Watch the latest videos from Cohort 5 of the Headstream Accelerator by Second Muse. These innovators are building technological answers to challenges in mental health to shape the future of treatment. They employ hip hop, AI, voice analysis, real-life interaction and other ideas to improve treatment and wellbeing among young people.
The accelerator is a launchpad for early-stage entrepreneurs building digital solutions that uplift Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Latino, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and other gender and sexual minority (LGBTQIA+) youth, especially within education and healthcare. This four-month virtual program helps founders refine their business strategies and scale for real impact. The accelerator is backed by a booming industry and a 15-fold surge in investment. Its 50-plus alumni reach more than 10 million users, and the program has raised more than (USD) $20 million. Headstream fosters visionary ideas, helping them grow into culturally competent tools for mental wellbeing.
Now, meet the innovators in Headstream’s Cohort 5.
Astro Studios
Astro Studios is a digital media company offering emotional support to teens through podcasts and in-person discussion groups. Founded by Kayla Suarez and Gael Aitor at age 15, the duo launched Teenager Therapy to share their personal struggles—sparking a movement that now reaches millions. Astro has hosted high-profile guests like Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Murthy, creating a vital space for Gen Z to navigate life’s biggest questions.
“We like to think of ourselves as the assessment Street for teenagers, basically,” Ms. Suarez says. “So, we’re really passionate about helping mental wellbeing for young people through digital connections, but also changing those connections from digital and making them offline as well, creating third spaces and community centers for young people.”
TadHealth
TadHealth, co-founded by Ben Greiner and Matt Pizzo, is a digital platform transforming how students aged 13–18 access mental health support in the K–12 sector. The platform equips schools with tools to improve student well-being with the goal of delivering stigma-free, timely care. It centralizes and simplifies mental health care. Mr. Greiner drew on his experience as a pro athlete and personal motivation from a friend’s crisis as he developed the platform’s patent-pending technology.
“It’s hard for students and families to find and access the mental health resources that are available to them through the [school] district,” Mr. Pizzo says. “Districts are working with multiple platforms to offer their mental health services. So, what we see with that is an opportunity for us to help and partner with these districts to centralize all of their mental health resources in one centralized location.”
TQIntelligence
TQIntelligence, founded by Dr. Yared Alemu, is a pioneering digital mental health platform using AI and voice analysis to deliver more accurate, equitable assessments for youth.
“We take a brief voice sample, between 15 and 30 seconds, and then use that to quantify the severity of the emotional behavioral disorders,” Dr. Alemu says. “That data supports providers and others to determine and come up with treatment planning, as well as track outcomes as the person goes through the treatment process.”
Dr. Alemu leverages over 20 years of expertise to bridge technology and care, especially for underserved communities. The platform’s AI-powered tools help identify emotional distress and guide appropriate treatment, making culturally responsive mental health support more accessible.
Sonar
Sonar, founded by Drew Barvir, is an AI-driven platform reimagining early intervention in youth mental health. Mr. Barvir developed the platform during his time at Stanford to serve as a digital well-being companion for teens aged 13–18. Sonar offers anonymous peer support and real-time insights from digital activity. It is helping schools and communities spot challenges early, ensuring that young people feel heard, seen, and supported.
“Sonar is a smart, wellbeing companion offering 24/7 text-message-based support that’s accessible instantly to all students, and then helps with early identification and noticing and coping of challenges based on social media and mobile activity,” Mr. Barvir says.
Levl
Levl, founded by Artin Perse, is a digital mental health platform helping youth better understand and manage their well-being through personalized, stigma-free tools. A member of the 2025 Headstream Accelerator, Levl empowers young people by showing how treatment impacts their mental health, boosting health literacy and self-efficacy.
“With Levl what we’re trying to do is help personalize a mental health medication,” Mr. Perse says. “Do we really understand what that medication is doing to their body? Is it actually helping them or is it not helping them? Because at the end of the day, this is the most vulnerable period in their lifespan.”
Healthy Hip Hop
Healthy Hip Hop, founded by Roy Scott, is a digital platform blending hip-hop culture with education and mental wellness to help children build confidence and emotional resilience. The platform engages more than 11,000 users in 300 schools with culturally relevant content that promotes positivity and learning. Mr. Scott is redefining how kids and families connect with music, movement, and mental health.
“Think about it. This is the first generation of fully internet, social media using children, and a lot of these platforms are not necessarily built with them in mind,” Mr. Scott says. “We did a small study last year. We’ve been able to reach over 5,000 students, get over 600,000 minutes of physical activity, and been able to see improvement in time on task and engagement in the classroom.”
