ImpactAlpha, October 5 — San Diego-based Cortica launched in 2017 to streamline the fragmented care journey that families of autistic and neurodivergent children experience when seeking diagnosis and treatment.
The company’s “whole-child” model includes medical treatment, behavioral therapy, and family support and counseling. “There’s an increasing need for access to evidence-based care for children with neurodivergent conditions and autism,” said Justin Brock of CVS Health Ventures, which led a $40 million extension to top off Cortica’s Series D financing round.
Other strategic investors in the round included LRVHealth, Ascension Investment Management, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation.
Outcomes
One in 36 children in the US has been identified with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Cortica says its model has shown improved outcomes for conditions such as seizures, sleep disorders, behavioral and communication issues that can occur with autism, and reduces emergency and inpatient admissions and the use of antipsychotic medications.
Cortica’s $115 million round includes a $75 million portion from earlier this year, backed by investors including Autism Impact Fund, Ajax Health and Deerfield Management.
Disability-lens investing
The challenges of people affected by physical and neurological disabilities are attracting entrepreneurs and investors. Christopher McKelvy, a grandson of Patricia Kennedy Lawford, is looking to raise $35 million to invest in startups that provide services for the more than 42 million disabled Americans.
2Gether-International, a Washington, DC-based impact accelerator, is targeting a $5 million fundraise to invest in early-stage founders with disabilities. Enable Ventures is backing growth-stage ventures founded by, for or with people with disabilities.
