CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 3, 2024--
Meet Fello: The innovative peer support platform for the loneliness epidemic which connects anyone seeking connection and guidance to people who can help them because they have gone through the same exact struggle. Led by former Uber Eats executive Alyssa Pollack, who co-founded and co-led Uber Eats on its path from zero to $15 billion in revenue, Fello announced it has raised $10.4 million to-date, including a seed investment from Glen Tullman’s 62Ventures, The Capital Factory Fellowship Fund, Katalyst Capital and Offline Ventures, amongst others. Fello’s mission is to give everyone access to peer support - regardless of what they’re going through.
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Tens of millions of Americans are struggling with uncertainty, anxiety, addiction and trying to manage these problems completely on their own. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that one third of adults say they feel lonely, a health problem that the U.S. surgeon general cites as having the same impact as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Further to that, tens of millions are struggling with mental health challenges without any help. While therapy has become more mainstream in the last several decades, traditional therapy is a luxury that many cannot afford and which can’t scale to serve all those who need support.
Fello is reimagining how people get support with a virtual marketplace where everyday people can turn their lived experiences into a superpower to help people who are struggling. The app launched this fall with coverage across four areas -- relationships, parenting, drug use and alcohol use -- and has plans to expand to additional topics in the coming months.
Fellos are trained to pair the wisdom of lived experiences with the knowledge of active listening, by undergoing vetting and training processes developed with a team of leading clinicians led by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Thekla Ross and Fello’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Adam Glasofer. By sharing their stories and wisdom, Fellos can earn up to $56/hour. For Finders – or those seeking support – a 30-minute video check-in with a Fello is an affordable alternative to traditional therapy, costing just $40. Support is easily accessible through virtual check-ins, which can be scheduled at any time and from anywhere in the U.S. All Fellos undergo a process that includes background and reference checks, completion of training modules, and an assessment before they can begin offering check-ins.
CEO and co-founder Alyssa Pollack said: “Telling the growing number of people struggling with loneliness that traditional therapy is their only option is like sending everyone with a stubbed toe to the emergency room. Fello is here to bridge the widening gap for those seeking help from others who have successfully navigated similar challenges—whether it's the stress of parenting or the struggle of addiction. Utilizing the technology and rapid growth operations that built the gig economy, we are creating a platform that makes it easy to connect and get support from someone who’s been in your shoes.”
Peer-supported healthcare isn’t new. In fact, it’s been driving successful outcomes over the last 40+ years across a wide range of areas, including mental health, addiction recovery, and overall well-being. According to Mental Health America, both quantitative and qualitative evidence indicate that peer support lowers the overall cost of mental health services specifically by reducing re-hospitalization rates and days spent in inpatient services, increasing the use of outpatient services. Peer support improves quality of life, increases and improves engagement with services, and has a positive impact on an individual’s overall health.
Fello is building on this movement and modernizing it, with a mission to enable everyone to have access to peer support - regardless of what you’re going through. It provides support that’s more affordable, available, accessible and approachable.
Fello was initially conceived by Jeff Werring and Pete Kadens as part of their personal journeys seeking help from addiction and finding sobriety. Kadens, a seasoned entrepreneur and renowned philanthropist who currently serves as founder of Hope Chicago (one of the country’s largest scholarship funds) and previously served as CEO and cofounder of Green Thumb Industries and SoCore Energy (now Engie Solar), later tapped ex-Uber Eats exec Alyssa Pollack to join as a co-founder and CEO of Fello. The leadership team includes Chief Marketing Officer Meg Donovan (MasterClass, Uber), Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adam Glasofer (Amazon, Virtua Health), Chief Experience Officer Carlin Park (Homeward, Livongo), Clinical Advisor Dr. Thekla Ross (Kaiser Permanente), Head of Product & Analytics Samir Lakhani (Upwork, Coinbase), Regulatory Advisor Brian Vandenberg (Livongo, American Medical Association).
Fello’s co-founders realized the need for a modern-day version of a peer-to-peer support community based on their own challenges. After struggling with addiction and finding that outlets like rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous were incomplete solutions for long-term recovery success, Fello co-founder Jeff Werring approached longtime friend Pete Kadens (who is 17 years sober) to partner on a solution.
Kadens said: “When Fello co-founder Jeff Werring came to me with this idea, I knew we had to do something to change the way people help and heal – and make it both affordable and accessible. This is not just another mental health app. We have built a platform for getting experience-based peer support where people can turn their most valuable and largely underutilized asset – their lived experience – into a superpower. Like Uber did for drivers with cars, Airbnb did for dwellings, and Taskrabbit did for handyman skill.”
For more information or to download the mobile app, visit https://www.myfello.app/. To keep up on all things Fello, follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Fello:
Fello is an innovative peer support platform for the loneliness epidemic which connects anyone seeking connection and guidance to people who can help them because they have gone through the same exact struggle. Led by former Uber Eats executive Alyssa Pollack, who co-founded and co-led Uber Eats on its path from zero to $15B in revenue, Fello’s mission is to give everyone access to peer support - regardless of what they’re going through. Fellos are trained to pair the wisdom of lived experiences with the knowledge of active listening, by undergoing vetting and training processes developed with a team of leading clinicians led by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Thekla Ross and Fello’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Adam Glasofer. By sharing their stories and wisdom, Fellos can earn up to $56/hour. For Finders – or those seeking support – a 30-minute video check-in with a Fello is an affordable alternative to traditional therapy, costing just $40. The app launched this fall with coverage across four areas -- relationships, parenting, drug use and alcohol use -- and has plans to expand to additional topics in the coming months. For more information or to download the app, visit https://www.myfello.app/. To keep up on all things Fello, follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Fellos are everyday people who have overcome a major life challenge, and are trained to support people who are going through something similar across four areas: relationships, parenting, drug use and alcohol use (additional verticals will be added in 2025). Three Fellos are pictured here L to R: Matt, Yolanda, and Abigail. (Photo: Business Wire)
