Cartwheel, a startup that raised $20 million in Series A funding, provides school districts with telehealth-based mental health services. Cartwheel, which was founded in 2022, supports over 50 school systems in five states, including Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, and Rhode Island, benefiting thousands of students, families, and school personnel. Menlo Ventures is leading the round, with Reach Capital joining earlier investors General Catalyst, BoxGroup, and Able Partners. This funding will allow Cartwheel to reach hundreds of thousands of new students in existing service areas as well as school districts in new states.

The founding team, which included Chief Medical Officer Juliana Chen, M.D., a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, had spent decades collectively working in schools and hospitals.

The founding team, including Chief Medical Officer Juliana Chen, M.D., a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, collectively spent decades working in schools and community mental health clinics. They felt the need to improve the accessibility, quality, and financial sustainability of mental healthcare through stronger school-community partnerships.

When a school district partners with Cartwheel, the company said, school counselors can refer students for clinical mental health services with no waitlists. Cartwheel’s in-house team of licensed clinicians delivers evidence-based telehealth services, including 1-1 therapy, group therapy, parent guidance, and medication support – all as an in-network benefit covered by the family’s insurance. Cartwheel operates year-round, allowing students to see a licensed clinician at home or at school, during evenings, weekends, school breaks, and summers.

“As a district, we’re committed to supporting our students’ social-emotional and mental health to set them up for success—in the classroom and in life,” said Kimberly Huffer, director of social-emotional learning in Cambridge Public Schools, in a statement. “Cartwheel has been a game-changer for us, allowing our students and families to access evidence-based mental healthcare quickly. Cartwheel is collaborative and responsive to the needs of our students and families and empowers our social workers to have a true partner in the community.”

Cartwheel claims to work with school staff and families to provide appropriate student support. Throughout the year, a clinically licensed program manager actively assists school administrators with student cases, parent engagement, and staff training. Bilingual care coordinators also actively assist families with scheduling, navigating insurance, and obtaining referrals for additional services. Regardless of their child's interest in therapy, parents can actively schedule weekly guidance sessions with a licensed clinician to explore ways to support their child. Furthermore, parents can actively participate in educational workshops that cover current mental health topics ranging from school avoidance to social media usage.