Marble, a pioneering startup founded by former Headway leaders, is set to reshape adolescent mental health care with its innovative approach to group therapy. Founded by Jake Sussman and Dan Ross, both former co-founders at Headway, Marble aims to address the alarming rise in depression, anxiety, and suicide rates among U.S. teens by offering accessible online group therapy sessions for students in grades five through 12.
The startup emerges at a critical juncture when mental health challenges among teenagers are escalating, exacerbated by factors such as increased smartphone use and the isolating effects of the pandemic. With a severe shortage of mental health professionals nationwide, Marble seeks to fill this gap by leveraging group therapy, a proven method that is often underutilized due to logistical challenges.
Jake Sussman, CEO and co-founder of Marble, shared insights from his experience as a fifth-grade teacher in Brooklyn, where he witnessed firsthand the struggles of students awaiting mental health support. “Counselors are overwhelmed with massive caseloads, leading to long wait times for students in need,” Sussman noted. Marble’s solution focuses on partnering with school counselors to streamline referrals and provide timely, effective care.
The startup’s innovative model has attracted significant investment, with $5 million in seed funding secured from prominent investors including Khosla Ventures, Town Hall Ventures, IA Ventures, Daybreak Ventures, and Lorimer Ventures. This funding will fuel Marble’s expansion across New York State, initially partnering with hundreds of counselors to deliver accessible therapy sessions funded through insurance, including Medicaid.
Marble’s approach not only addresses the financial barriers to mental health care but also enhances the quality of therapy by tailoring sessions to specific demographic and psychological needs. Sussman emphasized, “By optimizing group therapy logistics, Marble ensures that more students receive the support they need without compromising on the standard of care.”
The startup plans to scale its services beyond New York State, aiming to revolutionize teen therapy nationwide and provide a scalable solution to the growing mental health crisis in schools.
