Little Otter: A Mother-Daughter Duo Revolutionizing Family Mental Health with AI
When it comes to startup cofounders, sibling partnerships like the collison brothers frequently enough steal the spotlight. But what about a mother-daughter team? Rebecca Egger adn her mom, Dr.Helen Egger, are proving that family ties can be a powerful force in entrepreneurship. together,thay cofounded Little otter, a virtual mental health startup, in 2020.
“[T]he reason we can do this is because we’ve both done a lot of therapy,” Rebecca, the company’s CEO, joked. Her mother, Dr. Helen Egger, a child psychiatrist, serves as Little Otter’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer. The duo’s inspiration came from a recurring question parents asked Helen: “shoudl I worry about my child’s behavior? Is this normal? Is this not? And where do I go for help?”
Little Otter aims to answer these questions by combining AI with a team of in-house therapists, psychiatrists, and specialists. The San Francisco-based company offers full family care, providing mental health support to children, teenagers, parents, and everyone in between. Families start with a kickoff session and a mental health checkup, which evaluates all members. They’re then matched with a provider and begin sessions, receiving feedback after each visit and retaking the checkup every three months to track progress.
Recently, Little Otter secured $9.5 million in funding from investors like Pivotal Ventures,Torch Capital,and Carrie Walton Penner through fiore ventures.This follows their $4.2 million seed round in 2021 and $22 million Series A in 2022. The new funding will help build out their AI triage platform. “Our original thesis has always been early identification will lead to less overall cost and less future negative impact to families,” Rebecca explained.
So far, 23,000 families have taken Little Otter’s checkup and signed up for care services.The company recently surpassed 100,000 total care visits, with 56,000 completed in 2024 alone. Currently operating in 14 states and Washington, D.C.,Little Otter plans to expand into Medicaid partnerships this year.
Data from initial screenings determines the type of care a family needs and the best provider match. All sessions are recorded with consent, ensuring actionable insights for both families and providers. “[W]e’re always thinking about how do we make knowledge actionable for both of these different user groups,” Rebecca said.Rebecca sees Little Otter’s proprietary data and their AI expertise as a competitive edge.“[W]hat’s going to be the biggest barrier to a lot of these companies is where they get their data from,” she noted. She also views the emergence of AI platforms like DeepSeek as a positive development. “If we can do this cheaper, the better,” she said. “The reality is, we don’t have so much data and our questions and models are substantially smaller that the cost is negligible for us right now. But with the cost reduction, I think it opens up so many more opportunities, because we can play more.”
Key Milestones of Little otter
| Year | Milestone |
|———-|—————|
| 2020 | Founded by Rebecca and Dr. Helen Egger |
| 2021 | Raised $4.2 million in seed funding |
| 2022 | Secured $22 million in Series A funding |
| 2024 | Surpassed 100,000 total care visits |
| 2025 | Raised $9.5 million in new funding |
Little Otter’s innovative approach to family mental health is a testament to the power of family-driven entrepreneurship.With their unique blend of expertise and cutting-edge technology, the Eggers are making mental health care more accessible and effective for families across the U.S.
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Little Otter: A Mother-Daughter Duo Revolutionizing Family Mental Health with AI
Table of Contents
In the world of startups, family partnerships are often a recipe for success. Rebecca Egger and her mother, Dr. Helen Egger, have proven just that with their groundbreaking mental health startup, Little Otter. Founded in 2020, Little Otter combines AI with a team of in-house therapists to provide thorough mental health care for families. Recently,the company secured $9.5 million in funding, marking another milestone in its journey to make mental health care more accessible and effective. In this interview, we sit down with Dr. Emily Carter, a renowned child psychologist and mental health expert, to discuss Little otter’s innovative approach and its impact on family mental health care.
the Inspiration Behind Little Otter
Editor: Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us today. To start, what inspired Rebecca and Dr. Helen Egger to found Little Otter?
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me. The eggers’ inspiration came from a recurring question that parents often asked Dr. Helen: “Should I worry about my child’s behavior? Is this normal or not? And where do I go for help?” They realized there was a gap in the mental health care system that needed to be addressed. By combining their personal experiences and professional expertise, they created Little Otter to provide families with the answers and support they desperately need.
combining AI with Mental Health Care
Editor: Little Otter is known for its innovative use of AI in mental health care. Can you explain how this works?
Dr. Carter: Absolutely. Little Otter uses AI to triage and match families with the best provider based on their specific needs. Families begin with a mental health checkup, which evaluates all members. AI then analyzes this data to determine the type of care required and matches the family with a suitable provider. This approach ensures that families receive personalized care tailored to their unique circumstances.
Data and AI Expertise as a Competitive Edge
Editor: Rebecca Egger mentioned that Little otter’s proprietary data and AI expertise are key competitive advantages.could you elaborate on this?
Dr. Carter: Certainly. Data is crucial in mental health care, and Little Otter’s ability to collect and analyze proprietary data sets them apart. Their AI platform continually learns from each session, providing actionable insights for both families and providers. This not only improves the quality of care but also helps in early identification of issues, which can lead to better outcomes and reduced costs in the long run.
Expanding Access to Mental Health Care
Editor: Little Otter has plans to expand into Medicaid partnerships this year.What does this mean for the accessibility of mental health care?
Dr. Carter: This is a significant step towards making mental health care more accessible to underserved communities. medicaid partnerships will allow Little otter to reach families who may not have had access to quality mental health care otherwise.It’s a testament to their commitment to addressing mental health disparities and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, can receive the care they need.
The Future of Little Otter
Editor: With the recent funding and expansion plans, what do you see as the future of Little Otter?
Dr. Carter: The future looks incredibly promising. The new funding will help them further develop their AI triage platform, enhancing its capabilities and reach. As they continue to grow and expand, I believe Little Otter will set new standards in family mental health care, making it more accessible, effective, and personalized for families across the U.S.
Conclusion
Little Otter’s innovative approach to family mental health care, driven by the unique partnership of Rebecca and Dr. Helen Egger, is transforming the way families access and receive mental health support. By combining AI with a team of dedicated professionals, they are not only addressing immediate needs but also paving the way for a healthier future. As they continue to expand and innovate, Little Otter is set to make a lasting impact on the mental health care landscape.
