As the 2024 Reinventing Delaware process nears completion, we’re spotlighting the top three ideas. This week’s featured finalist is Toivoa, championed by Laura Randa. In the following interview, Randa shares more about her concept:
PDFF: How would you describe your idea in a 30-second pitch?
Finalist Answer: Toivoa breaks down barriers to mental health care for individuals with disabilities. Over seventy million Americans with disabilities face a significant challenge: accessing quality mental healthcare. Toivoa, a Delaware-based company and a finalist in the Reinventing Delaware initiative, is revolutionizing the industry with a groundbreaking approach.
Toivoa’s unique solution combines evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered on-demand by a licensed clinical psychologist with personalized support from National Board for Health and Wellness (NBHWC) board-certified mental health coaches. This comprehensive approach empowers the 54 million people in the U. S. struggling with mental health and disabilities to manage mental health challenges and achieve long-term well-being.
Toivoa was born out of Laura Randa’s personal experience. When her daughter, diagnosed with hearing loss, struggled to access mental health care during the pandemic, Laura saw firsthand the gaps in the system. After searching for therapists who understood her daughter’s challenges, they finally found a psychologist who delivered the right support through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This journey inspired Laura to create Toivoa, a solution designed to break down the same barriers for the 70 million Americans with disabilities.
Toivoa is committed to fostering a more inclusive workforce by training individuals with disabilities to become certified mental health coaches. Their NBHWC-accredited program, Toivoa Coaching Academy, equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective support to clients. This innovative approach not only empowers individuals with disabilities to pursue fulfilling careers as mental health coaches but also ensures that mental health services are delivered by people who understand firsthand the unique challenges faced by those with disabilities.
Toivoa’s participation in Reinventing Delaware demonstrates their commitment to creating a positive impact in Delaware and beyond. Their proposal, which was a finalist in the initiative, focuses on training and job creation for individuals with disabilities or caregivers of someone with a disability, addressing a critical need in the growing mental health coaching industry. Toivoa’s platform is not only innovative in its approach to mental health but also in its accessibility.
Meeting the highest standards of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2 AAA), Toivoa ensures that its technology is fully accessible to individuals with various disabilities. Partnering with GrackleDocs, a third-party credentialing agency, Toivoa has made its platform the first fully accessible digital therapeutic tool that integrates evidence-based therapy and personalized coaching.
By supporting Toivoa, you are not just helping a company—you are empowering millions of individuals with disabilities to access the mental health care they need and deserve. You are creating a future where mental health is accessible, personalized, and inclusive for all.
PDFF: In what ways will your idea benefit Delaware?
Finalist Answer: Toivoa is revolutionizing mental health care for individuals with disabilities by offering a comprehensive solution that combines evidence-based therapy with personalized support. Our dual mental health treatment solution is the first fully accessible prescription digital therapeutic that meets the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA certification. Developed by doctors and will be covered by insurance, it aims to eliminate long wait times for both assessment and treatment.
Individuals will be able to access our dual mental health treatment through their employer or physician, ensuring that support is available at multiple touchpoints. This initiative is incredibly personal to many of us, and we are deeply passionate about making a positive impact in this space.
Toivoa and Toivoa Coaching Academy are making a significant contribution to Delaware by training individuals with disabilities to become certified mental health coaches. This initiative will create one hundred more better-paying job opportunities for Delawareans with a disability or caregivers of a person with a disability in a high-demand job, board-certified NBHWC in the next 18 months.
Our model involves evaluating candidates, providing job readiness training, offering pre/post-employment support, and partnering job candidates with health institutions. Since May, Toivoa has secured twelve contracts with regional health institutions, and we plan to continue growing partnerships with health institutions, building the need for more job creation of mental health coach openings. Each board-certified mental health coach will be assigned to a health institution or employer as part of the dual mental health treatment with a board-certified mental health coach serving people with disabilities.
Our Delaware Collaboration Team, comprised of experts from Wilmington University and Delaware State University, will drive recruitment and ensure the success of this initiative. This team includes Debra Berke, Angie Herman, Lindsay Rice, and Dr. Gwendolyn Scott-Jones, who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.
PDFF: What difference will your idea make in the community or the world?
Finalist Answer: Our dual mental health treatment has many impacts:
Toivoa has the potential to revolutionize mental health care for individuals with disabilities by addressing critical challenges and creating a more equitable and supportive environment. Our dual mental health treatment solution can help people access affordable, quality care, reduce long wait times, and facilitate recovery. Delaware is facing a critical shortage of mental health professionals, with only 11.6% of the need met. Toivoa’s innovative approach can help address this gap and ensure that individuals with disabilities receive the support they need.
