Why It Matters
Raise Health is addressing the mental health crisis with cutting-edge AI, helping institutions proactively manage challenges before they escalate.
Their mission reflects the growing importance of digital mental health solutions in improving lives at scale.
Highlights
- Mission: Raise Health uses AI to detect mental health challenges early, empowering organizations to intervene effectively and provide timely support.
- Core Technology: A mental health “co-pilot” that integrates seamlessly into existing communication systems to detect nuanced mental health needs and connect individuals to resources in real time.
- Funding: Raised $278,500 from investors, including notable backers like Brad Hampton (Helzberg CEO) and Dick Flannigan (CEO of Digital Health KC).
- Research Partnership: Collaborating with University of Missouri-Kansas City to evaluate AI’s role in mental health detection, involving a study with over 1,000 students.
Raise Health, a Kansas City-based mental health tech startup, is making waves with its AI-powered platform designed to detect and address mental health struggles early. Co-founded by Craig Mason and Christa Williams, the company is on a mission to empower organizations like colleges and healthcare systems with proactive tools for identifying mental health challenges.
The startup, founded in 2022, has already raised $278,500 in funding, with support from notable investors like Brad Hampton, CEO of Helzberg, and Dick Flannigan, CEO of Digital Health KC.
A Personal Mission Meets Professional Expertise
Craig Mason’s journey to founding Raise Health stems from both personal and professional experiences:
“I’ve spent years in the health tech space and have faced my own mental health struggles. Early detection is critical to helping people and addressing challenges before they escalate.”
Raise Health’s platform focuses on AI-driven early detection tools that integrate seamlessly into existing communication systems. These tools analyze communication patterns to detect mental health needs and automatically connect individuals with the right resources in real time.
Innovative Approach to Early Detection
Raise Health’s “mental health co-pilot” delivers life-changing support by embedding its AI tools into platforms people already use, such as campus or healthcare communication systems. This integration allows institutions to proactively identify mental health needs and intervene effectively.
In 2024, Raise Health partnered with the University of Missouri-Kansas City to study its tools’ impact on more than 1,000 students. The research compares AI-powered early detection with traditional survey methods and aims to validate and refine the platform.
“This study will provide critical insights into how AI can outperform traditional methods in addressing mental health needs,” Mason said.
A Growing Ecosystem of Support
Raise Health is also collaborating with Talkspace, a leading online therapy platform. The partnership combines Raise Health’s detection capabilities with Talkspace’s therapy services to create a comprehensive solution for addressing mental health challenges.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship that tackles mental health issues from identification to support,” Mason said.
Scaling for a Pivotal Year
In 2025, Raise Health plans to scale its beta partnerships in higher education and healthcare while publishing results from the UMKC research study. Mason emphasizes the broader impact of addressing mental health early:
“Mental health is the multiplier that affects everything—work, relationships, physical health. If we can ensure people are well, we’re solving a foundational issue.”
As the company grows, Mason and Williams remain motivated by the lives their platform can change:
“Every day, we know we’re making a difference. We’re helping people be better, and that’s a mission worth pursuing.”
Why Raise Health Stands Out in Mental Health Tech
With its focus on AI-driven innovation, proactive solutions, and meaningful partnerships, Raise Health is poised to become a leader in the digital mental health space. As mental health remains a global priority, startups like Raise Health demonstrate how technology and compassion can transform care at scale.
Stay tuned as this startup continues its journey to revolutionize how we approach mental health in 2025 and beyond.
