From Founder to Acquired...and Back Again
Why I'm building again, and what I hope to build with you.
A few years ago, I co-founded Synchronous Health with two core beliefs:
Technology can extend care beyond the therapy session, supporting people in the moments they need it most - between sessions, not just during them.
Technology can lead us to breakthroughs in preventing and treating mental health conditions.
We grew in size and services. We partnered well. Eventually we were acquired by Thriveworks, one of the largest outpatient mental health providers in the country. I stayed on as Strategic Clinical Advisor, supporting technology, business development, strategy, and clinical leadership. The team at Thriveworks is scaling quality mental health services. Access to care is table stakes, where once it was a differentiator. Thriveworks is among a select few healthcare companies scaling quality.
The journey of founder-to-exit is indeed epic. I thought I’d need time to convalesce. And yet - I feel the call to build again. While there are things about start up life I would consider corporal punishment (perhaps that’s another post) I find myself back at the beginning of a startup journey. I can’t quiet the thoughts of “what if we could…” I still imagine ways we can improve what we know, and therefore what we do. I still want to experiment in real time to find better ways to help more people get better faster and stay better longer. This might be the worst time ever to experiment with clinical models and business models in healthcare. But the heart wants what the heart wants. And any entrepreneur - or adventurer - will tell you that challenges = opportunities.
So I’m starting again.
Welcome to Avenoir Insights
This next chapter is about creating space to ask questions, innovate, and find solutions:
Design systems that prevent suffering and help people heal, not just cope
Define the role technology plays in behavioral health—and what limits must we respect
Build evidence-based, culturally responsive, human-centered solutions that scale
Align incentives for insurance companies, providers, and patients
(I know, I know…value based care…perhaps that’s another post.)
Avenoir (French avenir, future + avoir, to have. Pronounced “av-uh-nwar.” The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig, )
I named this company Avenoir Insights because the phrase invites us to look forward with wisdom. To think about problems as if we already have the benefit of hindsight, knowing the most impactful moments as we approach them, allowing us to design a healthcare system that reflect the best of what it is to be human. In mental health care, we always write the care plan with the end goals in mind. In business, we do premortems to increase our chances of success.
At Avenoir Insights, I’ll be:
Writing and speaking about what ails us and what cures us
Partnering with bold leaders building better models for mental health innovation
Collaborating with researchers, policymakers, and innovators who want to turn insight into action
This newsletter will be a home for that work. You can expect:
Field notes from my speaking and consulting work and interviews with industry leaders
Essays and articles exploring systems change, behavioral science, and hope
Research-backed frameworks you can use in your orgs
And other surprises along the way
I’m looking forward to hearing from you, too. Let me know if you’re working on something cool - or infuriatingly complex. I’d love to hear about what you’re building.
Until next time,
Lisa
One last thing - what do you think of my logo v1? I love symbolism and deeper meanings. While at first glance this logo looks…boring, it’s anything but. However, if you have an idea for a better way to represent these themes, I’d love to hear them! Or better yet, see them!
The circular graphic with a curved line inside resembles:
A sunrise or horizon – symbolizing forward-looking vision, hope, and clarity, aligning with “Avenoir” (which suggests moving toward the future with wisdom).
An archway or bridge – evoking the idea of connection, passage, or transition—fitting for a brand that guides transformation in health, systems, and society.
A subtle nod to the human form or abstract face – suggesting human-centered design and insight.
This kind of ambiguous, minimalist symbol can carry layered meaning while remaining open to interpretation.