Mass. child-development startup raises $1.3M pre-seed funding

Seven years ago, Jen Wirt noticed that her newborn daughter wasn't moving the way she was supposed to, nor hitting typical developmental milestones.

Concerned, Wirt took her to the pediatrician, who recommended Wirt enroll her baby in a public early intervention program designed to help children with developmental delays. But the first appointment she could get was six months away.

“My daughter doubled in age in the time that it took for her to get matched with someone,” Wirt said. “What started out as a mild gross motor delay really progressed into a moderate one and she ended up having to wear orthotics.”

She started to explore private options, but said she faced limited insurance coverage, thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket costs and still would have a long wait time.

“There has to be a better way,” she said.

In September, Wirt launched Coral Care, a Massachusetts-based startup to provide care to children with developmental delays or disabilities. On Tuesday, the company announced $1.3 million in pre-seed funding.  

Investment was led by Reach Capital, GreyMatter Capital, Purpose Built Venture Studio, Hustle Fund, and an angel investor, who was the company’s third customer. 

How Coral Care works

Coral Care has a network of providers, who travel to patient homes to do occupational, speech and physical therapy with children. Since it focuses on at-home care, it does not need to build clinics and can reduce its overhead costs.

There are currently about 50 providers in the Coral Care network. They are vetted by the company, but can decide when and where they work. Coral Care handles payment and bills insurance, and Coral Care is now in network with several plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan and Mass General Brigham Health Plan. Wirt's goal is to add more health plans.

Coral Care also helps parents understand their needs and provides a concierge to make sure they're staying on track. In the next few weeks, Wirt said, the company is launching a new platform as well, where parents will be able to browse profiles of providers to see who is available. 

Wirt is based in New York, but she is a Sharon native and the rest of staff and operations are based in Massachusetts. Coral Care first launched in Massachusetts, but has now begun expanding into Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

“We've taken the state by state approach because we are a hyperlocal marketplace. We do need to be focused to make sure that we can balance the supply and the demand,” Wirt said. 

And soon, she's hopeful she'll be able to use her own product herself in New York. Her other daughter needs support from an occupational therapist, she said, and she's having trouble finding a provider.

"It will be faster to launch my business here than to find somebody,” she said.

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