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Youth mental health systems are falling short. At the same time, young people are increasingly turning to digital tools to support their well-being. 61% of young people already use online platforms for mental health support, creating both an urgent need and a powerful opportunity for innovation.
Headstream exists to meet that moment.
Through our Accelerator, Residency, and Youth Co-Creator Club, Headstream supports entrepreneurs and young people to co-create technologies that meet youth where they are. Our programs help turn bold ideas into products that are culturally relevant, accessible, and rooted in lived experience.
Building Better Youth Mental Health Technology Starts With Co-Creation
At the core of all Headstream programs is youth co-creation. We believe the most effective products and services are built with young people, not just for them.
By connecting entrepreneurs directly with youth co-creators, Headstream helps founders develop tools that reflect real needs, real behaviors, and real contexts. This approach strengthens product design, improves adoption, and reduces the risk of building products that miss the mark.
“We went from being a team with very low confidence, to being paired with some of the best in class advisors and youth co-creators to really validate our mission, values, product, and direction,” said Malika Pajjuri, founder of Psyche Care and Headstream Accelerator and Residency alum. “We left the program feeling more empowered to keep pushing forward, working alongside many other innovators that were driving and paving their own path.”
In the 2025 Headstream Accelerator cohort, 100% of entrepreneurs reported including a youth idea or piece of advice in their work, and 100% reported new, meaningful relationships by the end of the program.
The Headstream Accelerator: Turning Early Ideas Into Viable Products
The Headstream Accelerator is a four-month, virtual-first program designed for early-stage founders working on digital products for youth mental well-being. Participants refine their value proposition, strengthen their business model, and develop clearer pathways to product-market fit.
What makes the Accelerator different is its focus on youth co-creation from the start. Founders work directly with young people to test assumptions, gather feedback, and iterate quickly.
Entrepreneurs leave the program with stronger products, clearer strategies, and deeper confidence in how their technology serves youth. 100% of founders in the past two Headstream Accelerator cohorts reported they were better positioned to reach underserved youth and improve the cultural and age relevance of their products. Collectively, Headstream Accelerator and Residency alumni have raised more than $185 million to scale youth mental health offerings.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Headstream Accelerator and will close on March 15.
The Headstream Residency: Scaling What Works
The Headstream Residency is a six-month program for more established ventures ready to expand into new markets and deepen their leadership capacity. Residents focus on refining strategy, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and building sustainable growth plans.
Advisors with deep expertise in areas like Medicaid, policy, and youth mental health systems work closely with founders to help them navigate complexity and identify new opportunities for scale.
Residency participants consistently point to the value of long-term support, peer learning, and trusted guidance as they grow their companies. In the 2025 Residency cohort, 100% of participants reported increased capacity to appeal to investors or identify new financing opportunities.
Youth Co-Creator Club: Centering Young People as Experts
The Youth Co-Creator Club trains young people ages 13-19 to serve as collaborators, advisors, and leaders in the innovation process. Youth co-creators support entrepreneurs by reviewing prototypes, shaping features, improving messaging, and advising on user experience from a teen perspective.
The impact on youth participants is equally strong. In the 2025 Youth Co-Creator Club, 100% of participants reported improved readiness to support innovators, 89% built at least one meaningful new connection, and 100% reported greater confidence in advising organizations. Additionally, 94% of youth reported that their ideas and perspectives were taken seriously by innovators.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Youth Co-Creator Club and will close on March 2.
Why Participating in Headstream Programs Matters
Participating in a Headstream program means joining a community that understands both the urgency and complexity of youth mental well-being.
For entrepreneurs, participation provides access to capital networks, expert advisors, youth insights, and founder wellness support. It means building better products while sustaining your own mental health as a leader.
For young people, participation means having a real voice at the table. Youth co-creators help shape technologies, policies, and strategies that affect their lives, while developing skills that support their future goals.
For the broader ecosystem, Headstream programs help close gaps in youth mental health systems by supporting products that are grounded in lived experience and designed for real-world use.
Creating the Future Together
Headstream’s Accelerator, Residency, and Youth Co-Creator Club form a connected pathway that supports innovation at every stage, from early ideas to scaled impact. When entrepreneurs and young people collaborate as equals, the results are stronger products, healthier communities, and a future where youth mental well-being is supported by tools that truly work.
If you are building a digital product focused on youth mental well-being or ready to bring your lived experience into the innovation process, now is the time to get involved.
