New York Ventures proudly highlights Mindset Care, based in New York City, and its co-founder and CEO Darren Webb. Through Mindset Care, Webb is simplifying the process of securing disability benefits for people who need them most.
The Vision: Expanding Access to Support
Mindset Care was founded on the belief that technology can make everyday tasks easier, including applying for disability benefits. That process, still largely paper-based, is difficult to navigate, which causes many people eligible for benefits to delay, abandon, or never even begin the application process.
Mindset works to reduce that friction. The company’s platform, powered by artificial intelligence, leverages technology to guide individuals through the complicated benefits application process, ensuring higher success rates and dramatically reducing delays. Mindset's team members have more time to provide one-on-one empathetic and efficient guidance to benefits claimants in need of that additional support.
The Founder's Journey
Darren Webb’s path to founding Mindset is deeply personal. It grew out of years of firsthand experience navigating the disability benefits system, shaping his understanding of how difficult it can be for people in crisis to access support through existing systems.
Before starting Mindset, Webb held senior roles at Stocktwits, The Hustle, and Inside.com. He saw an opportunity to apply his technology and product experience to an outdated system.
Alongside his work in tech, Webb has remained involved with community organizations and mental health advocacy groups, including NAMI-NYC and the National Academy of Social Insurance’s AI/Disability Task Force. Today, he leads Mindset, focused on making it easier for people to navigate disability benefits from start to finish. His personal mission, technical expertise, and advocacy drive a growing team working to improve access.
Tell us about yourself, background, and entrepreneurial journey.
I spent most of my adult life as a caregiver for a family member who lives with schizophrenia. When my family member lost his disability benefits after being incarcerated, I learned how hard it is to get help from systems that weren’t built for people like him.
I didn’t come from government or law, I came from tech. I understood that if we could make it easier to file your taxes online, we could make it easier to apply for basic government benefits support. That’s what pushed me to start Mindset.
What inspired you to start Mindset?
When my family member lost his benefits, I spent months trying to get them restored. It was overwhelming even for me. Millions of people qualify for disability benefits but never receive them because the process is complicated and full of friction. Mindset started as a way to fix that problem for one person. Now, it helps thousands more every month.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve solved so far or something you learned along the way?
A big lesson has been learning where technology helps and where it doesn’t. The people we support often need patience, clarity, and real human contact. Automation can make our team faster, but it can’t replace empathy. Our challenge was to build tools that free our staff to spend more time with claimants, not less. Fortunately, we’ve done that.
What’s a recent milestone or win that you’re proud of?
In 2025, Mindset grew faster than any of us expected. Application volume climbed, outcomes improved, and our approval rates stayed well above the national average. Just as important, we built deep partnerships, from national enterprises to local community organizations. That helps us reach people who would otherwise be overlooked.
What’s next for your company in the coming months?
We’re preparing to handle a much larger volume of applications and expand our ability to help the claimant in multiple capacities, such as our partnership with Bank of Montreal to provide our unbanked claimants with a safe and easy way to receive their monthly deposit. The goal is the same as it’s always been— making it easier for people to apply today, and over time, help the entire system run more smoothly.
How has New York Ventures impacted your experience starting a business in New York State?
New York Ventures has been a real partner from their NYS Innovation Venture Capital Fund supported by the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative. They understand the mission behind what we’re building and helped us connect with organizations across the state that work directly with people who need our support.
Outside of work, what's your favorite way to spend time in New York State?
I love sports, whether it’s baseball, football, or basketball. I enjoy going to all of the local teams’ home games. Let’s Go Mets!
When friends or family visit, what one place in New York State do you always take them to?
A walk through Manhattan or a trip to the Catskills, if time permits.
The Visionary Voices series showcases the bold leaders and companies within the New York Ventures’ portfolio that are actively building the future of New York State.