Oliva Raises $2.2M to Support Employee Mental Health

The Digitization of Employee Mental Health Services

Mirroring the trend of numerous other employee benefits moving online, mental health support is undergoing a similar transformation. While the consumer market sees growth in companies like Equoo, attention is now shifting towards providing these services to employees.

The Rise of Digital Mental Healthcare Providers

The expansion of telemedicine and its adoption of video-based consultations has paved the way for digital mental health solutions. Several companies are currently active in this sector, including Spill Chat, On Mind, Lyra Health, Modern Health, Ginger, and TalkSpace for Business.

Oliva's Unique Approach

Oliva distinguishes itself by focusing on direct interaction between employees and trained mental health professionals, rather than relying on marketplaces or prerecorded content. This approach is supported by research indicating that psychotherapy delivered via the internet can be as effective, or even more so, than traditional face-to-face sessions.

Securing Investment for Growth

Oliva’s provision of on-demand, professional mental healthcare for both employees and managers has garnered a $2.2 million pre-seed investment. This funding round was spearheaded by Moonfire Ventures, a new seed-stage venture capital firm established by Atomico co-founder Mattias Ljungman.

Angel Investor Support

In addition to venture capital, the U.K. and Spain-based startup has secured angel investment from technology leaders hailing from companies such as Amazon, Booking.com, DogBuddy, Typeform, Hotjar, and TravelPerk.

Experienced Founders

Oliva was founded by Javier Suarez, a co-founder of TravelPerk, and Sançar Sahin, who previously led marketing initiatives at Hotjar and Typeform. Both founders bring substantial startup experience to the venture.

Addressing a Critical Need

Suarez’s inspiration for creating Oliva stemmed from his experiences at TravelPerk. He states: “A company’s employees represent its most valuable resource – their well-being directly impacts organizational performance. However, many organizations lack the infrastructure to adequately support the mental health of their workforce, both within and outside the workplace. This creates significant challenges for employees, managers, and the organization as a whole. Oliva was launched to provide employees with access to comprehensive online mental healthcare and to assist organizations in overcoming these related obstacles – including talent acquisition and retention, manager training, and support for remote teams.”

Ensuring Privacy and Progress Tracking

Employee privacy is prioritized through a secure, encrypted personal portal. Within this portal, employees can connect with a matched care provider and participate in one-on-one video therapy sessions with a diverse range of mental health professionals. Furthermore, the platform allows individuals to monitor their progress over time.

Clinical Expertise

The team has also welcomed Dr. Sarah Bateup, a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in teaching and training mental healthcare providers, as their chief clinical officer.

Setting a New Standard

Dr. Bateup commented: “Oliva is revolutionizing access to, support for, and payment of mental healthcare, while simultaneously enhancing ongoing oversight and accountability. Our goal is for Oliva to be recognized as a symbol of quality and to establish a new benchmark for workplace mental healthcare.”

Market Opportunity

Mattias Ljungman, founder of Moonfire Ventures, noted: “Mental health has historically been an under-addressed aspect of care and well-being, particularly in the professional environment. Oliva’s founders are uniquely positioned to deliver a holistic, impact-focused approach to mental health support. While employer-funded mental health programs are becoming commonplace in the U.S., Oliva is pioneering a truly comprehensive solution for businesses in the U.K. and Europe.”

Integration with Existing Tools

The Oliva platform integrates seamlessly with Slack, offering employees access to mental health drop-in sessions, therapy courses, and specialized training and support resources for managers.