Inside Radial’s $50M Bet on Brain Stimulation and Fast-Acting Mental Health Care
Radial, a General Catalyst–backed mental health startup, has quietly raised $50 million in combined seed and Series A funding to pursue “non-traditional” care: targeted brain stimulation and fast-acting medications for people who can’t wait months to feel better. For patients stuck in cycles of trial-and-error antidepressants and long waitlists, this kind of model can feel less like a flashy tech story and more like a lifeline.
In this breakdown, we’ll look at what Radial is building, why investors are betting big on brain stimulation and rapid-acting drugs, and what it could mean for the future of mental health treatment. Along the way, we’ll balance the excitement with a realistic look at risks, limitations, and what patients should ask before considering similar care.
Why Non-Traditional Mental Health Care Is Getting Funded
Traditional mental health care relies heavily on talk therapy and daily medications like SSRIs or SNRIs. While these help many people, a significant share of patients either don’t respond adequately or can’t tolerate the side effects. Waiting 4–8 weeks just to see if a drug might work can be excruciating when you’re struggling with severe depression, suicidality, or crippling anxiety.
Over the last decade, research and clinical practice have pushed toward:
- Faster-acting treatments (for example, ketamine, esketamine, and other rapid-onset agents).
- Neuromodulation techniques like TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and other forms of brain stimulation.
- Care models that blend in-person, at-home, and digital support for better follow-up and safety.
“Up to one-third of people with major depression do not achieve remission after multiple medication trials, underscoring the need for additional treatment approaches.”
— National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), treatment-resistant depression data
Against this backdrop, investors like General Catalyst are increasingly funding startups that promise care models beyond “15-minute med checks” and long therapy waits. Radial is one of the latest—and most capitalized—entrants in this space.
What Radial Is Building: Brain Stimulation Meets Fast-Acting Medications
Radial’s model, as reported by Endpoints News, combines two core pillars:
- Brain stimulation – likely including established modalities such as TMS (and potentially other, more targeted neuromodulation approaches) to modulate brain circuits involved in mood and anxiety.
- Fast-acting medications – drugs that can relieve symptoms in hours or days rather than weeks, such as ketamine or related agents, delivered in a controlled clinical environment.
The company’s founding team—physicians Carlene MacMillan, MD, and Owen Muir, MD, alongside technologist and operator Elliot Cohen and co-founder John Capecelatro—signals an intent to blend medical rigor with scalable technology. Backing from General Catalyst suggests Radial aims to build not just a single clinic, but a replicable, tech-enabled platform.
While full clinical details are still emerging, Radial appears to be positioning itself as a next-generation mental health provider that:
- Leverages data and technology to triage patients and monitor outcomes.
- Uses advanced treatments earlier in the care journey instead of “last resort” only.
- Builds safety protocols around these potent interventions, including ongoing follow-up and crisis planning.
The Science Behind Brain Stimulation and Fast-Acting Drugs
To understand why a startup like Radial can raise $50M, it helps to review the scientific foundation behind the tools they’re likely using.
1. Brain Stimulation (e.g., TMS)
Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions. The FDA has cleared TMS for treatment-resistant depression, OCD, and smoking cessation, with growing evidence for other conditions.
- Efficacy: Meta-analyses show meaningful improvement in a subset of patients who didn’t respond to medications.
- Onset: Benefits may emerge over days to weeks, often faster than traditional antidepressants for some individuals.
- Side effects: Commonly include scalp discomfort or headache; rare risk of seizures in susceptible individuals.
“High-frequency TMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was associated with significantly greater response and remission rates than sham stimulation in patients with major depressive disorder.”
— Carpenter LL et al., JAMA Psychiatry
2. Fast-Acting Medications (e.g., Ketamine/Esketamine)
Ketamine and esketamine have been studied extensively for rapid relief of depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking in some patients with treatment-resistant depression.
- Speed: Some people experience relief within hours to days of an infusion or nasal dose.
- Duration: Benefits can wane after days to weeks, so many protocols use repeated sessions with careful monitoring.
- Risks: Potential for dissociation, blood pressure changes, and misuse outside of controlled settings; requires strict safety and screening.
What “Non-Traditional” Really Means in Practice
When a startup markets “non-traditional” mental health care, it can sound either thrilling or alarming, depending on your vantage point. In reality, much of what Radial is likely to offer is grounded in mainstream clinical research—but delivered in ways that differ from a standard outpatient clinic.
Non-traditional in this context typically includes:
- Earlier access to neuromodulation or fast-acting drugs rather than years of failed medication trials first.
- Integrated digital tools for symptom tracking, safety check-ins, and communication with the care team.
- More intensive visit structures during treatment courses (for example, multiple sessions per week) rather than quick, infrequent appointments.
- Collaborative care where psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, and technologists work together rather than in silos.
The opportunity is meaningful: better-tailored, more responsive, and potentially faster care for people who have been failed by the status quo. But it also raises questions about access, cost, and oversight that patients should consider carefully.
