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Fully remote startup Clayful partners with K-12 educational institutions to provide on-demand, chat-based mental health coaching for students aged eight to eighteen. The digital platform connects users to certified coaches within 60 seconds, offering strategies to manage emotions and relationships without charging the students directly. Operating with a workforce of over 100 staff members, the company currently serves students across nearly 20 school districts located in six states. The organization has subsequently expanded its operational footprint to partner with more than 50 schools nationwide since launching its initial pilot program. To support this ongoing growth, the enterprise raised $7 million in a late 2023 funding round led by Reach Capital, alongside investments from OVO Fund and the Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund. Clayful was founded in 2021 by Maria Barrera and Melissa Pelochino.
Clayful has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round.
Clayful has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Clayful has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Clayful's investors include BCF Ventures, BDC Venture Capital, Bullpen Capital, Framework Venture Partners, IVP, Reach Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Sapphire Ventures.
Clayful is a technology company that builds an on-demand, chat-based mental health coaching platform specifically designed for K-12 students aged 8 to 18. It connects students with certified human coaches within 60 seconds, providing immediate emotional regulation support, coping strategies, and wellness resources. The platform serves school districts and educators, enabling equitable access to mental health support regardless of students’ geographic location or family means. Clayful addresses the critical shortage of school counselors by offering a scalable, accessible solution that supports thousands of students nationwide, with evidence showing improved attendance rates among users[1][2][5].
Founded in 2021 by Maria Barrera and Melissa Pelochino, Clayful emerged from their combined 20+ years of experience in education and edtech, including work at Nearpod. The idea was born out of the urgent need to fill the mental health support gap in schools exacerbated by counselor shortages and rising youth mental health crises. Barrera’s engineering background and Pelochino’s teaching and content expertise shaped the company’s mission to create a safe, approachable space where students can instantly connect with a coach. After piloting in spring 2022, Clayful quickly expanded to partner with over 50 schools across multiple states, reaching thousands of students[1][2][6].
Clayful rides the growing trend of digital mental health solutions tailored for youth, addressing a critical gap in traditional school-based mental health services. The timing is crucial as youth mental health challenges have surged, and schools face staffing shortages. By leveraging instant messaging technology and scalable coaching, Clayful disrupts conventional care models, making mental health support more immediate, equitable, and integrated into students’ daily lives. Its approach aligns with broader shifts toward telehealth, personalized care, and data-informed education interventions, influencing how schools and communities address mental wellness[1][2][3][4].
Looking ahead, Clayful is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact by broadening support beyond students to educators and families, creating a holistic mental health ecosystem. Trends such as increasing acceptance of digital health tools, growing school investments in mental wellness, and advances in AI-driven personalization may shape its evolution. As mental health remains a top priority in education, Clayful’s model of immediate, accessible coaching could become a standard component of student support services, strengthening its influence on the future of youth mental health care and education technology[2][3][6].
Clayful has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Seed in November 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2023 | $7M Seed | — | BCF Ventures, BDC Venture Capital, Bullpen Capital, Framework Venture Partners, IVP, Reach Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Sapphire Ventures | Announced |
