We are facing a mental health crisis

Back in 2016, one in four Americans struggled with mental health, leading to over US$400 billion in lost earnings and health care costs each year not to mention the detrimental impact on quality of life to each and every one of them. Two thirds of those diagnosed were not likely to ever seek treatment.

Right around that time a group of scientists at prestigious research institutions such as NYU, Johns Hopkins, MAPS and the Imperial College of London are conducting studies with psychedelic compounds to treat issues such as end-of-life distress, alcohol and drug addiction, PTSD, and find new applications for mental health.

Although promising, the research, depended on the support of a few private donors and institutions, with little-to-no help from governments or pharmaceutical companies. As a cancer survivor and a leading crowdfunding expert in commercial real estate, Rodrigo Niño set out to solve the problem and find new sources of funding for psychedelic science.

We set out to Fund A Mental Health Revolution

Together with a small team we set out to create Fundamental, a pilot project that could fund a mental health revolution by crowdfunding scientific research. Donors, scientists, and the general public would be able to come together to back government-approved studies in the United States and around the world and help psychedelics be medicalized. After developing a concept on the back of an envelope, I assumed the role of project director to lead day to day development of the initiative including, strategy, R&D, budgets and timelines, communications and structuring.

We worked with the worlds’ top researchers in psychedelic science to help them reach a wider audience

As I interviewed the lead researchers and spent countless hours learning about the science and its implications we developed a core narrative and co-directed content production that would make the research accessible to the general public. Moving forward we developed the legal structure necessary to provide full transparency for the use of the donations including the set up of a Donor Advised Fund, work with development officers at various institutions and figuring out how to provide as much funding directly to the scientists as possible as we began to build a community.

We worked with the worlds’ top researchers in psychedelic science interviewing them and producing content that would resonate with a wider audience

The campaign launched in May of 2017 collecting funds from hundreds of donors

We built and nurtured a community of donors and supporters through private events and messaging that collectively raised over $150K over two months. For a year prior to the launch we began to host salons designed to create safe spaces to discuss the science intimately with researchers and likely donors in New York. That community grow beyond 500 people who went on to connect and advocate for mental health in their own right. .

Learn about some of the research and the Fundamental brand below.