The future of healthcare is rapidly evolving due to technological advances in HealthTech. From telemedicine and health records to predictive AI solutions and wearable devices, the industry holds vast and powerful opportunities for agile and innovative startups. One HealthTech startup making waves in this sector is Sahha, a NZ-based mental health tech startup that recently secured a AU$1.75 million seed round, led by Aura Ventures with Antler’s participation.
Bridging the Tech and Health Gap
Worldwide mental health is dipping. Following the pandemic, the diagnosis of anxiety and depression increased 25%. And that may represent only 47% of actual cases, according to Mitchell et al. To support individuals and the healthcare system, Sahha brings an innovative technological solution to this growing problem.
Founded by Aleksander Dahlberg, Sahha uses biosensors on wearable devices like smartwatches and smartphones to offer actionable insights into individual mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Aleks presenting at Blackbird’s Sunrise
The Power of Data Translation
At the heart of Sahha’s offering is a unique approach to gathering and interpreting health data. Sahha's algorithms are trained using psychometric tests and device usage patterns, correlating behaviour with specific mental health conditions.
In an era of overwhelming amounts of data, Sahha’s technology helps distil complex behavioural data into actionable insights. Furthermore, their AI detects depression, anxiety and stress levels using behaviours, making them a crucial player in bringing personalised healthcare to an industry where mental health disorders are both complex and prevalent.
What sets Sahha apart is not just its innovative approach to data collection, but how it translates that data into real-world applications through their recently launched multi-class mental health models. Sahha’s technology has found consumers in diverse sectors, from insurance providers to employee well-being apps, from fitness apps to even banks. Their recent resilience models, which give risk/resilience scores for conditions like depression and anxiety, stand out as a privacy-first solution in an increasingly scrutinised space.
The Investment Perspective
"In a world where mental health is increasingly in the spotlight yet underdiagnosed, Sahha brings much-needed innovation to the table. The company perfectly embodies what we at Antler look for in a startup: a solid team with complementary skills, a product built on substantive tech, and a scalable approach,” says James McClure, a partner at Antler in Australia.
“As Sahha’s day zero investor, we couldn't be more excited to support their mission of transforming mental health care through technology. We have high conviction that Sahha will continue to break new ground and set new standards in healthcare technology.”
Sahha was born from the Antler AUS4 residency in Australia in 2021. Antler initially invested in 2021 and, after the impressive growth of Sahha’s platform and its partnerships alongside the growing problem space, Antler is confident Sahha’s will reach significant scales and milestones.
With this new funding, Sahha plans to scale its sales activities and expand globally. As the day zero investor in Sahha, Antler is excited about the journey that lies ahead for this promising startup. It’s a potent example of how innovation, when applied with precision and purpose, can make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Read more in The Australian.
