At a time when mental health is an increasing priority, GCO Ventures, the corporate venturing vehicle of GCO, has launched Aurela, a start-up that seeks to revolutionize the way patients and psychologists connect and interact. The platform was created with the goal of simplifying the process of finding a psychologist — making it simple, human, and trustworthy — while also offering professionals a space for community and growth. According to data from the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SEPSM), 29% of the Spanish population suffers or has suffered from some type of mental disorder, most of which are mild or moderate, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, or stress.
Aurela, the fourth venture launched by GCO Ventures, stands out from other platforms by combining in one place personalized patient referrals and the creation of an active professional community with spaces for training and supervision.
For patients, the platform offers an initial assessment by Aurela to understand their needs and preferences in order to match them with the most suitable psychologist among more than 20 specialties. From there, patients can choose the psychologist they wish to start therapy with, as well as the format (online, in-person, or hybrid), with the assurance of working with verified and specialized professionals.
The need for psychological support in Spain continues to rise. Last year, 18.2% of the Spanish population sought professional help for a mental health issue or emotional discomfort, according to the Global Health Barometer published by CIS.
In this context, Aurela addresses both the needs of patients — who often lack structured information to choose a trusted professional (48% need between 2 and 3 sessions to feel comfortable) — and those of psychologists, 63% of whom lack access to an active professional network, according to data from the start-up itself.
Aurela’s vision is to make caring for mental health simple, accessible, and effective for everyone, combining technological innovation with a human-centered approach. Its digital service enables users to manage appointments, payments, and communication easily, while ensuring that every patient receives the right support from the very first contact.
According to María Castro, Head of Product at Aurela, “in a context where the demand for psychological support keeps increasing, we want finding the right professional to be as easy as possible. With Aurela, we focus both on the patient, who feels supported from the beginning, and on the psychologist, who gains access to tools and a community that strengthen their practice.”
In the words of María José Álvarez, General Manager of GCO Ventures, “we continue to advance our purpose of driving innovative projects that make a difference in key sectors such as health and well-being. Mental health is one of society’s greatest challenges, and Aurela offers a clear, human, and scalable solution.”
Founded in 2023, GCO Ventures is GCO’s corporate venturing vehicle that contributes to the Group’s long-term growth by identifying, building, and launching new businesses that address society’s evolving needs.
Since then, GCO Ventures has launched several ventures in strategic sectors: Adecua, focused on adapting homes for elderly people; Vivara, offering safe and guaranteed home rentals; Musky, providing veterinary and civil liability coverage for pets; and now Aurela, which democratizes access to mental health care with a digital and human approach.
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