Mental Health Initiative Kasana Health has received $2 million in re-led Seed Fund: Mental Capital, Christian Anjarmeyer and the Mental Health Vice Chancellor of Apiron Investment Group. It is a move to be aware of two trends: passive data collection, and a growing mental health crisis among adolescents and young adults. Ksana Health is an Oregon-based organization founded two years ago by University of Oregon professor Nicholas Allen, clinical psychologist and director of the Center for Digital Mental Health.
Ksana’s platforms focus on collecting data related to mental health and transferring that data from user to healthcare practitioner through an app. It is, in short, a mobile therapy app with a highly detailed dashboard of patient information. The company has 12 employees and other investors include WPSS Investments, Panoramic Ventures, Telocity Fund, Palo Santo Venture Fund and competent partners. To date, Kasana Health has a live product called the Effortless Assessment Research System (EARS), designed for organizations conducting clinical research.
Participants in clinical trials can download an application and share the test investigators’ data, movement, location (via GPS), keystrokes, and patterns in written language content (no specific messages are shared). The connection to the app also goes in two directions: test administrators can send things like surveys to keep in touch with participants. Allen said the Years product has already grossed about $900,000 based on use in clinical trials, but this most recent funding has led to another product called Vire, which targets consumers.
Vira will also pass data (via accelerometer), screen time, keystroke or location based data through passive practice via smartphone or smart device. Screenshots of Vira’s dashboard also include slip data, although at the moment it is not specifically listed as a recorded variable on the company’s website. Instead of funneling that data into clinical trials, the data will be accessible to the patient’s therapist. Users will give a therapist a personalized code that allows access to the data collected on their phone. Then, a therapist can discuss those habits and the program’s behavioral advice pops up on a phone during the day, reminds the user to practice, or comes down before bed.
