Analysis

January 9, 2023

Apps for psychedelic therapy: Necessary innovation or pathway to digital dystopia?

Startups promising to revolutionise healthcare using psychedelics have received some big cheques — but is its "appification" a good idea?


Tim Smith

6 min read

Billionaires and VC funds have already poured millions of euros into psychedelic startups that are promising to revolutionise mental healthcare. The hope is that previously stigmatised substances like LSD or psilocybin (the psychoactive ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms) can be used in combination with psychotherapy to address hard-to-treat conditions like alcoholism and depression.

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Florian Brand, CEO at atai Life Sciences
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Two screenshots of the Homecoming app interface
The Homecoming app interface
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A landscape shot of Michelle Baker Jones
Michelle Baker Jones
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A black and white headshot of Ozan Polat, partner at Vine Ventures.
Ozan Polat, partner at Vine Ventures
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Tim Smith

Tim Smith was news editor at Sifted. He covered deeptech and AI, and produced Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow him on X and LinkedIn

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