Birches selected for One Mind™ Mental Health Innovation Accelerator
One Mind™, a leading mental health nonprofit based in Napa Valley, CA, has announced the selected startups of the 2026 One Mind Accelerator, a 10-week immersive program designed to offer critical domain expertise and hands-on support for business development, company building, fundraising, and founder development.
Birches Health is proud to have been selected as part of the 2026 cohort, which focuses on advancing mental health innovation, a core goal of Birches.
The 14 companies in the 2026 cohort were selected from a record-breaking number of applicants, reflecting a less than 5% acceptance rate. The previous companies have raised nearly $1 billion since their Demo Day, and have impacted 1 million people with lived experience so far.
The 2026 cohort companies span pre-seed, seed, and Series A (like Birches Health) stages, and were chosen for their potential to transform the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of mental illness. Together, they are addressing the mental health crisis across the full spectrum of severity and lifespan - from subclinical mental health challenges to serious mental illness, and from pediatric to geriatric care. These startups are leveraging the recent technological inflections in clinical AI, spatial computing, biomarkers, and non-invasive brain imaging and stimulation, alongside growing policy and societal emphasis on chronic disease and lifestyle-based interventions.
"This year's cohort represents the forefront of mental health science, innovation, and treatment. As technology, including AI, redefines what's possible, these founders are ready to meet the moment and meaningfully improve the care that is available to individuals and families seeking new and highly effective solutions,"
-Kathleen M. Pike, PHD, CEO of One Mind
“Since its launch, the One Mind Accelerator has focused on addressing the mental health crisis by helping early-stage companies bring their innovations to market faster and with greater impact. This year’s programming is tailored to the specific growth stages and needs of each founding team, allowing us to better support relationship-building, business development, and fundraising. With the support of our generous donors and best-in-class industry partners, we provide an unparalleled level of access and expertise. Over the past three years, the Accelerator has facilitated more than 1,000 introductions and hosted over 300 expert sessions, leading to closed contracts, top-tier advisory boards, and C-level talent recruitment.”
-Carmine Di Maro, Executive Director, One Mind Accelerator
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, One Mind is grateful to receive generous philanthropic support from private donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors who together make the One Mind Accelerator possible. These include Bank of America, Baszucki Group, Penner Family Foundation and Resonance Philanthropies as lead supporters, as well as support from Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation, The Dr. Daniel C. Cooper Brain Health Research Fund, Flourish Impact Fund, Greenbridge Family Foundation, Rainwater Foundation, Unlikely Collaborators, and the Wellcome Trust. One Mind also receives substantial support from an anonymous donor, as well as the Board of Directors and others who provide unrestricted contributions.
About One Mind™
One Mind is a Napa Valley, CA-based nonprofit dedicated to improving mental health outcomes for individuals, families, and society. With science as our foundation and people at the heart of our mission, One Mind supports early-career scientists with bold ideas, empowers passionate entrepreneurs developing real-world solutions, and leads a global coalition of business leaders committed to improving mental health in the workplace.
Founded in 1995 by business leaders and philanthropists Garen and Shari Staglin following their son Brandon’s diagnosis with schizophrenia, One Mind was created to bridge critical gaps in mental health research funding and patient support. Guided by this enduring purpose, One Mind strives to transform knowledge into actionable solutions that foster mental health and healing for individuals whose lives are impacted by mental illness.
About the One Mind Accelerator
The One Mind Accelerator (OMA) is a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit accelerator for early-stage startups developing breakthrough solutions for mental health. Launched in 2023 by One Mind, the program selects a cohort of 10-16 startups each year and backs them with network, education, and capital through an intensive 10-week hybrid program. OMA is funded via philanthropic contributions to One Mind, which receives advisory shares from participating companies, with all proceeds reinvested back into the nonprofit.
