WellSort
The Maine start-up ecosystem is absolutely on fire! It’s super-dynamic and brings together like-minded people who simply want to help grow the Maine economy and workforce while solving some important problems.
–Tim Seavey, CEO, WellSort
Tackling the Wellbeing Crisis with a Ground-Up Solution
Mental health challenges have reached critical levels among students and employees alike. Between 2014 and 2024, rates of anxiety among college students have risen from 22 percent to 34 percent. Rates of depression among college students have nearly doubled, from 21 percent to 38 percent. (SOURCE: Healthy Minds Network). Meanwhile, Moodle reported that two-thirds (66%) of American employees today experience some sort of burnout. For many, navigating a sea of wellness programs often leads to overwhelm and inaction.
That’s where WellSort, founded by Anush Hansen (Chief Product Officer) and Tim Seavey (CEO), comes in. Instead of a top-down approach, WellSort empowers individuals to take charge of their own wellbeing through a digital card sort tool. Launched in 2023, the platform helps people identify their personal wellbeing priorities and then connects them directly to the most relevant resources available through their school or employer.
“It’s like having a deep conversation with yourself about what matters most for your wellbeing,” says Hansen. “We help people discover what they need, then show them the most meaningful path forward.”
Growing Pains and Business Challenges
WellSort originated in 2020 as a simple set of physical “wellbeing and work-life balance cards” that Hansen developed at her kitchen table for her counseling clients during COVID. She launched new card decks and digital prototype in 2022. By 2023, the concept had proven so effective that it became a business. Early adopters included several colleges, all of which renewed their contracts, demonstrating both demand and impact.
But scaling up wasn’t easy. “Our biggest challenge was transitioning from a one-person operation serving a few colleges and universities to a company that could tackle higher growth…and expand into the much larger corporate wellness market,” explains Tim Seavey. That meant rebuilding their technology platform, hiring technical talent, and strengthening their business development and marketing efforts.
MTI Support and Recent Progress
Support from Maine Technology Institute (MTI) has been instrumental in WellSort’s growth. With MTI’s Business Innovation Funding Grant and additional support from the MERC program, the company has been able to launch WellSort 2.0, a fully modernized digital platform coming to market in late 2025.
The upgraded system improves user experience, shortens activity completion time by 25%, and is fully mobile-friendly for students and employees on the go. For organizations, a new real-time dashboard provides actionable insights into the wellbeing needs of their community, enabling faster and more effective decision-making.
WellSort has also expanded its team from two to four employees and three contractors, with plans to grow further in 2026.
MTI
Business Innovation Funding
MERC
Support
10
colleges/universities with campus-wide licenses
10,000
WellSort users
4
employer customers, supporting up to 11,000 employees each
How WellSort Helps People
WellSort is already making a difference. One corporate wellbeing director at a Boston hospital with 25 years industry experience called it “the most innovative wellbeing solution I’ve seen in a long time.”
The process is simple but powerful: users sort digital cards to reflect their personal wellbeing priorities, create a customized action plan, and connect directly with the most relevant resources. Instead of being paralyzed by too many options, individuals walk away with clarity, confidence, and actionable next steps.
Looking Forward: Scaling Impact
WellSort’s vision is ambitious. By 2027, the company aims to be the premier source for actionable student and employee wellbeing data in the U.S., grounded in self-reflection rather than traditional surveys. Longer-term, they see opportunities to expand to other populations, such as children, older adults, and eventually, global markets.
But for now, their focus is close to home. “Maine has been an ideal place to build WellSort. As longtime residents of Maine…we’re focused on making a real impact on the wellbeing of Maine workers and students first…There’s something powerful and rewarding about being able to directly see and measure the impact we’re having in our own community.”
