Brightline Named to Forbes America’s Best Startup Employers 2026 List for Third Consecutive Year

The recognition highlights Brightline’s industry-leading growth, workplace culture, and employee satisfaction

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brightline, the leading pediatric mental health solution supporting kids, teens, and their parents, has been named to the Forbes America’s Best Startup Employers 2026 list for the third consecutive year.

Forbes America’s Best Startup Employers 2026 identified the top-performing companies in the U.S. by gathering more than seven million data points from over 20,000 eligible companies. More than 2,500 companies qualified for in-depth analysis. In the end, only 500 companies were included in the ranking. Each employer’s final evaluation was based on three key criteria: Employer Reputation, Employee Satisfaction, and Company Growth.

“This recognition by Forbes belongs to every person at Brightline who helped a family finally receive a diagnosis for their child, helped a parent feel less alone, and connected a family with the care they need,” said Brightline CEO Kari O’Rourke. “Our remarkable team is focused on reaching the kids and families who need us most, particularly those in communities that are underserved or overlooked.”

Founded in 2019, Brightline has served hundreds of thousands of families with evidence-based mental health care and support. In 2025, Brightline expanded its hybrid care model with three brick-and-mortar clinics in the New York metro area, connecting families with flexible, affordable, in-network mental health care and diagnostic services. Brightline also recently announced a strategic alliance with Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider and private employer.

In California, BrightLife Kids, Brightline’s partnership with the Department of Health Care Services and CalHOPE, has reached more than 330,000 kids. BrightLife Kids delivers free, high-quality behavioral health coaching to families across all 58 California counties, regardless of income, insurance status, or immigration status. More than 77% of users report that BrightLife Kids is their first and only access to mental health support.

To join a team committed to transforming mental healthcare for every child and family, explore open clinical and other career opportunities at Brightline.

About Statista

Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, business-relevant data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

About Brightline 


Brightline is a therapy and psychiatry practice that delivers pediatric, teen, and parental mental health care to families and kids up to age 18. Brightline's in-person and virtual outpatient services include diagnostic evaluation, therapy, psychiatry, medication management, and psychological testing to assess autism, learning differences, executive functioning, school readiness, and giftedness. Brightline also offers focused programs for anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and disruptive behaviors. Founded in 2019, Brightline is nationally recognized for its innovation and clinical excellence in delivering care to children and families. Brightline is headquartered in San Mateo and backed by leading investors, such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Northwell Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Google Ventures, KKR, and Oak HC/FT. For more information, visit brightline.com.