InStride Health, a pioneering provider of pediatric anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) treatments, has secured a monumental $30M in Series B funding. Under CEO John Voith's leadership, this Boston-based organization is setting new standards in mental health care for adolescents.
The company’s total funding across two rounds has reached $56M, illustrating the promise investors see in its unique model.
InStride focuses on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), following an evidence-based approach based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Strategic Expansion and Innovation
Led by General Catalyst and joined by .406 Ventures, Valtruis, Mass General Brigham Ventures, and Hopelab Foundation, the round of funding exceeded InStride’s initial expectations. This new investment will largely fuel InStride’s clinical excellence and expansion into new markets.
According to Holly Maloney, Managing Director at General Catalyst, "General Catalyst is proud to partner with the mission-driven founders of InStride who have dedicated their careers to solving the adolescent mental health crisis.”
Candace Richardson, a partner at General Catalyst, heaps further praise on the healthcare innovator, "We believe InStride is at the forefront of helping to democratize accessible, high-quality behavioral health care through its unique clinical model and innovative approach to delivering care, and we look forward to helping them grow.”
Taking the Adolescent Mental Healthcare Gap in Its Stride
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one in three adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. In general, these disorders have been on the rise among adolescents and children, with hospital admissions for suicidal teenagers doubling over the last decade.
The challenges associated with anxiety disorders and OCD in youth go beyond personal struggles. It significantly impacts families (both emotionally and financially), the social fabric, and the broader healthcare system.
These issues are exacerbated by a need for more specialist practitioners, resulting in high costs, lengthy waitlists, and limited insurance options. InStride Health aims to bridge this gap by accepting most major insurance carriers in the states where it operates. The goal is to ensure that access to critical care is as fast, affordable, and simple as possible.
Top Tier Psychiatric Care
The company is rooted in a decade of groundbreaking work by co-founders Mona Potter, M.D., and Kathryn Boger, Ph.D., ABPP, solidifying its foundation in top-tier psychiatric care. The company is backed by a broad and experienced team of medical and business leaders as well as esteemed advisors.
"As a clinician and a parent, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take on the broken pediatric mental health system through our work at InStride. We're solving a complex problem - one that requires a diverse, smart, dedicated team driven by purpose and mission - and that is the team we have been so fortunate to build.” - Dr. Potter, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of InStride Health.
Conclusion
InStride Health’s Series B funding success represents not just a financial achievement but a beacon of hope for families struggling with pediatric mental disorders. This $30M cash injection is in the safe hands of a serious and committed team of professionals looking to close the gap in pediatric anxiety and OCD treatment. By expanding access to specialized, evidence-based treatments, InStride Health is not just changing lives; it is reshaping the landscape of pediatric mental health care.
