Boston, MA, February 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – FamilyGood Health has secured $4.3 million in seed funding to solve the maternal mental health crisis. This milestone marks the company's first round of institutional capital and is led by .406 Ventures, with participation from GreyMatter Capital and Mother Ventures. FamilyWell will continue to grow throughout New England and the funding will allow the company to expand nationally.
“Given our team's deep experience supporting innovative behavioral health and women's health companies, we had been looking at this intersection for quite some time,” said Payal Divakaran, partner at .406 Ventures. “FamilyWell offers an elegant solution that benefits all stakeholders, including obstetric practices. Dr. Gaulton and her team have created an incredible, mission-driven company poised to address a critical need in the mental health of women”.
New mothers face serious maternal mental health challenges, and a staggering 1 in 5 American women suffer from postpartum depression. People seeking treatment often wait months to see a mental health provider and instead turn to their obstetricians, who are often hesitant to screen for mental health conditions because they know there is a shortage of therapists and psychiatrists.
“I struggled to find support when I experienced postpartum depression and cared for countless new moms struggling to access mental health care during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives,” she said. Dr. Jessica Gaulton, Founder and CEO of FamilyWell. “My experience, as a survivor and a practicing neonatologist, inspired me to start FamilyWell to provide equitable, affordable and accessible mental health care to new mothers.”
FamilyWell is addressing these issues by integrating comprehensive mental health services directly into obstetrics visits, providing pregnant and postpartum patients with specialized support for depression, anxiety, and other perinatal mental health issues. FamilyWell's approach combines a best-in-class clinical model with the deep understanding that comes from personal experiences, as the company was built from the ground up by mothers who overcame their own mental health challenges during and after pregnancy.
By partnering with obstetrics providers, FamilyWell increases access to mental health support for pregnant and postpartum people where and when they need it. FamilyWell patients typically access insurance-covered counseling and therapy in less than a week, avoiding wait times of 6 to 12 months.
“When you're pregnant or caring for a newborn, you don't have the luxury of waiting months for help,” said Dr. Melissa Sherman, medical director and obstetrician at Essex OB/GYN Associates, a FamilyWell client. “With FamilyWell, patients receive help within days and have ongoing support during one of the most important transitions of their lives.”
About .406 Ventures .406 Ventures is a Boston-based venture capital firm with over $1.4 billion under management and nearly two decades of experience leading or co-leading early-stage investments in pioneering healthcare, data + AI, and cybersecurity companies founded by visionary entrepreneurs. Notable major investments include AbleTo (acquired by Optum), Carbon Black (acquired by VMWare), Cloud Health (acquired by VMware), Corvus (acquired by Travelers), Health Dialog (acquired by BUPA), Iora Health (acquired by One Medical / Amazon), Mineral Tree (acquired by Global Payments) and Veracode (acquired by CA Technologies). Get more information at .406ventures.com and follow us on LinkedIn and x.
About Gray Matter Capital GreyMatter is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting bold founders building the future of mental health and emotional well-being. His team has extensive experience investing, building and advising companies at the nexus of mental health and technology, and has cultivated a strong network of advisors, including many of the founders of behavioral health companies, distinguished clinicians, researchers and most successful technologists. , policy advocates and healthcare executives. Its platform serves all stakeholders in the innovation space, including builders, payers, and funders. Get more information at greymattercapital.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Madre Ventures Mother Ventures channels the financial and social capital of mothers to power the next generation of companies built for mothers and families. 85 million American mothers control 85% of household purchases and have purchasing power of more than $2.4 trillion. Mother Ventures, founded in 2024, is the first venture capital firm to specifically focus on mothers as consumers. They invest in companies that make life easier, healthier, more rewarding and stress-free for mothers, fathers and children. Get more information at mother-ventures.com.
About FamilyWell Health FamilyWell Health is a technology-based behavioral health company that integrates specialty mental health services including coaching, therapy and psychiatry into OB/GYN practices. Their comprehensive program includes in-person and virtual care and an on-demand text support line with live counselors for accessible emotional support. For more information visit familiawellhealth.com. Follow us LinkedIn and I G.
FamilyWell, Inc. Danielle Reynolds-Flatt Director of Digital Marketing danielle@familywellhealth.com
