Investing in Birches Health

We are excited to announce our investment in Birches Health who recently shared news of both their Seed Round (lead investor General Catalyst) and Series A Round (lead investor AlleyCorp) with participation from Defy VC, Will Ventures, Haystack, and Operator Partners. 

Birches Health is a digital-first clinic treating behavioral health addictions, starting with gambling.

Behavioral addictions are growing at an alarming rate. Fueled by the legalization of sports betting across 39 states, the rise of retail trading platforms (Robinhood), and the growth of speculation/prediction markets (Kalshi, Polymarket), access to addictive digital platforms now feels ubiquitous. Recent data suggests that as many as ~16% of American adults who have engaged in some form of gambling have developed addictive tendencies, which increases suicidality rates by 15x. Despite this worrying trend, treatment options are scarce, fragmented, and analogue - limited to 1800 hotlines, in-person support groups, and a relatively small number of unspecialized providers.

Birches delivers virtual-first, clinically validated, insurance covered care. Their proprietary clinical program blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) - the gold standards in addiction treatment - with family therapy, relapse prevention, and continuous peer support. They are one of only four private organizations in the US offering International Problem Gambling & Gaming Certification (IPGGC), ensuring its clinicians are among the most qualified in the field. They are also in-network with most major US Insurers which ensures affordability to those seeking care. Recent partnerships with state health departments (NC, NJ, AZ, NV) as well as with major sports leagues (PGA) are increasing awareness and bringing visibility to potential patients across the country. 

The business is led by Elliott Rappaport, a seasoned healthcare operator who previously helped build and scale care delivery at Elemy. Inspired by a close friend’s struggle with gambling addiction, Elliott set out to rebuild addiction care from the ground up. He is surrounded by a world-class team of healthcare operators and clinicians and further supported by advisors with decades of experience at Optum, Cigna, Aetna, Kaiser, and UnitedHealth Group.

We are honored to partner with Elliott and the Birches team in their mission to redefine how behavioral addictions are treated and proactively deliver care to those suffering from gambling addiction at the earliest signs of its onset.
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Black Jays Ventures is an early-stage VC fund investing in trusted products and services that address the modern needs of families.