By 2031, Toivoa aims to create over 600 new jobs in Delaware, including roles in corporate, technology, marketing, and finance. Beyond economic impact, Toivoa is revolutionizing how mental health care is delivered and accessed. With its evidence-based treatment framework and NBHWC board certification for coaches, Toivoa is setting a new standard in mental health accessibility and care—one that can be replicated across the U.S. and globally
Delaware is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in a new mental health framework for people with disabilities. Toivoa’s dual mental health treatment, which combines CBT with personalized NBHWC board-certified coaching, will provide immediate access to mental health treatment. Our work will establish a new standard for accessible, personalized mental health care that can be replicated in other states and countries.
Toivoa’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality mental health care for individuals with disabilities is a testament to our dedication to innovation and compassion. By breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities, Toivoa is paving the way for a brighter future for individuals with disabilities and their communities.
PDFF: How are you planning to achieve your idea’s purpose?
Finalist Answer: Toivoa is a groundbreaking solution that empowers individuals with disabilities to manage mental health challenges and achieve long-term well-being. Our dual mental health treatment combines evidence-based therapy with personalized support, providing a comprehensive approach to care.
As a First-in-Class, FDA-cleared, prescription digital therapeutic, Toivoa is setting new standards for accessibility and effectiveness. Designed to meet the needs of individuals with a wide range of disabilities, our solution is easy to use and affordable.
Toivoa is committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable mental health care system. We prioritize diversity and inclusion in our clinical research and among our NBHWC board-certified mental health coaches. Our goal is to ensure that our services reflect the needs of all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, or disability status.
Upon FDA clearance, Toivoa will expand access to our services by providing education, operational, and technical support to healthcare professionals and organizations. We have clinical studies planned for various patient populations, including adults, adolescents, seniors, cancer patients, and dual-diagnosis substance abuse and mental health patients. The successful model developed with these partners will be used as a template to introduce Toivoa to other integrated healthcare systems, leading to payer policy adoption and increased accessibility.
Toivoa has the potential to transform the lives of patients with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. Once clinically proven, our platform can be adjusted to aid the mental health conditions of those with visual, speech, language, learning, and neurological disabilities.
By pioneering a new approach to mental health care and prioritizing diversity and inclusion, Toivoa is paving the way for a brighter future for individuals with disabilities.
PDFF: Will you or someone other than yourself champion this idea should it continue to move forward, and why? If applicable, who else is on your team?
Finalist Answer: Toivoa is committed to championing this idea and driving it forward to make a positive impact on the fifty-four million lives of individuals with disabilities struggling with mental illness. Our team is dedicated to building a world-class organization, gathering clinical evidence, expanding access, and fostering a culture of innovation.
With a leadership team that has launched over 70 drugs, devices, and vaccines, Toivoa’s team brings unparalleled expertise to the mental health space. Laura herself has been behind the launch of multi-billion-dollar treatments like Dupixent, making her and her team uniquely qualified to scale Toivoa’s impact on the mental health challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.
In addition to building a formidable team, we are also conducting rigorous clinical trials to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of our dual mental health treatment in reducing depression and anxiety. These trials will provide the evidence needed to secure FDA clearance and expand access to our solution.
Toivoa is poised for a large-scale rollout in both employer and physician settings within our first launch in early 2025, working with strategic partners like Tarkenton and advisors from Accenture and Wells Fargo. With a pending FDA clearance, Toivoa’s dual mental health treatment combines cognitive behavioral therapy with personalized coaching, offering a revolutionary way to address mental health challenges, while ensuring efficacy, safety, and wide accessibility.
Finally, Toivoa is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. We believe that by constantly evolving our mental health pipeline, we can better meet the changing needs of our clients and stay ahead of the curve in the field of mental health care.
PDFF: What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
Finalist Answer: Starting a business can be a challenging but rewarding journey. To increase your chances of success, I recommend the following:
- Seek mentorship: Surround yourself with experienced entrepreneurs who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights.
- Build a strong network: Cultivate relationships with potential customers, investors, and industry experts. Networking is essential for success.
- Understand your target market: Thoroughly research your target market to identify their needs, preferences, and pain points. Tailor your product or service to address these needs effectively.
- Offer compelling value propositions: Provide compelling reasons for customers to choose your business, such as unique features, competitive pricing, or exceptional customer service.
- Leverage early adopters: Engage with early adopters to generate buzz, gather feedback, and secure initial funding.
By following these principles, aspiring entrepreneurs can increase their chances of success and make a meaningful impact on their industry.
Additional Details: Toivoa has a strategic partnership with NFL legend and serial entrepreneur, Fran Tarkenton. The organization is seeking funding for medical product clinical trials, operational capital, key hires, and FDA clearance, as well as funding for the Toivoa Coaching Academy—to support people with disabilities or caregivers to be reskilled/upskilled through the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching board certification.
Celebrate Our 2024 Reinventing Delaware Winner at the Pete du Pont Freedom Award
The Top Idea of the Year will be announced at the highly-anticipated Pete du Pont Freedom Award 2024 event at the Hotel du Pont on Tuesday, October 22. Buy your ticket today, or to join us as a sponsor, contact Stephanie Johnnie at [email protected].