With 1 in 6 children in the U.S. diagnosed with a developmental disorder and 1 in 36 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the need for timely diagnosis has never been more urgent. Yet despite surging demand, the median age for a first evaluation remains an alarming 43 months, largely due to a nationwide shortage of licensed psychologists and behavioral therapists. These delays deprive children of early interventions that are critical for long-term success.

That’s why we invested in Frontera Health—the company transforming autism diagnostics with AI-powered technology that makes evaluations faster, more accurate, and more accessible. Frontera’s multi-modal Digital Phenotyping solution leverages AI to analyze therapeutic sessions in extraordinary detail, tracking key interactions and behaviors at 30 frames per second. By generating time cognitive reasoning and objective data points, Frontera equips clinicians with comprehensive, unbiased assessments that enhance precision and efficiency.

Beyond diagnostics, Frontera is tackling a major bottleneck in autism care: the overwhelming administrative burden on clinicians. Its AI diagnostic tools synthesize detailed reports in minutes, dramatically reducing the time required to process unstructured data. By optimizing clinicians' time, Frontera is ensuring that more children receive the timely support and early interventions they need.

Frontera is led by seasoned entrepreneur and investor Amol Deshpande, whose personal journey with managing his son’s autism diagnosis fuels his mission to transform autism care. Previously, Amol co-founded Farmers Business Network, one of the world’s largest agtech companies, which raised over $900 million in venture funding. Prior to Farmers Business Network, Amol was a partner at Kleiner Perkins. 

Amol’s mission is deeply personal. Eleven years ago, his then 2-year-old son was diagnosed with a severe form of autism. Determined to provide the best care possible for his son, Amol immersed himself in the field, and today, his 13-year-old son has made remarkable progress. His experience underscores what is possible with the right interventions, and it drives his vision to build technology that dramatically improves access to early diagnosis and care, particularly in rural areas where these access challenges are magnified.

"As a parent of a son with autism, I saw firsthand how challenging the system is for clinicians," said Amol Deshpande, CEO and Co-Founder of Frontera. "Faster diagnoses and accelerated care leads directly to better outcomes later in life. We're proud to work with BCBAs to empower them to bring quality care to more communities, especially rural and underserved communities that have historically been overlooked." 

Beyond Amol’s credentials, what stands out most is his relentless motivation. Like the best founders we’ve partnered with, he’s solving a deeply personal problem with urgency and conviction. This is exactly the kind of founder we seek to support at Inspired: exceptionally capable, relentlessly driven, and devoted to a problem of significant impact.

Joined by a team of AI and healthcare intervention experts, Frontera is positioned to revolutionize autism care, dramatically enhancing the lives of countless families and setting a new benchmark for care. Frontera’s technology represents a breakthrough innovation in pediatric healthcare, going beyond mere process improvement—and we believe it is the step function change children and families need. Inspired is proud to partner with Lux Capital, Lightspeed, and Menlo Ventures in supporting Frontera’s $32 million round as they scale their mission to transform autism care and expand access to life-changing diagnostics and interventions across the United States.