Elemy's Move to a Predominantly Software-Based Company

San Francisco-based health tech startup Elemy has recently undergone a transformation, making a strategic move towards its goal of becoming a primarily software-based company. In pursuit of this objective, Elemy revealed a fourth round of layoffs on Thursday, according to CEO Yury Yakubchyk.

Elemy’s Evolution and Recent Job Reductions

In discussion with Behavioral Health Business, Yakubchyk shed light on Elemy's evolution from an autism service provider backed with technology to a primarily software-focused platform. The recent demonstration of increased efficiency and automation led to the role eliminations; Yakubchyk confirmed that the majority of the staff reductions were from the patient intake team.

Emphasizing Elemy's aspiration to more closely align with its founding objective, Yakubchyk said, "The whole point of our business was to move gradually towards a model where we had a software platform that empowered the clinicians and also families... and as more automation gets introduced, we’ve had to part ways with more people.”

Elemy's Initial Focus and Evolution

Founded in 2019, Elemy initially spent significant energy creating a suite of tools to support pediatric behavioral health services. The startup also offered in-home Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) sessions, which served as an opportunity to test the efficacy of their software in a real-world setting.

Over time, automation and new efficiencies rendered many of their roles no longer necessary. The extensive support team previously needed for the ABA practice has now been considerably reduced. Currently, the company continues its practice only in California, Texas and Florida.

Elemy’s Strategic Expansion and Funding

Elemy's journey over the years has been marked by swift expansion and impressive funding. It has taken flight rapidly, establishing its roots across 14 states and securing over $323 million in venture capital funding!

Looking Ahead: Elemy’s Commitment to Autism Community

Despite the shift in its operational model, Elemy is determined to continue its support to the autism community, especially to Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). These professionals, who are predominantly involved in treating children with autism, will be paired with Elemy's provider customers.

Expressing his unflinching commitment, Yakubchyk stated, "We want to make sure that we’re involved in the care, in supporting the therapists on their journey and actually delivering the care."

Ecademy: Elemy’s Initiative for Pediatric Behavioral Health Community

To further their support to the pediatric behavioral health community, Elemy launched "Ecademy", a fully paid 3-month training and certification program in California, Texas, and Florida earlier this year.

Positioning Elemy Among Other ABA Providers

Drawing a line of distinction between Elemy and other private equity-backed ABA providers who are shrinking their operations due to workforce and reimbursement challenges, Yakubchyk commented, "We don’t need as many people through the automation. Private equity-backed ABA agency players are not investing in this sort of R&D at all."

Although the CEO has previously indicated plans for diversifying Elemy's focus, he clarified that pediatric behavioral health will continue to remain their primary concern for at least the next five years.

As a company that's learning about the nuances of this particular healthcare vertical, Yakubchyk confessed, "I have a ton to learn about doing pediatric behavioral health. I think I can build a very, very large, lasting, impactful company that changes people’s lives just in pediatric behavioral health."