LISSUN Buys Being Cares To Expand Into Children-Centric Mental Health Vertical

AI-focused mental health startup LISSUN has bought US-based digital mental health company Being Cares Inc to expand its footprint in children-centric psychological needs. However, the company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

LISSUN said that the acquisition will help it to expand services into child-centric concerns, including  autism, ADHD, speech delays and learning challenges, among others.

With this buyout, the Gurugram-based healthtech startup has taken over the IP rights of Being Care’s technology and its entire team.

Being Care’s founders Varun Gandhi and Abhishek Sharma have also joined LISSUN as chief product officer and chief technology officer, respectively.

“With Being’s AI and our clinical expertise, we are building a system that addresses families’ concerns from the very first signs, offers digital guidance, and seamlessly transitions into in-person care when needed,” said LISSUN’s founder Tarun Gupta.

Notably, LISSUN runs a dedicated division called Sunshine to address mental health concerns in children. The company is also looking to expand its Sunshine centre count to 200 from currently being 20, in the next 2-4 years.

Founded in 2021 by Gupta and Krishna Veer Singh, LISSUN aims to address contemporary mental health issues by offering expert guidance, therapies, and comprehensive solutions for emotional and mental well-being.

The company onboarded therapists as full time employees and built an in-house clinical team. It claims to have served more than 75,000 clients and more than 350 B2B partners. LISSUN claims to have partnered with companies like Uber, Zerodha, Unacademy, among others to transform workplace mental health.

On the other hand, Being Cares is a mental health mapping startup, helping users to map their physiological problems and providing solutions including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT),  AI-powered journaling session and quick analysis services. 

The acquisition comes on the back of LISSUN raising $2.5 Mn funding last year.

India’s Tech-Based Mental Health Industry

While moving in a fast-paced world, people have started focusing on their mental wellbeing along with their physical health. The segment, which was once limited to physical therapy sessions and medications, is now foraying into tech-based solutions.

There are several emerging startups in India, which are bringing tech-based solutions for mental wellbeing.

For instance, InnerGize, a startup founded by Siddhant Bhargava, and Shalmali Kadu and Mitansh Khurana, claims to be curing mental health disorders with use of technology. The startup utilises a cutting-edge technology, Neuroacoustic Vagal Modulation, which gently stimulates the vagus nerve, known as the body’s natural relaxation switch. 

It claims to offer a wearable device that sends calming signals to the brain’s relaxation centres, helping reduce stress, anxiety, and other health issues. The company recently raised a funding of INR 4.5 Cr.

Similarly, Bengaluru-based startup Mave Health offers a wearable product called Arc, which offers non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to treat depression.