Emilio Health Secures $5M Seed Funding to Launch Specialized Clinics and Digital Platform for Pediatric Behavioral Health

On December 18, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned that Emilio Health, a California-based behavioral health home for children and their families powered by CA technology, had raised $5 million in seed funding. Oak HC/FT led the investment, and Annie Lamont, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Oak HC/FT, will join the company’s board of directors.

In the United States, behavioral health issues among children and adolescents represent one of the most pressing social and economic challenges. Twenty percent of children have diagnosable behavioral health conditions (excluding undiagnosed cases), yet only 20% of these children receive treatment. The incidence of anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders in children is on the rise. Moreover, more than 17 million children suffer from mental health problems, a prevalence higher than that of childhood cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS combined (data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Emilio Health was co-founded in 2019 by Naomi Allen and Giovanni Colella, M.D. They are building the world’s first technology-based integrated platform for behavioral health services tailored to children and their families. Emilio Health is establishing clinics specifically designed for children and adolescents. These specialized clinics, combined with a digital platform, form Emilio Health’s continuum of care. Meanwhile, the company is developing a collaborative care model among therapists, physicians, families, and schools, enabling all stakeholders involved in a child’s development to provide more effective and efficient support for healthy growth. Through a single digital platform, parents can easily schedule appointments, track their child’s progress, and access remote therapy, much as conveniently as ordering books online.

It is reported that the funds will be used to launch the first batch of Emilio Health clinics and its digital platform, as well as to continue building the company’s leadership team. The company is poised to deliver healthcare services through multidisciplinary teams, clinically validated treatment plans, and a digital platform for scheduling, progress tracking, and remote therapy. Emilio Health’s integrated collaborative model will provide a template for addressing behavioral health issues in children, while keeping the entire care ecosystem—including therapists, physicians, families, and schools—fully informed.

“Behavioral health issues in children are widespread and disruptive, yet the current system is temporarily unable to provide the behavioral health care that children need,” said Naomi Allen, Co-Founder and CEO of Emilio Health. “I am honored to co-found Emilio Health with Giovanni, delivering a completely new behavioral health experience that provides children and families with what they need and deserve.”

Oak HC/FT is a leading venture capital fund investing in healthcare information and services, as well as financial services technology. Led by Oak Investment Partners’ healthcare and fintech teams, Oak HC/FT is part of Oak’s strategic development initiative. Over the past decade, partners at Oak HC/FT have completed 20 deals, with six portfolio companies achieving valuations exceeding $1 billion.

They are committed to driving transformation in these industries by providing strategic consulting to entrepreneurs and companies.

(Compiled by Wang Jingna)