Impact startup Like Family raises $2 million seed round to tackle loneliness

Impact startup Like Family has raised $2 million in seed funding in a round led by Giant Leap Fund.

Alberts Impact Capital and Pangaea Impact Investments also invested in Like Family (formerly Home Care Heroes) for its continued Victorian expansion and to grow the team.

Jenna Leo and Mathieu Bertrand founded their NDIS-approved marketplace in 2016 to reduce social isolation and have built a community of more than 30,000 members and 3,000 carers who provide companionship and non-medical support for the elderly as well as people with a disability, injury or illness. It lets people find trustworthy, vetted social carers.

The husband and wife co-founders started the business after having problemso finding suitable social support services for Bertrand’s parents after they recovered from serious illness.

Leo, Like Family’s CEO, said the business offers a blend of in-person and tech-enabled services.

“With the pandemic we introduced video and phone meetings but predominantly relationships are still built face to face, and we use technology to facilitate and simplify things to make these meetings happen, she said.

“It places the choice and control in the hands of users, making things easier for them and more scalable for us as a business, which in turn makes things more affordable for our users”

Giant Leap venture partner Kylie Charlton said Like Family addresses loneliness in in a creative and innovative way.

“Jenna and Mathieu are committed founders with lived experience in this space and a real empathy for their line of work,” she said.

“We look forward to working with them as they continue to grow the business and make a positive impact on the lives of many vulnerable Australians.”

Alberts Impact Capital CEO David Albert said Covid-19 had amplified the impacts of loneliness, which made Like Family an appealing investment.

“Mat and Jenna are two exceptional founders, deeply connected through personal experience to the issue they are looking to solve,” he said.

“The investment reflects Alberts’ focus on creating a positive impact through its investments and supporting pioneers determined to make the world a better place.”