What You Should Know:
- Coral Care, a digital health platform dedicated to enhancing access to pediatric developmental specialty care, has successfully secured $1.3 million in its latest funding round.
- With participation from Reach Capital, Greymatter Capital, Purpose Built Ventures, Hustle Fund, and various angel investors, the funding will support Coral Care’s expansion efforts across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and additional markets in late 2024.
Bridging Gaps in Child Development Support with Timely and Quality Therapeutic Services
20% of children are confronted with developmental delays or disabilities, marking a substantial 152% surge since 1999. Coral Care addresses the urgent and escalating problem whereby these children encounter extended wait times, spanning multiple months, to secure care through both public and private services. Across the nation, states report wait periods exceeding six months for public services, with specific states like New York citing waitlists of up to 12 months for the public early intervention program.
In order to establish prompt access to care, Coral Care strategically recruits licensed and seasoned pediatric speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. These professionals undergo rigorous vetting processes and are assisted in taking on local private clients, thereby amplifying the pool of available high-quality specialists. Each session conducted by Coral Care is meticulously crafted to optimize successful outcomes, emphasizing in-home settings where young children can benefit from a familiar and comfortable environment.
Founded in the spring of 2023 by CEO Jen Wirt, a seasoned digital health product leader with a track record of delivering care to over 6 million patients in her career at companies like Weight Watchers, Samsung, and various startups, Coral Care is driven by Wirt’s personal mission. Inspired by her own challenges in securing timely and appropriate care for her children, Wirt established Coral Care to simplify access to developmental support for families undergoing similar struggles.
Since its launch in September, Coral Care has witnessed substantial growth, expanding its specialist team to over 50 therapists throughout Massachusetts. Impressively, the organization has achieved a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 100 from parents, highlighting its success and positive impact.
“Simply listing available service providers isn’t sufficient in the current landscape. To genuinely assist these children and their families, we must actively contribute to delivering the quality care they require – which is largely in-person. We aim to expand the supply of specialists to meet the rising demand and forge ongoing partnerships with health plans to ensure our care remains
both affordable and accessible. Our goal is to establish a sustainable, scaled platform that delivers developmental care to as many families as possible for as long as they need it.”