Brightline Hauls in $72M in Funding, Plans to Expand

Brightline — which provides virtual behavioral health assistance to children, teenagers and families — announced Wednesday that it has results from a new funding round and will be expanding its offerings.

The Palo Alto, California-based company pulled in $72 million in a pre-emptive Series B funding round led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), along with participation from new investors Optum Ventures, 7wireVentures and Gaingels.

Existing investors that participated in the round included Oak HC/FT, Threshold Ventures, Blue Shield of California, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, SemperVirens VC and City Light Capital.

BET Networks Chairperson and CEO Emeritus Debra Lee also contributed to the round as an independent investor. Additionally, Silicon Valley Bank provided $7 million of venture debt.

The funding brings the amount so far raised by the company to nearly $100 million.

Founded in 2019, Brightline provides telehealth therapy to young individuals with a range of behavioral conditions.

Behavioral care and medication support is available to youth ages 6 to 17, with speech therapy services offered to kids ages 18 months to 11 years old. Brightline also provides coaching services for families, along with self-guided content and interactive resources for parents and caregivers.

The company’s services are available through its three platforms: Brightline Care, Brightline Connect and Brightline Coaching.

The funding comes as more young people are experiencing increased behavioral health struggles amid the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the JED Foundation, a youth suicide prevention organization, over 30% of parents reported that their child’s mental health has worsened during the pandemic.

The pandemic has hit families hard on the whole, particularly those with children dealing with a variety of behavioral conditions.

In a survey conducted by Brightline, the company found that 50% of working families and caregivers reported losing significant productivity at their jobs due to caring for their children’s behavioral needs.

Brightline said that the funding will go primarily towards scaling its services, including partnerships with national employers and major health plans.

“In the past year, families everywhere have felt the impact of the pandemic on their children and daily lives,” Brightline CEO and co-founder Naomi Allen said in a press release. “We’re seeing more children, adolescents and teens than ever with behavioral health challenges — now is the time for us to get ahead of the coming wave of need. … The latest funding will allow us to innovate even more quickly, expand rapidly, and help more children and families get the care they deserve.”

Brightline also announced that it is rolling out new products and expanding the reach of its clinical services.

Brightline Connect and Brightline Coaching will become available nationwide this summer, with plans for Brightline Care to expand to all 50 states by the end of this year. All three platforms are currently available in California and Massachusetts.

Along with the funding and expansion news, Brightine made announcements pertaining to its board of directors.

Ben Robbins, who is a psychiatrist and venture partner at GV, will become a member of the company’s board of directors.

“CDC data shows that an estimated 1 in 5 U.S. children has a diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition — yet 80% will not get the care they need,” Robbins said in the press release. “Pediatric behavioral health care is often less accessible and comprehensive than care for adults. Brightline addresses the huge unmet need of pediatric behavioral health services and is uniquely positioned to provide multiple levels of care based on the needs of patients and families.”

Meanwhile, Glen Tullman — the CEO of digital health company Transcarent and a managing partner at 7wireVentures — is coming on board at Brightline as a board observer. Joining him as a Brightline board observer will be Laura Veroneau, who is a partner at Optum Ventures.