Heard, a financial services platform for health and wellness professionals, has announced the launch of the Heard Private Practice Launch Grant Program. This initiative will provide three mental health professionals with over $14,000 each in startup support, including $5,000 in cash funding, business formation tools, banking setup, EHR software, and ongoing financial guidance, to facilitate the establishment of their private practices in early 2026.
The program addresses existing gaps in the private practice launch experience. Despite an increasing need for mental health care in America, therapists frequently encounter barriers when starting their own practices, such as navigating complex business formation requirements and securing adequate startup capital. Many therapists launch practices without the support commonly available to entrepreneurs in other sectors.
Andrew Riesen, Co-founder and CEO at Heard, stated, “Therapists are needed more than ever, yet many feel burned out and underpaid in traditional employment settings. Private practice offers autonomy, equitable compensation, and the chance to build a career that reflects personal values—but the logistics can feel overwhelming. This grant program is our answer to that gap. We’re partnering with three therapists to show what’s possible when you don’t have to figure it out alone.”
The grant package includes a $5,000 cash grant for startup expenses, first access to Heard’s new Business Formation tool for entity setup, EIN applications, registered agent services, and state compliance, and first access to Heard’s new Business Banking tool designed for clean bookkeeping. Recipients will also receive one year of SimplePractice EHR software and Heard’s premium software and financial guidance, free until S-corp formation becomes tax-advantageous.
Grant recipients will also participate in video documentation of their launch journey, creating educational content to assist other therapists considering private practice. The program is open to licensed mental health professionals (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, psychologists, psychiatrists) across the United States who plan to launch in Q1 2026 or who have launched within the past six months. Applicants are not required to be current Heard members to apply.
Applications for the grant program are open through December 31, 2025. Ten finalists will be selected for interviews, with the three grant recipients announced in March 2026. All applicants will receive early access to Heard’s upcoming Formation and Banking tools.
Heard provides comprehensive financial services tailored for independent health and wellness professionals, offering bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial guidance to support sustainable private practices.
