S2 Ep 9 – Daniel Etra
From Finance to Autism Innovator: How Daniel Etra Built RethinkFirst to Revolutionize Autism Care
When Daniel entered the healthcare industry, autism was largely unknown and rarely discussed, far from being featured on Oprah. However, he heard a common plea from friends and colleagues who had children diagnosed with autism: they needed access to clinical best practices and resources, but were struggling to find them and cover the costs. Recognizing the significant shortage of clinicians capable of working with autistic children, Daniel realized the urgency of the problem. Compounding the issue was the rapid growth in autism diagnoses, with the latest CDC statistic showing one in 36 individuals affected.
With his business hat on, Daniel pondered how technology could be harnessed to deliver treatment at scale and support caregivers in various settings such as schools, homes, and healthcare systems. He sought to build an organization that not only addressed the shortage of resources but also made the world a better place. RethinkFirst operates with a double bottom line, combining Daniel's passions for volunteering with children and creating a purpose-driven business.
The journey hasn't been without its challenges. Daniel found himself navigating the two largest, yet deeply troubled, industries in the United States: education and healthcare. He encountered resistance to change and the entrenched mindset of relying solely on highly trained professionals, particularly in the realm of autism and developmental disabilities. Daniel aimed to shift this perspective, emphasizing that their tools were not meant to replace clinicians but rather equip them to serve larger numbers of children and extend care beyond geographical limitations. This required thinking on a macro level—supporting the entire care ecosystem and considering how to equip school systems with limited behavioral therapists to cater to hundreds of students. Daniel recognized the need to bring innovation to a space that had long been neglected and lower in priority.