Gwill York
General Partner
Founding Managing Director, Lighthouse Capital Partners; Director, One Mind; Chair, Board of Fellows, Harvard Medical School. MBA, Harvard Business School; AB Economics, Harvard.
LinkedInAwareness Capital
Advancing the Next Generation of Brain & Mental Health Companies
We invest in scalable, AI-enabled companies translating breakthrough science into diagnostics, therapeutics, and care delivery.
Mission
Brain and mental health shapes how people live, learn, work, and connect.
Awareness Capital backs serious founders translating credible science into practical care, better diagnostics, and stronger support systems. We care about long-horizon outcomes, but we start with what can make life better now.
Brain Health McKinsey estimates brain health represents a $1 trillion+ addressable market—larger than cardiovascular or oncology—yet it receives a fraction of the R&D investment.
The scale of the problem still outweighs the flow of capital.
Brain and mental health has long been underfunded relative to its global impact. That dynamic is now changing. Advances in AI, data science, biomarkers, and precision medicine are enabling new approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and care delivery—creating a period of accelerated innovation.
1 in 3+ People affected
by brain & mental health conditions across the lifespan
$6T Projected annual
cost by 2030
<5% VC firms active
in brain & mental health
Approach
We focus where strong science, early traction, and disciplined execution meet.
Our investment thesis is centered on scalable, AI-enabled companies in brain and mental health—where clinical validation and commercial readiness intersect.
Mid-Stage Focus
We invest in companies with early traction and validated models—reducing early-stage risk while preserving exposure to high-growth outcomes.
AI-Enabled & Science-Led
We back companies applying AI, data, and advanced science across therapeutics, diagnostics, and care delivery—unlocking new approaches to brain and mental health.
Ecosystem-Driven Platform
Our network across science, healthcare systems, and mission-aligned organizations enables differentiated access, rigorous diligence, and accelerated company scaling.
Diligence
Network-driven, evidence-led, and capital efficient.
We invest through domain expertise, deeper networks in brain health, scientific and clinical rigor, and a capital-efficient approach.
1
Specialist network
Our network across brain & mental health – clinicians, founders, and advisors – helps us see strong opportunities early.
2
Scientific & clinical vetting
We evaluate scientific validity, clinical relevance, and feasibility with support from a world-class advisory network.
3
Capital-efficient selection
We focus on businesses that can reach meaningful scale without unusually capital-intensive development.
4
High-conviction partnership
When we invest, we support companies with practical guidance, relevant introductions, and help accessing global markets.
Why Us
A Differentiated, Global Platform
Awareness Capital operates at the intersection of science, care delivery, and venture capital—supported by a network of leading researchers, clinicians, and mission-aligned organizations.
Ecosystem Deal Flow
Access to opportunities emerging from relationships across academia, non-profits, and operators—including organizations such as One Mind.
Scientific & Clinical Depth
Investment decisions informed by domain experts, advisors, and ongoing engagement with the research community.
Pathways to Adoption
Connections to healthcare systems, providers, and commercialization channels that support early traction and scale.
Global Reach
Bridging UK and European innovation with U.S. capital, regulatory pathways, and market access.
Aligned Ecosystem Model
A portion of GP carry is committed to supporting mission-aligned non-profit organizations—reinforcing the ecosystem that drives innovation, talent, and company formation.
Portfolio
Companies translating brain-health science into care.
From early-stage diagnostics to scaled care delivery — a horizontal slice of the companies in our active portfolio.
Ellipsis Health
AI voice platform that screens and monitors mental health conditions through natural conversation — handles outpatient calls better than humans.
Service · Series A
Two Chairs
Best-in-class online psychiatric care covered by leading insurers, combining precision matching with evidence-based therapy.
Service · Series B
Helus Pharma
Leading developer of psychedelics-based mental health therapies with a clinical-stage pipeline targeting major depressive disorder and anxiety.
Compound · Public
Magnus Medical
Neuro-stimulation therapy platform that is 3x more effective than the status quo for treatment-resistant depression.
Device · Growth
Holobiome
The leader in microbiome-based therapies for mental health, with a pipeline targeting depression, anxiety, and chronic pain via the gut-brain axis.
Compound · Series A
CredibleMind
Leading provider of mental health resource portals for HR departments, helping employers deliver evidence-based support at scale.
Service · Growth
Hemispheric
Founded by Apple's former AI team, decoding brain behavior for precision brain health therapies using advanced ML.
Other · Seed
Sanmai
Hybrid therapeutics platform combining transcranial ultrasound with AI-driven targeting for anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative conditions.
Device · Seed
LunaJoy
Specialty mental health platform focused on women's health, providing targeted support for OB-GYN patients through integrated care pathways.
Service · Seed
Team
Operators, scientists, and investors working from the same thesis.
We combine venture experience, translational judgment, and a long-term commitment to better brain and mental health outcomes.
Team
Dr Joshua Chauvin
Venture Partner
Entrepreneur and cognitive neuropsychologist with two decades experience in global mental health. Has led and advised digital health startups, with deep expertise in scaling evidence-based interventions and building cross-sector partnerships. Rhodes Scholar, University of Oxford.
LinkedIn
Charles Finnie
General Partner
Veteran investor in enterprise software and AI. Led early bets in C3.ai, Ask Jeeves, Kana, and Macromedia. Brings deep pattern recognition across platform technology cycles to the brain health category.
LinkedIn
Garen Staglin
General Partner (Fund I) & Advisor
Philanthropist-investor who co-founded ONE MIND and served as a partner in Awareness Fund I. Has spent decades advancing mental-health research, reducing stigma, and building the infrastructure for brain-health innovation.
LinkedIn
Kathy Guerry
CFO
Seasoned financial executive with 30+ years supporting entrepreneurial companies and investment funds. Brings hands-on CFO leadership across venture capital fund accounting, investor relations, and financial operations.
LinkedInAdvisors & Network
South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Provider & Clinical Innovator
Tom Insel
Neuroscientist & Psychiatrist
Prof. Husseini Manji
Neuroscience Leader
Dr Michelle Tempest
Psychiatrist & Company Advisor
Prof. Steven Hyman
Director, Stanley Center
Prof. Richard Huganir
Neuroscience Leader
Dr Eric Nestler
Neuroscience Leader
Dr Jerry Rosenbaum
Psychiatry & Neuroscience
Prof. Robert Malenka
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Diana Saville
Cofounder & President
Dr Maurizio Fava
Chair
Aahuti Rai
Strategic Advisor
Resonance Health Europe
Advisor Network Partner
Kokoro
Ecosystem Builder
One Mind
Ecosystem Builder
BrainMind
Ecosystem Builder
One Mind Accelerator
Company Accelerator
Ariadne Labs
Health Systems Innovation
Get in touch
Building in brain or mental health?
We read every inbound. If your work touches diagnostics, therapeutics, digital health, or AI for brain and mental health — we'd like to hear from you.
