Boston-based startup InStride Health has launched with 26 million dollars in new funding to grow its virtual pediatric behavioral health services. The launch comes amid growing national attention on mental health needs for children and young adults, as experts increasingly warn of a “pediatric mental health crisis.” The focus on accessible, specialized care for children and teens has never been more critical.
Funding and Strategic Investors
The funding round included participation from Valtrius, .406 Ventures, and Mass General Brigham Ventures. Valtrius, the value-based care investment platform formed by private equity giant Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS), brings significant support to InStride Health’s mission. This capital infusion will allow the company to expand its reach and provide virtual pediatric behavioral health services to more children in need.
Virtual Care Programs for Anxiety and OCD
Founded in 2021, InStride Health focuses on providing virtual pediatric behavioral health care for children and teens living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The company offers tailored programs that can include individual and group therapy, coaching, and medication management, all delivered by multidisciplinary care teams including psychiatrists, therapists, and coaches. By leveraging telehealth, InStride Health makes specialized care more accessible for families who face geographic or logistical barriers.
The Pediatric Mental Health Crisis
The need for virtual pediatric behavioral health services is urgent. In 2020, 5.6 million children—nearly 1 in 10—were diagnosed with anxiety disorders, according to the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families. Yet only about 20% of pediatric patients with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders receive specialized treatment, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Virtual care solutions like InStride Health’s help bridge this significant treatment gap.
Partnership With McLean Hospital
InStride Health is also partnering with Mass General Brigham’s McLean Hospital, a Massachusetts-based psychiatric hospital renowned for its expertise. The startup’s co-founders developed the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP) at McLean. According to John Voith, CEO and co-founder of InStride Health, “InStride’s strategic collaboration with McLean, distinguished by their excellence in clinical care, cutting-edge research, and clinical training, positions us to respond to an urgent need to provide effective and accessible care for children and adolescents with moderate to severe anxiety and OCD.” This partnership strengthens the quality and credibility of InStride Health’s virtual pediatric behavioral health offerings.
Growing Digital Health Landscape
The launch of InStride Health comes amid a growing landscape of virtual pediatric behavioral health startups. Brightline Health, for example, raised 10 million dollars from Northwell Health, bringing total funding to 220 million dollars. Brightline delivers virtual care to children and teens using multidisciplinary teams. Likewise, Mightier, a Boston Children’s Hospital spinout, created a gamified digital tool to help children regulate emotions and raised 17 million dollars in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to about 29.3 million dollars. These examples highlight the growing importance of virtual pediatric behavioral health as a tool for reaching patients who may not have access to in-person care.
Mass General Brigham Ventures and Industry Investment
Mass General Brigham Ventures continues to invest heavily in behavioral health, with portfolio companies including Rippl, a senior-focused home-based behavioral health startup that recently emerged from stealth with 32 million dollars in funding. Their investment strategy signals confidence in the growing market for virtual pediatric behavioral health and other tech-enabled mental health solutions.
Expanding Access Nationwide
For families navigating pediatric anxiety or OCD, access to virtual pediatric behavioral health services can be transformative. InStride Health’s virtual programs provide flexible, personalized, and evidence-based care that meets the needs of both children and their families. By combining experienced clinicians, telehealth access, and strategic partnerships with leading institutions like McLean Hospital, InStride Health is helping to close the gap between the growing demand for pediatric mental health care and the limited availability of specialized providers.
With this new funding and strong clinical collaborations, InStride Health is well-positioned to expand access to virtual pediatric behavioral health services nationwide, helping children and teens overcome anxiety, OCD, and related challenges while supporting families in navigating their care journey.
