Healthcare Horizons, Season Two Recap: Highlights from Our Mental Health Series

Earlier this year, MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, launched the second season of Healthcare Horizons, a podcast series focused on exploring salient topics in healthcare innovation. This season, Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER, explores how leaders in healthcare are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to improve mental health outcomes.

Here are some of the key highlights from Healthcare Horizons, Season Two.

Episode One: AI and Mental Health - A Startup’s Journey with Blueprint

In the season premiere of Healthcare Horizons, Danny Freed, founder and CEO of Blueprint, joins Collens to explore AI’s transformative role in mental health treatment from both client and clinician perspectives. Freed discusses Blueprint’s role in equipping behavioral health organizations with advanced tools that support effective care delivery. This conversation offers a unique look at how startups are innovating in the mental health landscape through AI-driven solutions.

Listen to the full episode below, or via your preferred streaming platform.

Episode Two: How AI is Revolutionizing PTSD Treatment with Omer Golan

In this episode, Collens speaks with Omer Golan, founder and CEO of MyWhatIf, who discusses the role of AI in mental healthcare. Golan shares insights into MyWhatIf’s two innovative programs — one supporting veterans with PTSD and another aiding cancer patients and their families. Both programs use AI-based tools to provide essential mental health support. Tune in to learn how AI is helping these populations manage their mental health needs.

Listen to the full episode below, or via your preferred streaming platform.

Episode Three: Innovations in mental health with Sarah Pierce

In Episode Three, Steven Collens speaks with Sarah Pierce, chief clinical officer and co-founder of Joystik Life, a stress management app that uses autogenics — a self-relaxation technique — to help users manage stress, improve performance and boost mental well-being. Pierce explains the science behind autogenics and its benefits for the nervous system, as well as how Joystik is making stress management more accessible.

Listen to the full episode below, or via your preferred streaming platform.

Episode Four: AI-driven Innovations in Mental Health Products with Hafeezah Muhammed

In the final episode of Season Two, Hafeezah Muhammed, founder and CEO of Backpack Healthcare, joins Collens to discuss Backpack’s mission to improve youth mental health support through innovative, AI-driven resources. Muhammed shares her inspiration behind Backpack, the company’s commitment to building trust and safety within AI and the company’s recent $14 million funding milestone. Discover how Backpack is changing the future of mental healthcare with technology that lightens emotional burdens and creates inclusive resources for young people and their families.

Listen to the full episode below, or via your preferred streaming platform.


About MATTER
At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 1,000 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.