BetterMynd grows as student mental health is prioritized

As more emphasis is placed on the importance of mental health resources for young people, a Buffalo startup is quickly increasing its presence on college campuses across the country.

BetterMynd, which provides an online platform addressing the mental health needs of students, has come a long way since founder Cody Semrau moved the company from Rochester to Buffalo in 2020 and then, a year later, won a $500,000 finalist prize in the 43North competition. .

With 66% growth in campus partnerships over the last year, BetterMynd has grown from just an idea several years ago to now serving more than 100 colleges and universities, reaching more than 500 000 students.

And it’s not just in this region. The company, which employs about 20 people, works with colleges and universities in the South and West.

BetterMynd also doubled attendance from last year for the 50-minute online therapy sessions offered to its partners, and significantly expanded its counselor network, now comprised of more than 400 licensed and insured mental health clinicians .

Semrau started the company to quickly get students the help they need before they drop out of school or even commit suicide.

“We are proud to provide a growing number of students nationwide with the flexible, personalized online care needed to address the broad range and complexity of their mental health concerns,” said Semrau, whose company is also part of the Launch NY investor network.

“As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024, we will continue to focus on expanding our impact through new and strengthened partnerships and making it as simple and convenient as possible for students to receive therapeutic support in line they need,” he said.

BetterMynd complements and expands on-campus mental health resources to provide more accessible and personalized care to students, helping them meet their individual mental health needs and schedules.

According to BetterMynd, approximately 77% of students on college campuses experience mental health issues and more than 85% of college counseling centers are experiencing increased demand for online therapy.

The company has partnered with 47 additional campuses over the past year, including more recent deals with schools such as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Southern University and the A&M College System.

Additionally, BetterMynd has established business partnerships with Togetherall, Upswing and the Hope Center, further strengthening the company’s reach.

The company now has an average of more than 1,400 students participating in the 50-minute sessions each month, helping to meet the growing demand for mental health services among students.

BetterMynd expanded its advisor network with a 30% increase in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) advisors and a 15% increase in multilingual advisors.

The University at Albany has partnered with BetterMynd for two years.

“We know that students’ mental health and well-being are of the utmost importance to their academic success,” said Karen Sokolowski, director of the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services.

Over the past few years, Matt Gracie has attempted to bring people in the technology and information security community together.

When he realized there weren’t many meeting or networking opportunities, Gracie decided to take matters into his own hands.

He founded BSides Buffalo in 2021 and soon after hosted a technology and hacking conference in Western New York.

Now in its third year, BSides Buffalo will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. June 1 at Canisius University’s Science Hall with several speakers, lock-picking competitions, capture the flag, vendors and giveaways. It is part of a network of events taking place in 239 cities in 63 countries, starting in 2009 in Las Vegas.

Gracie, who also hosts a monthly meetup to bring the tech community together, said BSides Buffalo attracts hundreds of guests — from hobbyists and students to security practitioners and information security managers.

Speakers will discuss general security and hacking content. There will also be a sponsor display area and space for community groups like TechBuffalo and Buffalo Game Space.

Tickets are $20 at EventBrite.com or can be free if attendees agree to submit a resume to share with event sponsors.

The second round of entries to the Springboard Entrepreneurial Competition is open to organizations and businesses, this year offering total prizes of $600,000.

The first round launched in March and attracted 131 applicants – a mix of businesses and nonprofits. Prizes range from $5,000 to $25,000 per winner over three rounds.

Applications for the second round are due June 21. Ideal candidates will be from the Greater Buffalo, Greater Rochester and Southern Tier communities and will have a product, service, program or initiative that benefits entrepreneurs or businesses with a need for funding to develop or bring the idea to walk.

Applications must be submitted online at springboardny.org.

Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest on developments in Buffalo Niagara’s economy – from real estate to health care to startups. Learn more at BuffaloNext.com.

SUNY Buffalo State is remove programs and offer buyouts to cover its budget deficit.

A cluster of housing near the former Médaille University campus is up for sale.

FeedMore WNY is get cheap electricity for its new headquarters.

A Falconer manufacturer has new owners.

A large affordable housing project is in preparation for Dunkirk.

Unemployment rate in Buffalo Niagara remains relatively low.

Evans Bank is looking for customers in the legal cannabis sector.

The Anciennes Editions bookstore project encounter an obstacle.

A healthcare project on the East Side is move forward.

Downtown revitalization projects in Lancaster, Dunkirk and Wellsville receive state funding.

A Buffalo-based employee benefits company made an acquisition.

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. Do personal seat licenses retain their value? Here’s what happened in other NFL markets.

2. Michael Montante looks back on four years as CEO of Uniland.

3. A federal agency could halt construction of a wastewater pipeline in STAMP site in Genesee County. How does this affect two companies preparing to open facilities there?

4. After years of relative inactivity, the more rural areas of northern Amherst are experiencing a surge of new development projects.

5. Efforts to get more women and minority contractors working on the Buffalo Bills stadium project could pay dividends on other major construction work to come.

The Buffalo Next team gives you insight into the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to [email protected] or contact Buffalo Next editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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