Virtual counseling and coaching unicorn BetterUp is expanding its services to consumers, as it has teamed up with Walmart to launch a mental fitness platform for caregivers.
BetterUp for Caregivers was designed by PhDs and behavioral scientists and will be available through The Wellness Hub, an online resource offered by Walmart that promotes health goals and healthier lifestyle habits for users.
BetterUp for Caregivers will be available by monthly subscription and offers life programming and community support. The platform – which costs an average of $30 per week – will also provide on-demand solutions such as drop-in workshops, tailored self-guided programs and personalized assessments.
BetterUp for Caregivers is the only coaching subscription offered exclusively through The Wellness Hub.
“This is the first time that a solution of this magnitude has been attempted, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to team up with Walmart to provide a transformational experience for this community at scale,” BetterUp Co-Founder and COO Eduardo Medina said in a press release.
The new platform is the first large-scale, consumer-facing offering from San Francisco-based BetterUp, which has raised over $600 million and has primarily offered B2B services for employees of enterprise clients since having launched in 2013. With a valuation of $4.7 billion, BetterUp is one of the few pure-play behavioral health companies to have reached unicorn status by crossing the billion-dollar threshold.
It is estimated that 1 in five 5 Americans, or 53 million individuals, provide unpaid assistance and support to families. Within the last year – according to research from Fidelity Investments – nearly half of caregivers have reported that they were facing being forced to choose between their family responsibilities and their jobs.
“Caregivers suffer some of the highest levels of stress and isolation in our country,” Medina added in the release. “It’s critical to provide effective support for such an important community.”
A focal point of BetterUp for Caregivers is its Self Care for Caregivers Coaching Circles. The offering consists of a live, coaching-led community program that covers topics like self care, nurturing, compassion, as well as strength and resilience building.
“Over the past few years at Walmart, we have been working tirelessly to bring trusted wellness and personal care products to our customers so that they can live better and feel their best,” Julie Barber, the senior vice president of health & wellness merchandising for Walmart U.S., said in the press release. “Many of these customers serve their own family members as caregivers, giving of themselves daily with very little time devoted to their own wellness. This is why we are so excited to bring BetterUp for Caregivers to Walmart.com.”
BetterUp’s services are delivered to users by artificial intelligence and behavioral science. The company claims that its services on average have resulted in a 149% increase in resilience, an 83% increase in life satisfaction and a 90% increase in stress management.