A Hypothetical Patient Journey Through a Radial-Style Clinic
While Radial’s exact protocols may evolve, here’s what a typical experience in a similar clinic could look like, based on current best practices:
- Comprehensive Intake
You complete detailed questionnaires on symptoms, history, medications, medical conditions, and substance use. A clinician reviews this with you, screens for red flags, and discusses potential options.
- Shared Decision-Making
Instead of being “told” what will happen, you walk through benefits, risks, and alternatives of brain stimulation, rapid-acting medications, and standard care. You decide together whether this pathway is appropriate.
- Treatment Course
Over several weeks, you attend scheduled sessions—TMS, ketamine infusions, or both—while a team monitors vitals, side effects, and symptom changes.
- Ongoing Support
Between sessions, digital tools may prompt you to track mood, sleep, or anxiety. Your care team can adjust treatment or reach out if concerning patterns appear.
- Transition & Maintenance
As symptoms improve, the focus shifts to relapse prevention: therapy, lifestyle interventions, and sometimes maintenance stimulation or booster sessions when evidence supports it.
Barriers, Risks, and Questions to Ask
Innovation doesn’t erase hard realities. If you’re considering a clinic like Radial—or simply trying to make sense of the hype—these are key challenges to keep in mind.
1. Access and Cost
- Many advanced treatments are not fully covered by insurance, or coverage varies widely by plan and region.
- Out-of-pocket costs can run into thousands of dollars for a full treatment series.
- Clinics often cluster in urban centers, leaving rural patients behind.
2. Safety and Oversight
- Fast-acting medications must be given in controlled, medically supervised environments.
- Screening for heart disease, psychosis, substance use, and medication interactions is essential.
- Patients need clear emergency plans and access to support between visits.
3. Realistic Expectations
- Even with advanced care, not everyone will achieve full remission.
- Some people improve but still need daily medications and therapy.
- Maintenance strategies are crucial; rapid relief doesn’t always equal permanent cure.
Before enrolling, consider asking:
- “What evidence supports this specific protocol for people like me?”
- “How do you handle side effects or emergencies?”
- “What will my total cost be, and what does insurance cover?”
- “How will we know if treatment is working, and what are the next steps if it doesn’t?”
Why Investors Like General Catalyst Are Backing Radial
From an investing standpoint, Radial sits at the intersection of several powerful trends:
- Massive unmet need: Depression, anxiety, and other conditions are among the leading causes of disability worldwide.
- Reimbursable procedures: TMS and certain medications are increasingly covered by insurers, creating more predictable revenue streams.
- Tech-enabled care: Data-driven platforms can scale across clinics and states, appealing to growth-oriented investors.
- Brand differentiation: “Fast-acting,” “brain-based,” and “evidence-backed” care stands out in a crowded telehealth landscape.
While capital can accelerate access to advanced treatments, it also raises ethical questions: Will clinics prioritize patient outcomes over volume? How will they serve those who can’t pay? Responsible growth will require guardrails as this sector matures.
Practical Steps If You’re Curious About These Treatments
If hearing about Radial’s funding makes you wonder whether brain stimulation or fast-acting medications might help you or someone you love, here’s a grounded way to explore next steps.
- Start with Your Current Clinician
Ask your psychiatrist, primary care doctor, or therapist what they know about TMS, ketamine, or other rapid-acting options in your area. They can often help you evaluate options objectively.
- Look for Accredited, Evidence-Based Programs
Seek clinics that use FDA-cleared devices and evidence-supported medications, with clear protocols and medical oversight. Avoid operations that make sweeping “cure” claims or minimize risks.
- Verify Insurance and Total Costs
Call both the clinic and your insurer. Ask about prior authorization, session limits, and any payment plans if you’ll have significant out-of-pocket expenses.
- Ask About Follow-Up Care
Effective programs should integrate therapy, crisis planning, and coordination with your existing providers, not just deliver a series of procedures and send you on your way.
Looking Ahead: Hope, With Honesty
Radial’s $50M raise is a strong signal that non-traditional, brain-focused mental health care is moving further into the mainstream. For patients living with treatment-resistant depression, severe anxiety, or other conditions that haven’t responded to standard care, this shift represents real hope—rooted not in miracle cures, but in diversifying the tools we have to work with.
At the same time, advanced treatments are not magic bullets. They work best when:
- Guided by careful assessment and shared decision-making.
- Embedded within ongoing therapeutic relationships.
- Supported by realistic expectations and transparent discussions of cost and risk.
As startups like Radial scale, the most important measure of success won’t be funding rounds or clinic counts—it will be the everyday stories of people whose lives become more livable, one carefully delivered treatment at a time.
If you’re considering this kind of care, your next step can be as simple as starting a candid conversation with a trusted clinician: “Given my history, do you think brain stimulation or a fast-acting medication might be worth exploring?” From there, you can map out an approach that centers what matters most—your safety, your values, and your long-term wellbeing.
