Startup Receives Funding to Expand Platform for Substance Abuse Recovery

June 29, 2021

LA PORTE, Ind. — Intrepid Phoenix Ventures, a startup focused on substance abuse recovery, has received a $20,000 investment from the Elevate Ventures Community Ideation Fund.

Intrepid is developing an app to manage recovery from substance abuse. While the recovery process often begins with clinical treatment, many individuals relapse once they are responsible for their own program. The Intrepid app, which will be available throughout the entire recovery process, includes tools such as a recovery plan, connections to resources, feedback and alerts. It will be accessible to individuals in recovery as well as their families and clinicians, while reducing geographic and economic barriers that can hinder success.

Intrepid was launched in 2019 in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame and Bowen Center. The company partnered with Notre Dame’s IDEA Center in 2020 to develop a prototype and an initial version of the app, which is currently in beta testing.

“Larry and his team have taken a true ecosystem approach throughout the north central region that will allow Intrepid to deploy their technology, learn quickly, and make necessary adjustments by having active relationships with their customers,” said Nicholas Kuhn, Elevate Ventures’ entrepreneur-in-residence serving Startup South Bend-Elkhart. “It is important for early-stage companies to listen to their end users, but a lot of times, this step goes ignored. Strategic partnerships, such as the ones Intrepid has built, are critical for success.”

The company will use the Elevate funding to expand features for families of people in recovery and to develop a desktop version of its platform for clinicians.

“We are very grateful for Elevate Ventures and the investment in our company,” said founder and President Larry Smith. “The funding enables us to continue development in pursuit of our purpose and vision.”