"Wait And See” Becomes “Take Action”: NewDays Announces $7M Seed Funding

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“WAIT AND SEE” BECOMES “TAKE ACTION”: NEWDAYS ANNOUNCES $7M SEED FUNDING AND EXPANDS AVAILABILITY OF BREAKTHROUGH COGNITIVE TREATMENT FOR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND DEMENTIA

Led by renowned technologists Babak Parviz and Daniel Kelly, and backed by General Catalyst and Madrona, NewDays delivers access to a clinically-validated intervention at scale

SEATTLE, WA (SEPT. 3, 2025) – In the US, 11% of people over 65 have dementia, and an additional 22% have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). That means 1 in 3 people over 65 have a serious cognitive issue. For too long, people experiencing these challenges have been simply told to “wait and see.”

NewDays today announced an oversubscribed $7 million seed funding from General Catalyst and Madrona and the expansion of its science-backed cognitive health treatment program to Texas, following a successful pilot phase in California, Washington, and Florida.

NewDays combines regular telehealth appointments with expert clinicians and AI-powered cognitive exercises delivered by its AI companion, Sunny. Between appointments, patients engage with Sunny frequently in clinician-assigned, long-form conversational exercises that bolster verbal fluency, improve memory, prevent social isolation, and build strategies for overcoming daily functional challenges. Powered by the AI platform, clinicians are able to optimize their patient’s program based on their interactions.  

“For too long, people experiencing cognitive changes have been told there's nothing they can do beyond maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preparing for decline,” said Babak Parviz, NewDays cofounder and CEO. “But the latest research shows there are non-pharmacological interventions that can meaningfully help, and advancements in AI let us take those game-changing findings and provide them widely in a way that wasn’t technologically possible even a couple of years ago.”

NewDays is based on evidence from more than 300 clinical trials and 50+ meta analyses and fueled by exclusive access to the methods and materials used in the Internet-Based Conversational Engagement Clinical Trial (I-CONECT). This study found that structured frequent conversations with a trained clinician resulted in measurable delays in cognitive decline and reduction in loneliness and isolation in adults aged 75 and up. The top participants in the study delayed cognitive decline for six months or more, proving that targeted intervention can make a real difference. 

"The I-CONECT study demonstrated that regular guided conversational engagement can significantly benefit cognitive function in older adults,” said Hiroko Dodge, Ph.D., professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator of the I-CONECT study, who is an advisor to NewDays. “For years, we've known these approaches work, but scaling them has been virtually impossible due to the limited availability of trained professionals and cost. NewDays represents a breakthrough in bringing scientifically validated cognitive rehabilitation to those who need it most." 

Participants in NewDays' early access program say that conversations with Sunny are mentally engaging and help guard against isolation. They also report speaking more freely without fear of judgment. With over 1,000 users who have signed up to try the AI, and a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction score, NewDays has successfully completed its pilot phase. Most significantly, 100% of survey respondents reported feeling "better" or "a lot better" after engaging with the full treatment program of virtual visits with clinicians and having frequent conversations with AI.

"It works your mind,” said Frank Poulsen, 72, of Seattle, a participant in the early access program. “Memory loss is somewhat isolating, just by its nature. These steps are good because you’re reorienting yourself to complex thought without feeling nervous or judged."

"At General Catalyst, we're focused on backing transformative healthcare solutions that make care more affordable, accessible, and proactive,” said Holly Maloney, managing director, General Catalyst. “NewDays exemplifies this approach, addressing a critical gap in cognitive health with a science-backed solution that puts patients first. Their combination of AI innovation with human clinical oversight represents the future of digital health.”

"The NewDays team brings together world-class expertise in AI, technology innovation, and clinical neuropsychology,” said Tim Porter, managing director, Madrona. “We've seen firsthand how AI is transforming industries, but few applications have the potential for such meaningful human impact as NewDays. Their approach to leveraging AI for cognitive health is precisely the kind of purposeful innovation we champion at Madrona.”

NewDays was founded by Babak Parviz and Daniel Kelly. As VP at Amazon, Parviz founded and led the organization responsible for identifying, investing in and operationalizing new areas for the company, including healthcare. At Google X, he founded and led the Google Glass team from inception to launch. Daniel Kelly headed engineering teams at Amazon and Google X. 

NewDays is available in Washington, California, Florida, and Texas, expanding to additional states by year-end. The program offers free daily AI exercises to everyone, with premium subscribers receiving personalized treatment plans that combine licensed clinician consultations (often insurance-covered) with customized AI-powered cognitive exercises.

About NewDays

NewDays is transforming cognitive health with a science-backed, AI-powered treatment designed for people experiencing cognitive decline. Combining expert-led therapy with frequent AI-driven conversations and exercises, NewDays provides an engaging, personalized approach to maintaining cognitive function and delaying symptoms of decline. Grounded in proven clinical research, NewDays offers a structured yet accessible option, making high-quality cognitive care available to anyone, anywhere. The program is designed for individuals with mild cognitive impairment, mild to moderate dementia, or subjective cognitive decline, empowering them with meaningful daily practice plus expert support and oversight. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Seattle, NewDays is backed by the Madrona Venture Group and General Catalyst and led by world-renowned experts in AI, neuroscience, and neuropsychology.

Contact: Rachel Lanham, (206) 769-7411, rachel@newdays.ai