For Jaspal Sandhu, incoming President and CEO of Hopelab, effective youth mental health work starts with investing in people, and then designing capital structures to support them. He describes the organization as an operating foundation built to deploy multiple forms of capital toward youth mental health—especially for Black, Brown, and Queer young people in the U.S. With a team of approximately 30 people, Hopelab blends three levers: grantmaking, venture investments (a portfolio of over 25 for-profit companies), and “human capital” (staff time, expertise, and incubation). Sandhu’s core point is structural: no single funding model can meet the moment. Hopelab Ventures can move fast and scale, philanthropy can de-risk what markets won’t fund and push equity, and incubation/technical support can build the connective tissue between research, products, policy, and narrative.

He also names the tradeoffs. Venture capital comes with growth expectations that can pressure mission-driven founders to sacrifice quality or equity over time—one reason Hopelab stays at the table to advocate for impact. Philanthropy, meanwhile, can fund what private capital won’t (equity, early bets, infrastructure) and support longer-horizon systems change—like translating HBCU research into policy and storytelling ecosystems. Sandhu’s caution is that the field underinvests in long-term commitments, and systems change in narratives, policy, and funding flows can’t be achieved on short cycles.

Hopelab’s approach includes:

• Blending venture, grants, and staff-led incubation instead of betting on one mechanism.
• Using venture investing to help promising models scale—while advocating for quality and equity under growth pressure.
• Using philanthropy to de-risk early work and fund “equity plays” that markets often undervalue.
• Incubating field-building efforts (e.g., research translation networks and youth-led funds) that connect science, products, policy, and narrative.
• Centering Black, Brown, and Queer youth in both the solutions funded and the leaders supported.
• Partnering with other funders to move beyond isolated projects toward coordinated systems change.

Limitations remain. Sandhu flags a persistent sector pattern: funders and partners often want to fund what’s new instead of sustaining what works, undermining the long-haul investments needed for systems change. He also points to structural collaboration challenges—many new entrants have different incentives, timelines, and definitions of impact—making it hard to align capital, coordinate strategies, and maintain commitment long enough to shift narratives or public funding at scale.

Josh Lavra, a program lead at Hopelab, describes how the nonprofit combines research, design, and youth collaboration to improve mental health and wellbeing. Hopelab began by translating scientific evidence into creative tools—starting with a video game—and has since expanded into funding, partnerships, and research translation, with a focus on Black, Brown, and Queer young people.

Hopelab’s work includes:

• Designing and testing digital tools such as Vivibot, a chatbot that helps young people build positive psychology skills after cancer treatment, and imi.guide, a web app co-created with Queer and trans youth to reduce stress and support identity exploration. Both tools were validated through randomized controlled trials, and imi.guide has reached more than 200,000 users.
• Bridging research and practice by working with researchers at HBCUs and translating complex models—like the Minority Stress Model—into accessible, engaging activities for young people.
• Investing in and partnering with youth-led organizations through the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund, which supports 33 nonprofits worldwide with the backing of 17 co-funders.
• Embedding co-creation throughout its work, compensating young people for their expertise, integrating their feedback, and involving them in decision-making as members of advisory and steering committees.

Lavra emphasizes that joy and play are central to Hopelab’s philosophy. He sees them not as distractions but as powerful motivators for change, helping young people feel connected, hopeful, and capable of shaping their communities.

While Hopelab has demonstrated measurable outcomes through its digital tools and youth-centered partnerships, Lavra notes that building sustained collaborations takes time and resources. The organization continues to advocate for stronger policy protections around technology and mental health—particularly as unregulated AI tools emerge—while ensuring that young people remain at the center of designing and leading the solutions that affect them most.