Amidst the rising loneliness epidemic and mental health crisis, Fello is redefining the way people connect and seek support. Fello recently raised $10.4 million to date, including a seed investment from Glen Tullman’s 62Ventures, The Capital Factory Fellowship Fund, Katalyst Capital (backed Zipline and TeamOhana), and Offline Ventures amongst others.
Why peer support is important?
The US faces a growing loneliness epidemic, with the CDC reporting that a third of adults feel isolated. The US Surgeon General likens the impact of loneliness on health to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Mental health challenges compound this crisis, as tens of millions struggle alone due to the high costs and limited accessibility of traditional therapy.
Peer support is not a new concept. Decades of research show it improves quality of life, reduces mental health service costs, and fosters better health outcomes. Studies from Mental Health America highlight how peer support reduces hospitalisation rates, increases engagement with outpatient services, and enhances overall well-being.
A mission born from personal journeys
US-based Fello was founded in 2023 by former Uber Eats executive Alyssa Pollack, who serves as its CEO alongside co-founders Pete Kadens and Jeff Werring. It was born from the personal struggles of the co-founders. Werring and Kadens conceived the platform after battling addiction and finding traditional solutions like rehab insufficient for long-term recovery. Kadens, a philanthropist and founder of Hope Chicago, brought Werring’s vision to life by recruiting Pollack to lead the company. Together, they aimed to create a modern-day peer support community, accessible to anyone in need.
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), and Regulatory Advisor Brian Vandenberg (Livongo, American Medical Association).
Virtual marketplace to connect peers
Fello steps in with a solution: a virtual marketplace where individuals called Finders can connect with trained peers called Fellos who leverage their lived experiences to provide support. Providing accessible, affordable peer-to-peer guidance, the platform pairs individuals seeking help with those who have lived through similar struggles.
The newly launched Fello app supports areas, including relationships, parenting, drug use, and alcohol use, with plans to expand further. Its peer support model modernises a proven approach, backed by decades of success in mental health and addiction recovery programs. Unlike traditional therapy, Fello’s virtual check-ins are available anytime, anywhere in the U.S., making support highly accessible.
For Finders, a 30-minute video session costs $40, an affordable alternative to therapy. Fellos, who undergo rigorous vetting and training processes developed with clinicians, earn up to $56 per hour by sharing their wisdom.
Revolutionises mental health support
Fello is more than a platform; it’s a movement to make peer support available to everyone, no matter their challenges. By offering an affordable, scalable, and empathetic alternative to traditional therapy, Fello is tackling one of the most pressing public health issues of our time. As it expands its reach and topics, Fello continues to demonstrate that lived experiences can be a powerful tool for change, transforming personal struggles into a lifeline for others.
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. Utilising 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.”
Pete Kadens, co-founder of Fello added: “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 underutilised asset – their lived experience – into a superpower. Like Uber did for drivers with cars, Airbnb did for dwellings, and Taskrabbit did for handyman skill.”
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