Techstars is a global platform that provides investment and innovation. Through the Techstars Worldwide Entrepreneur Network, founders and their teams connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporate partners who will help their companies grow. Techstars operates four divisions: Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Program supercharges success and Techstars Startup Programs inspire, educate, and connect entrepreneurs. Techstars Venture Capital Fund invests in innovative and disruptive companies. Techstars Corporate Innovation Partnerships help brands create products and services. Techstars' accelerator portfolio includes more than 1,000 companies with a market cap of $8.1 billion.

Techstars

Kapor Capital is an investment firm that invests in early-stage tech-enabled startups. They are an Oakland-based fund that understands that startup companies have the ability to transform entire industries and to address urgent social needs as they do so. It was founded in 1999 and headquartered in Oakland, California.

Kapor Capital

Trolley Ventures seeks to provide a better solution for both investors and companies. Investors receive a turn-key solution whereby they can diversify across many businesses through a single investment. Early-stage businesses can efficiently raise the capital that they need through a single relationship and a streamlined application process. To contact Trolley Ventures please visit www.trolleyventures.com and complete the ''Contact Us'' section.

Trolley Venture Partners

K Street Capital (KSC) is a Washington, DC-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 that supports the development of high-potential entrepreneurs with both a seed-stage venture fund and a 100-member syndicate. KSC boasts the largest greater-DC region angel network whose syndicate  investor-members and Fund LPs are c-suite business leaders and owner/founders in the highest levels of government, media, technology, and finance. Over the past 10 years, KSC has invested $11 million in over 70 portfolio companies and funds, 50% of which are based in DC, and 42% of which are led by women or BIPOC founders. We aim to turn the Washington, DC region into the nation’s greatest exemplar of a venture capital hub that integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its ecosystem to build a community of founders, funders, and companies that are tech-forward and thriving.

K Street Capital

AmFam Institute Impact Fund is a venture fund arm of American Family Insurance.

American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact

Difference Partners is a $30M early-stage fund investing in companies that improve the lives of those who learn and think differently (autism, ADHD, dyslexia and related neurodiversity).

Difference Partners

Left Lane Capital is a venture capital and seed-growth equity firm that invests in high-growth internet and consumer technology businesses that are fundamental to the human condition and spirit – where customers maintain a long-term relationship with the product, platform, or service.

Left Lane Capital

Blue Heron Capital invests in small-cap growth equity companies in healthcare and tech-enabled business services. The company believes in acting as committed partners to build value for companies and returns for their investors. Their firm brings strategic capital, industry expertise and a powerful network to support companies. Blue Heron Capital is an operationally focused investment firm based in Richmond, Virginia. The company firmly believes that people make the difference in building great companies. Therefore, Blue Heron Capital only invests in companies where they have deep, relevant experience and can play an active role in the oversight of the business.

Blue Heron Capital

AnswersNow

AnswersNow is an app that revolutionized autism support by utilizing the use of  technology. All of their clinicians are board-certified behavioral analysts. With thousands of hours of training, ongoing certifications, and master's level education requirements.

Virginia-based AnswersNow provides therapy for children diagnosed with autism via digital Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The company’s solution matches families with a dedicated clinician for virtual therapy sessions that are designed to mirror in-person therapy environments. Clinicians on the platform are required to either have a master of PhD and undergo over 1,000 hours of applied behavior analysis training.

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

Mental Health Tech

Richmond autism telehealth startup AnswersNow aims to launch in several new states

Virginia-based AnswersNow provides therapy for children diagnosed with autism via digital Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The company’s solution matches families with a dedicated clinician for virtual therapy sessions that are designed to mirror in-person therapy environments. Clinicians on the platform are required to either have a master of PhD and undergo over 1,000 hours of applied behavior analysis training.The solution includes specialized screen features to prevent distractions and includes integrated activities that target memory and recognition. During 2022, the company facilitated over 10,000 hours of therapy and has partnered with health plans across the US including Medicaid, United Health Care, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

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

AnswersNow

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