The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Jun 2024

Marigold Health offers a proprietary peer support program that pairs one-on-one coaching from certified peer specialists with 24/7 text-based support groups in an app integrated with NLP that flags health needs in chats. The company has demonstrated real-world outcomes: a 2020–22 pilot with a major managed Medicaid organization in Delaware made Marigold the state’s largest provider of peer recovery supports, and an outcomes analysis of 1,000 app signups found 98% reported improvement in at least one dimension of Recovery Capital. Today the program covers about 25,000 members across Delaware, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Marigold is prioritizing partnerships with Medicaid and duals health plans and is pursuing a value-based reimbursement model to tie improved member outcomes to lower total healthcare costs. The company plans to grow its peer workforce, continue developing its NLP, expand to at least four additional states by the end of next year, and pursue a longer-term vision of a nationally distributed peer delivery model that can support chronic conditions beyond SUD. Marigold Health runs a virtual program that uses trained peers—individuals in recovery—to support others via 24/7 text-based group chats. The company has patented natural language processing technology to help peers moderate its online community and has validated the approach in federally funded studies. A NIDA-funded Phase I study of 50 patients with opioid use disorder reported 64% daily use of the Marigold app across a two-month period. Since 2016 Marigold has engaged thousands of patients and reports that over 75% of current members are on public health insurance. Its service has been adopted by health plans and providers—AmeriHealth Caritas DE offered Marigold to more than 10,000 members with SUD, and Wood River Health Services will offer it in Rhode Island. Marigold plans to build state-level peer workforces and pursue Medicaid plan partnerships to expand access in communities affected by the opioid epidemic.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2023

Gather Health is a startup focused on providing primary care services for older adults. The article reports that the company has raised $16M in a new funding round. No details about the investors, the financing instrument, or the use of proceeds are provided in the article. The report also does not include operating metrics such as revenue, patient counts, or other performance data. Additional reporting or company disclosure would be required to assess valuation, prior rounds, or growth metrics. Gather Health operates a primary care model for older adults that pairs a primary care provider with community-hired Guide Partners and Medical Technician Partners to deliver in-clinic, at-home, and virtual care. The model emphasizes addressing social determinants of health through wrap-around teams, neighborhood offices with space for classes and social events, transportation for medical visits, and technology-enabled home care. EMTs and Guide Partners are hired from the communities served to extend care beyond doctors’ offices. Gather opened its first primary care practice in Quincy, MA and intends to launch additional locations and markets in 2024. The company has senior healthcare operators as co-founders, including Dr. Brent Asplin (Co-Founder and CEO) and Dr. John Loughnane (Co-Founder), with Rob Pahlavan leading company formation from Healthcare Foundry. Financially, Gather raised over $15M in a Series A to support its expansion into underserved communities.

Led · Equity · May 2020

LifePod offers a proactive voice capability that expands smart speakers with patented technology to run natural, proactive voice dialogs for check‑ins, reminders and engagement. The product supports caregivers and providers by enabling regular voice‑first interactions and by encouraging users to access online services to stay connected. LifePod works with at‑risk payor and provider organizations to improve health outcomes and reduce long‑term care costs. A 50‑member pilot launched in October 2018 showed heavy usage, with members using the service up to nine times per day. As part of a COVID‑19 virtual care program, LifePod will deploy approximately 10,000 proactive voice units to Commonwealth Care Alliance members across Massachusetts. The company’s team includes veterans in virtual assistant technology, speech recognition, IoT sensors and online services for aging adults. Financially, LifePod has just closed a $5 million Series Seed II funding round led by Commonwealth Care Alliance.