Boston-based Uwill, a mental health platform for colleges and students, announced it has acquired Virtual Care Group, a fellow student-focused telehealth and wellness support platform.

Uwill partners with colleges to offer students on-demand virtual access to licensed therapists and providers trained in crisis counseling. Students can also attend online wellness events through the company's mental health and wellness app. The company works with 300 institutions in 50 states and 40 countries. 

Virtual Care Group, based in Los Angeles, offers a matching platform that pairs providers with students, college faculty and staff who need support for their wellbeing and mental and physical health. The platform is currently implemented at more than 100 colleges. 

With the purchase of Virtual Care Group, Uwill expands its reach to 400 colleges worldwide. 

"This acquisition marks a significant achievement for the digital mental health sector within higher education," Danny Zusman, founder and CEO of Virtual Care Group, said in a statement. "Through the integration of our extensive nationwide reach with Uwill's focused technological investments, we aim to enhance the support and resources available to the students, faculty, and staff we are dedicated to serving."

THE LARGER TREND

Uwill secured $30 million in Series A funding last year, which, at the time, the company said it would use to accelerate its growth and expand its platform.

The company garnered a $3.25 million investment in 2020 led by rapper Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC and a year later completed its angel funding round of $5.2 million. 

In June, Uwill announced a partnership with digital mental health company Headspace to expand its on-demand therapy offerings, Urise, to include the direct-to-consumer platform. 

Another digital mental health startup for college students and young adults is Mantra Health, which raised $22 million in Series A funding in 2022.