The mental health landscape is rapidly evolving, with a growing number of startups pioneering new models of care to meet the rising demand for behavioral health services, including pediatric behavioral health services. Recently, several companies specializing in hybrid, collaborative, and digital mental health care have announced significant funding rounds and grants to support their expansion and research efforts. These investments highlight a strong market belief in innovative approaches that improve access, reduce barriers, and deliver effective care to diverse populations.
Handspring Health Raises $6.2 Million Seed Round to Enhance Pediatric Behavioral Health Services
New Jersey–based Handspring Health recently announced a $6.2 million seed funding round led by Newark Venture Partners and NextView Ventures, with participation from 25madison Ventures, Arkitekt Ventures, Quantum Angels, and several healthcare operators. This infusion of capital will help the startup accelerate its mission of delivering accessible, hybrid mental health care tailored specifically for children and adolescents.
Handspring Health’s model is designed with families in mind, offering a streamlined intake process that begins with an initial call and virtual questionnaire. Following onboarding, families engage in a 90-minute initial assessment session, which involves both the child and at least one parent to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the child’s behavioral health needs. After this, patients receive weekly 45-minute therapy sessions. While these sessions are currently delivered virtually, Handspring Health plans to introduce an in-person option soon, broadening the ways families can access care.
Significantly, Handspring Health is accepting new patients in New Jersey without a waitlist, a notable advantage in a field often challenged by long delays. This accessibility, combined with a hybrid care approach, positions Handspring as a promising provider addressing the critical shortage of pediatric behavioral health services.
EvolvedMD Secures $5.4 Million Series A to Expand Collaborative Pediatric Behavioral Health Services in Primary Care Settings
Founded in 2017, evolvedMD recently closed a $5.4 million Series A funding round led by Waterline Ventures and Conductive Ventures. The startup focuses on a Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) model that integrates behavioral health services directly within primary care organizations. This approach enables primary care providers to connect patients who need behavioral health support to evolvedMD’s multidisciplinary team virtually.
Patients working with evolvedMD have access to a broad spectrum of professionals, including clinicians, psychiatric specialists, case managers, and administrative staff, allowing for a coordinated and comprehensive care experience. Currently operating in Arizona and Utah, evolvedMD partners with primary care organizations to embed pediatric behavioral health services seamlessly, reducing stigma and improving treatment continuity.
Erik Osland, evolvedMD’s co-founder and managing partner, emphasized the company’s commitment to life-altering collaborative care: “Our comprehensive model involving everything from intake and diagnosis to ongoing patient care and administrative support is cost-effective and unobtrusive to existing care pathways. We improve patient outcomes and quite literally change people’s lives.”
By delivering care that complements existing primary care workflows, evolvedMD addresses a critical gap in mental health service delivery, helping to expand access to pediatric behavioral health services while supporting providers and patients alike.
Meru Health Receives $2 Million NIH Grant to Study Digital Intervention for Pediatric Behavioral Health Services
Digital mental health company Meru Health, based in Silicon Valley, recently received a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to fund a 300-person clinical study. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of Meru’s 12-week digital intervention program designed for individuals experiencing symptoms of major depression.
Meru Health’s platform offers two core digital programs. The first, which is the focus of the NIH grant study, combines therapist support, biofeedback training, peer support, medication management, and habit-changing activities. This program is designed to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care in a digital format accessible anywhere. The second program features a chat-based coaching model that includes workshops and digital media designed to help users manage stress and improve emotional well-being.
Meru Health has already garnered significant investor confidence, recently securing $38 million in venture capital funding to scale its offerings and technology. This infusion, combined with the NIH grant, positions Meru Health to further advance research in digital mental health and broaden access to pediatric behavioral health services and adult care alike.
The Future of Pediatric Behavioral Health Services: Hybrid, Collaborative, and Digital Models Gain Momentum
The recent funding and grant awards to Handspring Health, evolvedMD, and Meru Health reflect a growing trend toward innovative pediatric behavioral health services. Handspring Health’s hybrid model, focusing on pediatric behavioral health with both virtual and in-person options, meets families where they are and reduces barriers to timely care. EvolvedMD’s collaborative care approach integrates behavioral health into primary care, addressing the mental health needs of patients through coordinated, team-based care. Meanwhile, Meru Health leverages digital interventions and clinical research to offer accessible, evidence-based depression treatment that can be scaled widely.
As these companies expand their services and research efforts, they are not only helping to meet the increasing demand for pediatric behavioral health services but also driving innovation that could reshape how behavioral health services are delivered in the future. Increased funding in these sectors signals strong confidence from investors and healthcare stakeholders that hybrid, collaborative, and digital pediatric behavioral health services models will play a critical role in improving outcomes and access for millions of Americans.
By advancing diverse approaches—from pediatric hybrid care to integrated primary care models and scalable digital interventions—these startups are at the forefront of transforming pediatric behavioral health services to be more accessible, personalized, and effective. Their success will be pivotal in addressing ongoing mental health challenges across communities nationwide.
