified telecommunications group that provides fixed line and mobile telephony services.Telefonica wants to enhance people's lives and the performance of businesses as well as the progress of the communities where they operate by delivering innovative services based on information and communications technologies.  The company operates in 24 countries and its total number of customers amounted to 315.7 million.Telefónica has one of the most international profiles in the sector with more than 77% of its business outside its home market and a reference point in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking market. The Group stands in seventh position in the sector Telco worldwide in terms of market capitalisation the 1st as an European integrated operator and in seventeenth position in the Eurostoxx 50 ranking, composed of the major companies in Europe (March 31st 2013). Telefónica is a listed company. It has more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its capital traded on the continuous market on the Spanish Stock Exchanges (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those of London, New York, Lima and Buenos Aires. In Latin America, Telefónica gives service to more than 212.4 million customers as of the end of March 2013 becoming the leader operator in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru and has substantial operations in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. In Europe, on top of the Spanish operations, the Company has operating companies in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia, providing services to more than 102.7 million customers as of the end of March 2013.

Telefonica

Force Over Mass Capital is an FCA regulated venture capital firm focused on early stage technology investments across UK and Europe. We invest in B2B innovation across four verticals, i.e. Fintech, Artificial Intelligence, SaaS and Industry 4.0. FOM cap operates both seed and scale-up funds to support early stage businesses through their growth journey.

Force Over Mass Capital

EQT Ventures is a European VC fund with just over €2.3 billion in total capital raised. EQT Ventures I launched in May 2016, with commitments totaling €566 million and a simple mission - to be the kind of VC the team would have liked to have had on their own startup journeys. Recognizing that building and growing a company takes more than just capital, the EQT Ventures team provides founders with support and advice throughout different stages of growth. EQT Ventures doesn't focus on particular markets or industries, but on bold and ambitious founders who have the grit and determination to build global success stories. EQT Ventures II launched in November 2019, with commitments totaling €660 million. EQT Ventures III launched in 2022, with commitments totaling €1.1 billion, making it the biggest European Venture Capital fund committed to early-stage tech startups. The EQT Ventures team is based across six offices in London, Stockholm, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Paris, and San Francisco, taking a locals-with-locals approach and supporting founders on the ground. Motherbrain, EQT Ventures'  in-house-developed artificial intelligence (AI) platform, ensures the team has a data-driven approach and has driven more than $100 million in portfolio company investments.

EQT Ventures

AAF Management Ltd. (AAF) is a leading early-stage venture capital firm focused on pre-Seed, Seed and Series A stage technology companies in North America. Since late 2016, we’ve invested in over 120 venture-backed portfolio companies across fintech, healthcare, consumer, enterprise software and deep tech.  We are backed by over 95 Limited Partners (LPs) across two funds. Our investors include leading multi-family offices, single family offices, royal families, c- level executives, ministers, ambassadors, fund-of-funds, foundations, hedge fund managers and other strategic investors across the US, Europe, and MENA region.    We also actively manage Limited Partnership (LP) allocations into early stage emerging managers globally exposing us to over 600 venture-backed companies. We’ve backed emerging managers who were previous venture investors at prestigious firms such as Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Ventures, NEA, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins among others.  Notable companies in our extended portfolio include: Deel, Ramp, Robinhood, Didi, Savage X by Fenty, StockX, Figure, Reddit, Current, Synthego, Epic Games, FiscalNote among many others.  Notable exits in our extended portfolio include: CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD), TruOptik acq. by Transunion (NYSE: TRU), Prodigy acq. by Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST), Portfolium acq. by Instructure (NYSE: INST), now a Thoma Bravo Company, HeyDoctor acq. by GoodRx (NYSE: GDRX), Finmark acq. by Bill.com(NYSE: BILL) among others.

AAF Management Ltd.

Village Global is an early stage venture capital firm backed by some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs.

Village Global

Pioneer Fund is a fund of 420+ Y Combinator alumni, investing in the top Y Combinator startups.

Pioneer Fund

Lionheart Ventures is a global, seed-stage venture capital firm focused on mitigating civilizational risk. We do this by supporting the wise development of transformative technologies. Our main areas of investment focus are transformative artificial intelligence and frontier mental health technologies. Leading academics estimate a 1-in-6 chance of human extinction by the year 2100, largely driven by risks from emerging technologies. And now, with the exponential growth of AI, predictions are getting worse. Our startups are part of the solution. We invest in exceptional, ethical founders who are developing transformative technologies that have the potential to impact humanity on a meaningful scale, while generating attractive returns for our LPs.

