GCO Ventures launches its fourth start-up: Aurela, a digital platform that transforms access to psychological therapy

"Aurela was created to facilitate access to verified psychologists, offering a personalised and flexible service that combines online, in-person, and hybrid options."

At a time when mental health is a growing priority, GCO Ventures, GCO's corporate venturing vehicle, launches Aurela, a start-up that seeks to revolutionise the way patients and psychologists meet and interact. The platform was created with the goal of simplifying the process of finding a psychologist who is straightforward, compassionate 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 any type of mental disorder, most of which are mild or moderate, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders or stress.

Aurela, the fourth venture promoted by GCO Ventures, stands out from other platforms by bringing together in one space customised patient referrals and the creation of an active professional community, with spaces for training and supervision.

For patients, the proposal includes an initial analysis of their needs and preferences by Aurela, in order to find the ideal psychologist among more than 20 specialities. From there, the patient can choose their preferred psychologist to begin therapy, as well as the category (online, in-person, or hybrid), with the guarantee of working with specialised and verified professionals.

A fast-growing market

The need for psychological support in Spain is growing. Last year, 18.2% of the Spanish population needed to attend a consultation for a mental health problem or psychological or emotional distress. (Global Health Barometer prepared by the CIS).

In this context, Aurela meets the needs of patients, who lack structured information to choose a trustworthy professional (48% need between 2 and 3 sessions to feel comfortable), as well as the needs of professionals, since 63% lack access to an active professional community, according to data from the start-up itself.

Thus, Aurela's vision is to make mental health care straightforward, accessible and effective for everyone, supported by technological innovation with a human focus. Its digital service allows for convenient management of appointments, payments, and communication, while ensuring that each patient receives the appropriate support from the first contact.

For María Castro, Head of Product at Aurela, “in a context where the demand for psychological support continues to grow, 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 has the tools and community to sustain their practice".

In the words of María José Álvarez, CEO of GCO Ventures, “we continue to pursue our goal of promoting innovative projects that make a difference in key sectors such as health and well-being. Mental health is a challenge facing our society, and Aurela offers a clear, compassionate, and scalable solution".

GCO Ventures: commitment to innovative projects

GCO Ventures, GCO's corporate venturing vehicle, was launched in 2023. It contributes to the long-term growth of GCO by identifying, building and launching new businesses that answer the needs of society.

Since then, different ventures have been promoted in strategic sectors: Adecua, dedicated to adapting housing for the elderly; Vivara, which offers secure and guaranteed home rentals; Musky, which offers veterinary and civil liability coverage for pets; and now Aurela, which expands access to mental health with a digital and human approach.