What You Should Know:
– Handspring, a mental health provider specializing in high-quality virtual therapy for youth, young adults, and their families secures $12M in Series A funding led by Cobalt Ventures, with participation from NextView Ventures, nvp capital, 25madison, Arkitekt Ventures, VamosVentures, Hyde Park Angels (HPA), Cornucopian Capital, and two health plans.
– The financing will accelerate Handspring’s mission to redefine youth mental health care by addressing the national shortage of qualified pediatric mental health providers by focusing on a fully employed, expertly trained therapist workforce.
Redefining Quality in Youth Mental Health Care
Unlike many platforms that rely on loosely overseen gig-based networks, Handspring invests deeply in its clinicians. The company provides structured onboarding, weekly individual and group consultations, and ongoing training in evidence-based care. This commitment to quality ensures therapists are well-equipped to deliver high-impact interventions.
Handspring’s model includes a variety of skills-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and exposure therapy, as well as parent coaching. A standout feature is its first-of-its-kind Complex Care program, designed to support high-risk youth who are often underserved, turned away from traditional outpatient services, and may otherwise face unnecessary referrals to higher levels of care like emergency departments (ED) or intensive outpatient programs (IOP).
Handspring Technology Stack
A fully integrated technology platform underpins Handspring’s care delivery. This includes custom-built patient and provider portals, a homegrown AI-powered clinical scribe, and a therapist matching engine. These tools are designed to streamline operations, minimize operational overhead, and create a more seamless experience for both families and providers. The new funding will be used to enhance this proprietary technology platform, including further development of AI tools focused on automating operations and improving outcomes of care.
Handspring Outcomes
Handspring’s dedication to quality is reflected in its outcomes:
- Family Improvement: 96% of families report improvement in their daily life upon discharge.
- Exceptional Satisfaction: The company maintains a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 82, indicating exceptional satisfaction and trust among its users.
- Clinical Improvement: 84% of patients treated for anxiety and 79% of patients treated for depression showed clinical improvement, as measured by validated clinical scales at the completion of their care.
“Handspring is meeting the needs of children, teens, and young adults with complex challenges that many providers can’t or won’t treat,” said Kwasi Kyei, President and co-founder. He added, “And it doesn’t stop there — we take a whole family approach by working with parents so they can support their children outside of therapy sessions”.