Lionheart Ventures

Octopus Ventures is a venture capital firm that offers support to companies at various stages of their journey, from idea conception to IPO. They allocate over £200 million annually to invest in sectors such as health, fintech, deep tech, consumer, and B2B software, with a focus on making a positive impact. Their experienced team assists portfolio companies in scaling rapidly. Octopus Ventures' investment philosophy extends beyond monetary support, involving time, energy, and focus to work closely with founders for success. Notable companies they have backed include ManyPets, Cazoo, Depop, Elvie, and WaveOptics. Their operations span London and New York, with a network of partners in the U.S. and Asia.

Octopus Ventures

StartUp Health is investing in a global army of Health Transformers to achieve health moonshots. StartUp Health is on a 30-year mission to collaborate with entrepreneurs to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in the world. Since 2011, StartUp Health has been investing in a global army of entrepreneurs -- called Health Transformers -- to achieve health moonshots: Access to Care, Cost to Zero, Cure Disease, End to Cancer, Women’s Health, Children’s Health, Nutrition and Fitness, Brain Health, Mental Health and Happiness, Addiction, Longevity, and Pandemic Response.   StartUp Health has the world’s largest health innovation portfolio with more than 330 companies across six continents and 26 countries and is backed by leading investors including Advocate Aurora Health, Chiesi, Steve Case, Mark Cuban, Esther Dyson, Brad Feld, GuideWell, Jason Finger, Jerry Levin, Kaiser Permanente, Masimo, Novartis, Otsuka, and Ping An.

StartUp Health

Burda Principal Investments a division of Hubert Burda Media, provides long term growth equity for fast growing digital technology and media companies. Hubert Burda Media is media and technology conglomerates with a strong investment track record in internet-centric businesses since 1998. They have been partners for visionary entrepreneurs, leveraging Burda’s capital, brands and sector expertise, particularly in the areas of business expansion, internationalization and localization. They are invested in a portfolio of highly successful consumer internet companies in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. In the past, Hubert Burda Media has invested in internet platforms such as Etsy, zooplus, HolidayCheck, or Xing AG. BPI is run by a dedicated team of investment professionals based in Munich, Berlin, London and Singapore.

Burda Principal Investments

Triple Point Ventures is an early stage VC based in London, investing in promising start-ups across multiple sectors including ecommerce, AI, platforms and wider tech. TP's team offers entrepreneurs something a bit different - a fusion of funding and operational expertise, helping investee companies fulfil their growth plans at speed while ensuring teams themselves reach their full potential as they expand.   Triple Point has funded many companies, including Skin Analytics, LendInvest, Contis Group, Capital on Tap, Payment Sense, Flatfair and MWS Technology. Several TP-backed companies have featured in start-up charts such as The Sunday Times Tech Track 100. TP recently began raising its second £30 million venture fund to invest in early stage companies who are addressing identified challenges in the B2B or B2B2C world. Triple Point Ventures is the venture capital arm of the wider Triple Point Investment Management group. The Triple Point Group manages over £1.5 billion in assets across multiple strategies including debt, infrastructure, real estate and venture capital. The group was established in 2004 as a UK venture capital trust manager and has continued to provide strong risk-adjusted returns to investors throughout this time.

Triple Point Ventures

Serena Ventures focuses on early-stage companies and giving them the opportunity to be heard. Serena Ventures extends relationships, encourages collaboration among portfolio companies, and expands partnership opportunities across my vast network.

Serena Ventures

Cur8 Capital is a London-based venture fund investing globally in early-stage startups and other alternative assets.

Cur8 Capital

Atomico is an international investment firm that focuses on helping disruptive technology companies scale globally. It partners with technology founders at the Seed stage and beyond with a particular focus on Europe, leveraging deep operational experience to supercharge their growth. The company's team of founders, investors, and operational leaders have been responsible for global expansion, hiring, and marketing at companies from Skype, Google, and Twitter to Wise and Snowflake. It specializes in seed, startup, Series A, early venture, mid venture, late venture, emerging growth, and growth capital investments.   Atomico was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in London, England, with offices in Paris, Berlin, and Stockholm

Atomico

Kinnevik is an industry-focused investment company with an entrepreneurial spirit. Its purpose is to build digital consumer businesses that provide more and better choices. The company does this by working in partnership with talented founders and management teams to create, invest in, and lead fast-growing businesses in developed and emerging markets. Kinnevik believes in delivering both shareholder and social value by building well-governed companies that contribute positively to society.  Kinnevik was founded in 1936 by the Stenbeck, Klingspor, and von Horn families. Kinnevik's shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm's list for large-cap companies under the ticker codes KINV A and KINV B.

