Ginger Raises $35M, Could Help Health Systems Fight Physician Burnout

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Mental health resources are sparse compared to the number of patients in need. While nearly one in five Americans has a mental health condition, only half of U.S. counties have enough mental health providers to meet patient demand.

But a $35 million Series C funding round for Ginger, an on-demand behavioral health company, could help improve mental health.

The funding round, led by WP Global Partners, included City Light Capital, Nimble Ventures, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, Khosla Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures and Kapor Capital. The investment brings Ginger’s total funding to $63 million.

Ginger bills itself as an on-demand behavioral health system that is fully virtual, Karan Singh, MBA, co-founder and chief operating officer at Ginger, told Inside Digital Health™.

Its self-named app, available on Android and iOS, allows members to text in real time with a trained behavioral health coach 24/7. Patients can also schedule video therapy and psychiatry sessions through the app.

Ginger collected data on its app from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression survey. The company found that 70% of members using the digital health tool reported a significant reduction in depression symptoms within 12 weeks.

By the end of the year, Ginger hopes to double the reach of its platform, which is already used by more than 200,000 members. The platform is live in 19 countries, and Ginger wants to further expand internationally.

The company leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver care to its members when necessary. Through product features, Ginger’s coaching platform allows coaches to provide real-time input on their caseload.

While focused on patients, Ginger can also be used to aid clinicians, Singh said.

“Health systems can use our platform as a health benefit for employees to deal with issues related to physician burnout,” he said.

For employees who work nontraditional hours, the platform can offer care and resources after a long night shift when a provider might feel stressed or burned out, Singh added.

Health systems and providers may also refer patients to Ginger as a behavioral health service.

Ginger said it is set up as a licensed behavioral health provider and is HIPAA-compliant.

“We want to do right by our members first and foremost,” Singh said. “So we communicate that to our members and tell them how their data are secure.”

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