Doctors often have an uncomfortable discussion with parents whose babies are being discharged from the NICU: which of you is going to quit your job to manage your child’s developmental needs?
For caregivers of the 25% of kids under six with developmental delays, the choices may be less extreme – but they’re just as overwhelming. Delays can be stressful, hard to spot, and inconsistently treated. Families are left to navigate months-long waitlists, long drives to scarce therapy and care centers, and weekly therapy sessions that require time off work – all under the pressure of a narrowing window of brain plasticity as 90% of brain development occurs before age six.
With rapid advancements in technology that drive innovation in care delivery, we’ve seen forward-thinking players use creative tech-enabled models to expand access to high-quality care (think Midi’s recently announced in-network longevity program, AgeWell).
But one group has been left behind: kids. In 2024, US healthtech startups drew $9B of venture capital investment. Less than 2% of those dollars went to companies focused on pediatrics (Source: Pitchbook).
25m Health–incubated Ladder Health is filling that gap. They’re addressing the unique barriers that make it difficult for kids and families to access timely care for developmental delays with virtual-first speech, occupational, and physical therapy delivered by leading experts. Their goal: all kids have access to high-quality early intervention therapy exactly when they need it.
A model that meets families where they are
Instead of spending 6+ months on a waitlist to get an assessment (and often longer to actually start treatment), Ladder families are seen within days of signing up and receive a personalized care plan for their child’s unique developmental journey. Families can schedule appointments on nights and weekends from the comfort of their homes with expert therapists who are specially trained in virtual, multilingual care, all covered by Medicaid and most commercial insurers. The result? Families who might have forgone therapy due to waitlists, care deserts, or the demands of work and caregiving now have access to high-touch services that fit around their schedules.
From “wait and see” to “let’s get started!”
Resource shortages, variation in screening protocols, and stigma have contributed to a “wait and see” culture around developmental delays despite clear evidence that intervention improves outcomes and reduces long-term costs. Ladder connects families, pediatricians, and neonatologists to make developmental conversations a routine, easily addressable part of childhood care. With a clinical model built on evidence-based best practices and easy-to-use digital tools and guides, caregivers can take charge of their child’s developmental care long before they face the avalanche of stress, frustration, and cost that comes from addressing delays too late.
Top-notch clinical care for the long haul
Ladder’s clinical model was developed and tested by leading pediatricians, neonatologists, and development experts. They treat the full range of developmental delays — from complex NICU graduates to routine picky eaters — and stay engaged with families and children’s pediatricians to support caregivers long term. By activating caregivers and treating delays early and consistently, Ladder sets kids up for success and prevents the long-term costs and lifelong frustrations that can occur when families don’t have access to timely care.
High-quality preventative care made accessible by expert-led tech-enabled delivery is a model we’ve seen work. Ladder Health is extending that to one of the highest-return investments we can make: our kids.
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About Ladder Health
Ladder Health delivers comprehensive, virtual-first care for early childhood developmental delays, built with Boston Children's Hospital. Ladder is live in North Carolina and Massachusetts and coming to South Carolina soon – you can learn more about their work at ladderhealth.co.
About 25m Health
25m Health is a venture studio that incubates and invests in healthcare companies, with a focus on digital health, health IT, and tech-enabled services. Formed in partnership with Lifepoint, Scion Health, Apollo Global Management, and 25madison, we bring strategic partners to the table from day one to help our companies reach the market faster, conserve capital, and deliver greater value to customers.
Written by Kat Howley
MBA Candidate, Harvard Business School, Class of 2026
Kat joins 25m Health with extensive experience in healthcare strategy and operations. She previously led product and service design at Ounce of Care, a Medicaid-focused care coordination startup, and spent four years at Bain & Company, advising clients on growth strategy and operational improvement across the healthcare sector. Kat earned her undergraduate degree in Economics and Global Health from Duke University.
