My path to Theralinq is quite an experience. First and foremost, I am a dad. My journey began with a life-altering moment when my son was diagnosed with a developmental condition shortly after his first birthday. This diagnosis reshaped not only my worldview but also the very foundation of my professional life. It is The Heart of My Mission. I found myself immersed in the disability community, driven by a desire to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential. As I often say, “It’s not just about therapy; it’s about fostering a society that truly cares for its members.”
A Diverse Career Path
My professional background is a tapestry woven from 20 years in corporate sales and business development across various industries. I hold an MBA and have worked closely with companies in the Tech and Biotech sectors. I have spent the last 5 years working for an entrepreneurial support organization, where I assisted companies looking to secure resources to accelerate their growth. This experience, coupled with my education, gave me the confidence to launch my own venture.
About a year ago, a conversation with my co-founder Bethany—a licensed Occupational Therapist—sparked an idea. We recognized a glaring issue in pediatric therapy: the lack of accountability and coordination among providers. Drawing from my personal experience managing my son’s therapy, we launched Theralinq, a mobile application designed to support early intervention therapy. The app particularly focuses on children with motor development delays or disabilities, and it enables collaboration between parents and therapists, allowing parents to initiate care plans and coordinate with their providers. Theralinq facilitates streamlined communication and coordination by providing tools for setting goals, monitoring progress, and adapting therapy plans as needed. Our platform empowers families to take more ownership of at-home programs, bridging gaps in access to clinical therapy.
From Personal Struggle to Global Vision
The inspiration for Therlinq came directly from my life as a caregiver. Juggling multiple therapy providers and coordinating schedules became an overwhelming task. My wife’s simple checklist to manage our son’s therapy ignited our vision for a more streamlined solution. Today, we’re looking at a global audience, with data indicating around 236 million children under 17 who could benefit from our platform. We’re even incorporating language translation features to make our app accessible worldwide.
Listening to the Community
The key moment that solidified my decision to start this venture came from feedback within my network. I engaged in conversations and surveys with families and providers, learning about their needs and pain points. Affordability, accessibility, and the physical space required for therapy became our primary focus as we crafted a product that genuinely serves our end users.
Purpose-Driven Work
What I find most enjoyable about my work is its purpose. In my previous roles, I often felt the weight of profit-driven goals, which left me unsatisfied. During business school, I discovered the concept of “business for good,” and it resonated deeply with me. Now, building a product that empowers a vulnerable portion of our population is profoundly motivating.
Growth Through Compassion
This journey has transformed my outlook on life. I’ve become more compassionate and aware of the unique talents everyone brings to the table. My son, for instance, is incredibly bright and has been identified for a gifted program. Yet, first impressions often lead to misunderstandings about him. This has profoundly shaped my perspective on caregiving and highlighted the importance of recognizing and valuing caregivers in our society.
To other parents navigating similar journeys, my advice is to embrace your situation. It will be challenging and it will be emotionally draining at times, but you will also experience the truly unique joy of raising an exceptional child and you will find your community. In all likelihood, this isn’t the life you had mapped out for yourself when you were younger, but life rarely shakes out that way. By providing love and support, you’re shaping a life a better future.
Handling comments like “I’m sorry” from others can be tricky. We often try to steer the conversation away or politely dismiss such sentiments. It’s about fostering understanding and hopefully providing a window for someone else to gain a new perspective.
Final Reflections
Reflecting on this journey, I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story. Building Therlinq has been more than just a professional endeavor; it has been a deeply personal mission. I am committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their challenges, has access to the resources and support they need to thrive. I was fortunate to meet the Participant team a couple years ago and I’m a huge advocate for their work and the products that they’re building. Participant is improving the lives of so many around the globe and inspiring long overdue changes in the disability technology space. I look forward to sharing in that mission.