“ZAMA’s robust advisory board features experts from global technology, mental health, and fitness organizations”
ZAMA Health (translated “to exist”) serves as the premier mental wellness hub for athletes and the fitness community. The company was founded by DC resident Brendan Sullivan, based on his experiences as the captain of Yale’s track team, where he witnessed firsthand how severe mental health challenges and eating disorders affected many of his teammates. This systemic problem extended far beyond Yale, however, as mental health challenges have been rapidly increasing among collegiate athletes. According to a TimelyCare survey of 1,200 college and university students, 70% of student-athletes nationwide are experiencing mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression—a greater rate than that of their non-athlete peers.
Consequently, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has introduced new mandates that require colleges to provide additional resources to teams, such as mental health training for coaches, clinical support for athletes, pre-participation screenings, and proper crisis protocols. ZAMA’s B2B SaaS platform enables athletic departments to meet these requirements affordably and effectively.
The company’s mission is supported by prominent backers, including the premier technology accelerator, Techstars, the leading brain health organization, One Mind, and professional soccer star, DeAndre Yedlin. ZAMA’s robust advisory board also features experts from global technology, mental health, and fitness organizations. Notable advisors include Jen Huberty, the former Head of Science at Calm, and Gene DeFilippo, a veteran in the college athletics industry who previously served as the Athletic Director at Boston College and Villanova.
Extending beyond collegiate athletics, ZAMA also works with fitness companies and gyms, so they can provide additional wellness benefits to their members at a low cost. ZAMA was recently acquired by Volt Athletics, a leader in performance training technology that serves over two million individuals, including thousands of collegiate and professional teams. This acquisition enhances Volt’s AI-powered
athlete development platform, making it the premier athlete development company worldwide. When the acquisition was announced publicly in April 2024, Brendan said, “Our collective goal is to build the world’s foremost athlete development platform by adding mental health and wellbeing offerings into the Volt Athletics ecosystem. Athletes need more than just operational systems or clinical care—they require a holistic solution.”
Prior to founding ZAMA, Brendan worked as an investment analyst at Goldman Sachs, served as the Chief Revenue Officer for a 40-person consulting firm in DC, and was the fractional Chief of Staff for two Series C healthcare startups. Brendan continues to influence the startup ecosystem as the mental health and wellness lead for DC Startup Week and as a volunteer for Yale’s Startup Index, where he helps oversee investments and manage portfolio operations.
An outdoor enthusiast himself, Brendan enjoys spending his free time traveling with friends and family, hiking with his dog Fenway, and engaging in various water sports.
