TORONTO, March 4th , 2025 – A4i (App4Independence), an innovative digital platform supporting individuals with complex behavioral health needs, has secured $100,000 CAD in non-dilutive funding from Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners (TIAP) in partnership with OBIO®. This funding, part of OBIO’s Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence “De-Risking of Emerging Technologies and Venture Creation” funding stream, will accelerate A4i’s development of AI-powered analytics tools designed to detect early signs of relapse, augment peer-support and reduce hospital readmission rates among patients with severe mental illness.
Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), A4i was co-created with MEMOTEXT Corp. to support individuals facing conditions such as psychosis-related illnesses and opioid use disorders.
In North America, a staggering 65.7% treatment gap exists for individuals with moderate to severe mental health disorders. Additionally, 23% of patients experience re-hospitalization within just 30 days of discharge.
“This collaborative engagement from TIAP and OBIO® are game changers for us in bring A4i to market.” said Amos Adler, Co-Founder of A4i and CEO of MEMOTEXT. Added Dr. Sean Kidd, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer. “This funding enables us to harness AI in a transformative way—enhancing postdischarge patient support and bridging critical gaps in mental health treatment.”
A4i’s AI-powered analytics tool will automate real-time processing of patient data, leveraging mobile application engagement and patient social engagement and sentiment to identify at-risk individuals before crises occur. Equipping care teams with proactive insights, can help reduce hospital admissions, and improve both patient outcomes and healthcare system efficiencies.
Parimal Nathwani, TIAP President and CEO commented, “This project is a tremendous example of the health innovation excellence that exists here in Ontario – and the power of partnership in advancing these innovations toward commercialization.”
“We are thrilled to act as the catalyst for innovation and a facilitator for technology partnerships alongside TIAP to improve the experience of patients with complex mental health conditions,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®
With this investment, A4i is poised to accelerate the development of its AI-driven risk detection technology, furthering its mission to enhance mental health support through intelligent data analytics.
About
A4i
A4i (App4Independence) is a validated mobile app and clinical portal that supports individuals with schizophrenia and complex mental illnesses like opioid use disorder. A4i offers self-management features such as AI-driven wellness detection, adherence escalations, secure peer engagement, and a patented auditory hallucination detector. Designed to scale clinical decision support and peer support, A4i predicts relapse and risk.
For more information, please visit a4i.me or contact Amos Adler M.Sc, CEO, A4i, amos@a4i.me
The Critical Technologies Program
As part of Ontario’s provincial Critical Technologies Initiative, TIAP is pleased to be partnering with OBIO® to offer support to accelerate the health science industry’s use of 5G and advanced networks, blockchain, cybersecurity, ethical artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and/or robotics; and is delivering the ‘De-Risking of Emerging Technologies and Venture Creation’ funding stream of OBIO’s ‘Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence’ which is supported by the government of Ontario