Simcoach Games secures $265K to develop educational games for behavioral health and job readiness

The funding will support the creation of three clinician-informed games to help individuals with developmental disabilities build employment-related skills

Simcoach Games, a Pittsburgh-based health tech company that designs educational games for individuals with behavioral health challenges, has received $265,000 in seed funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The investment will be used to develop three new digital games focused on building job readiness among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The company creates gamified tools that teach life, social, and vocational skills through structured and interactive gameplay. These tools are developed in consultation with behavioral health experts and integrated with applied behavior analysis (ABA) practices. The goal is to offer personalized, data-driven support within clinical, educational, and home-based environments.

Games target job readiness for disabled individuals

Simcoach Games plans to develop a trio of games that focus on key employment preparation areas: self-presentation and professional attire, time management and organization, and interview communication. Each game will simulate real-life scenarios such as dressing for various job roles, managing schedules ahead of interviews, and responding to common interview questions with appropriate body language and conversation techniques.

The company says the tools are designed to supplement traditional behavioral therapy and education by reinforcing learning objectives through gameplay. The games will include built-in data tracking to allow clinicians and healthcare providers to monitor user progress and incorporate insights into treatment plans.

Brian Kaleida, Chief Executive Officer of Simcoach Games, says: “This initiative marks a pivotal moment for Simcoach Games, significantly advancing our commitment to creating behavioral health games that allow individuals to achieve their full potential in a fun and effective way. As a complement to traditional interventions, the job-readiness games will provide valuable pre-employment learning experiences that build self-confidence, better communication, and a foundation for success. We believe these games will provide critical support for not only job seekers, but also for clinicians and healthcare providers seeking engaging methods to measure skill development progress into treatment plans, therapy, and value-based care models."

Funding will support curriculum integration and accessibility

Beyond game development, Simcoach will use the funding to build a curriculum that can be integrated into behavioral health services and education programs. Clinicians, educators, and parents will be able to embed the content into therapy sessions and training routines. The games are intended to serve as digital supplements for both professional treatment and home learning.

Brian Kaleida adds: “By integrating evidence-based practices into interactive game formats, we’re developing scalable solutions that support behavior change and skill development across a range of behavioral health needs. With built-in proprietary data tracking, our games consistently capture actionable insights—empowering providers to measure progress, personalize interventions, and ultimately drive better client outcomes. As we continue to expand our offerings, we remain committed to this end goal.”