Kinnevik

Product Co-op is building a product people love is critical to startup success.

Product Co-op

Eight Roads Ventures is a global venture capital firm managing $11bn of assets across offices in the UK, China, India, Japan, and the US. Together with our associated funds, including our US sister fund F-Prime Capital, our 50-year history of investing includes partnerships with over 500 companies such as Alibaba, AppsFlyer, Chewy, Fareye, Fever, Flywire, Fireblocks, Funnel.io, Gloat, Hibob, Icertis, Neo4j, Otrium, Owkin, Paidy, Spendesk, Tibber, Toast, Wallapop and Xoom.

Eight Roads Ventures

GreyMatter is a venture capital firm created to support bold founders building the future of mental health and emotional wellness. We believe innovative approaches to mental wellbeing have the power to not only reshape healthcare, but to touch every part of our lives, improving the way we live, work, learn, relate to one another.

GreyMatter

Pelago

Pelago, formerly Quit Genius, is the world’s leading virtual clinic for substance use management. We are transforming substance use support—from prevention to treatment—delivering education, management skills, and opportunities for positive change to members struggling with substance use, most commonly tobacco, alcohol, or opioids. Our solution gives employers the means to offer on-demand, personalized support to workers seeking to live healthier lives. Pelago’s cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs deliver convenient, accessible, and effective support that seamlessly integrates with health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, and wellness platforms. To date, Pelago has helped more than 750,000 members manage their substance use and improve their lives.

Pelago, previously known as Quit Genius, is a digital cognitive behavioral therapy provider to help users quit smoking and vaping tobacco products. It later expanded its service offering to help users with addiction treatment for tobacco, alcohol, and opioid abuse. The app also helps users recognize negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts through varied content such as audio sessions, animated videos and interactive exercises. Pelago also offers approved medication, weekly coaching sessions, and connected devices such as a breathalyzer as part of its treatment.&nbsp;

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

Mental Health Tech

<div>Pelago, previously known as Quit Genius, provides personalized care for individuals seeking to reduce, quit, or manage tobacco, alcohol, and opioid use through its online platform. The company works with employers to provide its addiction treatment programs to employees while helping enterprises save on associated medical claims. Its platform&rsquo;s treatment program incorporates individual health, habits, genetics, and goals, going beyond traditional treatment programs. The company claims its platform has delivered a significant yearly reduction in medical claims for companies, thus providing a 3.0x return on investment to employers.</div>

Managing employee health-related benefits

Health Benefits Platforms

Pelago Partners With Primer to Deliver Payments Innovation for the Global Traveller

Cigna

Cigna Corp via its subsidiary unit, Evernorth partnered with Quit Genius (the first digital clinic for multiple addictions) to expand its telehealth offerings towards addictions solutions. The partnership will allow Evernorth users to have access to Quit Genius' digital program

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.

Pelago, previously known as Quit Genius, is a digital cognitive behavioral therapy provider to help users quit smoking and vaping tobacco products. It later expanded its service offering to help users with addiction treatment for tobacco, alcohol, and opioid abuse. The app also helps users recognize negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts through varied content such as audio sessions, animated videos and interactive exercises. Pelago also offers approved medication, weekly coaching sessions, and connected devices such as a breathalyzer as part of its treatment.&nbsp;Pelago employs a value-based care model with 100% <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11615">fees-at-risk</a> based on clinical outcomes.&nbsp;As of March 2024, Pelago's platform covered over 3.4 million eligible lives. The company has demonstrated significant cost savings, with a claims-validated overall ROI of 3.2:1 for employers. Pelago's treatment approach has shown improved outcomes, with users 5x more likely to quit smoking in one year compared to other programs.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsAs of September 2024, Pelago’s customers included American Eagle Outfitters, Dollar Tree, AT&amp;T, The CheesecakeFactory, GE Appliances, and General Mills. As of August 2023, Pelago had more than 750,000 registered users on its platform.Pelago partners with employers and health plans to offer its substance use management services as an employee benefit. As of March 2024, the company worked with over 100 enterprise customers across various industries, including mining, manufacturing, technology, construction, education, and healthcare.

