Heading Health, an insurance-based mental healthcare provider specializing in the treatment of depression and trauma, has secured $4.5 million in a Series A extension funding round. The investment is led by Gron Ventures and Jam Fund, with participation from the One Mind Accelerator, Thiel Capital, Mystic Ventures, Gaingels, and Antifund. The funding will enable Heading to expand into new markets and enhance its care delivery and analytics platform.
Heading CEO & Founder, Simon Tankel, emphasized the need for change in the mental health system, stating that a segregated and one-dimensional approach has failed many patients who wait too long for effective care. Heading aims to address this by offering comprehensive, patient-first care plans that combine different services under one roof and are accessible through insurance plans. The company’s goal is to rapidly improve the quality of life for patients and their loved ones.
As a tech-enabled mental health care provider, Heading focuses on optimal outcomes for patients suffering from severe depression and trauma, particularly those who have had negative experiences with the medical system in the past. By prioritizing evidence-based interventions with high clinical efficacy, such as Spravato®, ketamine, and TMS, as well as potentially MDMA and psilocybin if approved, Heading aims to lower the overall cost of care while delivering value to health plan partners and ensuring broad access to high-quality and affordable mental healthcare.
Heading’s approach integrates psychotherapy, psychiatry, nutrition, and interventional modalities, with plans to incorporate psychedelic therapeutics once approved. The company’s team, including recent technology hire Maxim Osipov, who holds a PhD in Computational Psychiatry, comprises industry veterans with a focus on effective mental healthcare that prioritizes impact for those in need.
Since its founding in Austin in 2020, Heading has established locations in Austin and the Dallas-Fort Worth metros. The company plans to expand further in 2023, specifically targeting Dallas and Houston. Heading is an in-network provider with nearly every commercial payer in Texas, including BCBS of Texas, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, and Tricare.
