InStride Health, a pediatric mental health care provider, announced on Monday that it has raised $30 million in Series C funding to expand into new markets. Based in Boston, InStride Health offers specialized virtual outpatient care for pediatric anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). The company employs cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly exposure therapy, in which patients are gradually exposed to feared situations.
The organization serves patients aged 7 to 24 and their families, providing a care team that includes a therapist, an exposure coach, and a psychiatrist. Together, they develop personalized care plans, enabling patients to communicate with their care team via text, phone, or video.
The Series C funding round features support from new investors Echo Health Ventures and FMZ Ventures, alongside existing backers .406 Ventures, Valtruis, General Catalyst, and Mass General Brigham Ventures.
Kurt Sheline, a partner at Echo Health Ventures, expressed excitement about InStride’s potential, stating, “As behavioral health shifts from access to outcomes, we believe high-quality specialized models like InStride are incredibly well-positioned. They have built a complete alignment of care and incentives that consistently offers sustainable ROI to payers and have demonstrated their ability to replicate the model across numerous markets at scale. We are thrilled to support the company in its next growth phase.”
According to John Voith, co-founder and CEO of InStride, the funding will facilitate expansion into new markets while increasing coverage in existing ones. Currently, the company operates in 17 states and has served over 5,000 patients.
This funding will also enhance specialized capabilities for payers and employers in areas where evidence-based care for complex anxiety, OCD, and related disorders is hard to access. Voith emphasized the goal of breaking down barriers related to geography and insurance status, stating, “Most importantly, this will allow more young people to access high-quality specialized treatment, graduate, and thrive.”
Recent data from InStride Health indicates that 97% of graduates experienced overall clinical improvements, and over 99% of patients remained out of the hospital one year after discharge. Additionally, 81% of caregivers reported a reduction in their own stress levels, while more than 90% noted a reduction in work absenteeism.
Ultimately, the company aims to broaden access to evidence-based specialized care for youth while maintaining clinical quality. Voith remarked, “As we expand into new and existing markets, we strive to ensure that more families can access the high-quality care they need while preserving the strong clinical outcomes that have defined InStride’s approach.”
Other pediatric mental health providers include Brightline and Little Otter.
Photo: Topp_Yimgrimm, Getty Images