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.

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

<div>
 
 Pelago, previously known as Quit Genius, provides personalized care for individuals seeking to reduce, quit, or manage tobacco, alcohol, and opioid use through its online platform. The company works with employers to provide its addiction treatment programs to employees while helping enterprises save on associated medical claims. Its platform&rsquo;s treatment program incorporates individual health, habits, genetics, and goals, going beyond traditional treatment programs. The company claims its platform has delivered a significant yearly reduction in medical claims for companies, thus providing a 3.0x return on investment to employers.
 
 
 
 
 In April 2024, the company launched a new program involving contingency management. The service aims to improve patient engagement, motivation, and health outcomes by rewarding positive behaviors. The contingency management program encourages positive behaviors such as participation in substance use disorder treatment and healthier substance use management or abstinence, leveraging a range of strategies such as prizes, privileges, or monetary rewards. Initially focusing on alcohol use disorder, Pelago planned to widen the program to other substance use disorders over time. The program includes the use of &quot;Pelatokens&quot; for achieving certain health goals and milestones, which can be converted into U.S. dollars.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 As of April 2024, Pelago&rsquo;s customers included American Eagle Outfitters, Dollar Tree, AT&amp;T, The CheesecakeFactory, GE Appliances, and General Mills.
 
 
 In November 2022, Pelago partnered with Algith to become a member of the Alight Partner Network. Through the partnership, Pelago provided its smoking and vaping cessation programs to Alight members via the Alight Worklife platform.
 
 
 In August 2022, Pelago partnered with Rightway to join the company&rsquo;s partner ecosystem, RightwayHub. Through the partnership, Pelago was designated as a trusted network partner and would provide its digital-first clinic for tobacco, alcohol, or opioid addiction to Rightway members. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 In March 2024, Pelago raised USD 58 million in a Series C funding round led by Atomico, along with participation from other venture capital firms. The raised funds were set aside to further the company&rsquo;s product roadmap, support clinical research efforts, and expand its continuum of care. Post-fund raise, Atomico Partner Laura Connell joined Pelago&rsquo;s board.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 CoreStream is a developer of an employee health benefits platform that offers payroll deductions for the voluntary benefits marketplace.
 
</div>

CoreStream

<div>
 
 Benebay.com is an online self-insurance platform for smaller employers.
 
</div>

Benebay

<div>
 
 Benecaid is focused on the delivery and administration of employee benefit solutions to small and medium sized enterprises in Canada.
 
</div>

Benecaid

<div>
 
 Benepeak is a consulting firm that provides health benefits for employees using specialized applications according to users' interests.
 
</div>

Benepeak

<div>
 
 Marsh McLennan provides business insurance, employee benefits, retirement, and private client solutions.
 
</div>

Marsh McLennan Agency

Enterprise platforms that help employees and their dependents receive primary or specialist care services as part of their health benefits. These platforms also provide access to Telehealth services, behavioral care services, and remote patient monitoring

Enterprise platforms that help employees better navigate their healthcare journey by identifying which healthcare services are covered under their benefits plan and how to best maximize their use (e.g. identifying a wider pool of suitable regional physicians for consultation)

Enterprise platforms that specialize in helping employees manage their pharmacy- and prescription-related benefits to refill prescriptions or dispense medication for in-store pickup or home delivery

Enterprise platforms that allow employers to directly manage and customize employee benefit plans. These platforms enable enterprises to present employees with multiple health benefits options across health plans and negotiate terms with third-party health administrator services and insurance providers

Platforms are offered using a B2B SaaS business model, enabling digital health

Platforms are offered on a B2B basis to help manage employee benefits across an enterprise

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 
 Life insurance provider Guardian has formed a partnership with digital clinic Pelago to provide a tobacco cessation program to members of Guardian's dental insurance. This will offer Guardian members and their families access to Pelago's confidential tobacco cessation program which includes a dedicated care coach, use of digital tools, cognitive behavioral therapy content, and nicotine replacement therapy, if necessary.
 
 This program with be included as a part of Guardian's workplace-sponsored dental insurance benefits from July 2024, making it the first dental insurance provider to include an all-encompassing tobacco cessation program in dental benefits.

</div>

Pelago

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless