Fundraising Fox

David Ebersman

InvestorUnicorn founder

Co-Founder & Chairman (CEO 2015–2025) at Lyra

Burlingame, California, United States

FoundedLyra$5.6B

About

David Ebersman co-founded Lyra Health in 2015 and led it as CEO for a decade, building the workplace mental health provider to a $5.58 billion valuation and 20 million covered members before handing the CEO seat to Jennifer Schulz in January 2025 and becoming chairman of the board. He was previously CFO of Facebook from 2009 to 2014, where he oversaw the May 2012 IPO — then the largest U.S. internet listing ever — and before that spent fifteen years at Genentech, rising to executive vice president and CFO. A Brown University graduate and Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow, he started Lyra after leaving Facebook to return to healthcare, writing that fewer than 20% of people with behavioral health conditions were properly diagnosed and effectively treated.

Beyond investing

Founded
Ebersman co-founded Lyra Health, a mental health care startup, launching it in May 2015. Founded Lyra Health in June 2015, announcing it in his own LinkedIn essay ‘Let's Bring Technology to Behavioral Health’; the early team he named included Dena Bravata, Bob Kocher, Daniella Perlroth, Bryan Roberts and Daniel Tunkelang.
Education
Studied at Brown University (AB, International Relations and Economics, 1991) Studied at Trinity School (1987)
Boards
Independent director of Castlight Health from July 2011, appointed alongside Bob Kocher, through the company's 2022 combination into apree health. Joined SurveyMonkey's board of directors in July 2015 and later chaired the board of Momentive, its renamed parent.
Awards
Selected as an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow in 2000.
More
CFO of Facebook from September 2009 to June 2014; oversaw the May 18, 2012 IPO, then the largest U.S. internet IPO of all time, and left saying he had ‘decided to move back into healthcare where I spent my career before Facebook.’ Spent 1994–2009 at Genentech, rising from roles including VP of Product Development and SVP of Product Operations to EVP and CFO; SEC filings show he assumed the CFO office in March 2005. Began his career as a research analyst at Oppenheimer & Co. (1991–1994) after graduating from Brown University with an A.B. in international relations and economics. Stepped back from the Lyra CEO role effective January 13, 2025, becoming chairman of the board; he said his family was grieving the recent death of one of his sons and it was time for a more limited role.

From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.

Co-Founder & Chairman (CEO 2015–2025) at Lyra

Intro paths

In turn, David can intro founders to Lyra's investors below.

Co-founders at Lyra

BKBob Kocher
Bob KocherCo-Founder and Board Member
DBDena Bravata
Dena BravataCo-Founder & former Chief Medical Officer

Experience

  1. Lyra HealthCo-founder and Board chairmancurrent2025 — presentBurlingame, California, United States
  2. Lyra HealthCo-founder and CEO2015 — 2025Burlingame, CA
  3. Momentive-AI (formerly SurveyMonkey)Member Board Of Directors2016 — 2023
  4. Castlight HealthMember Board of Directors2012 — 2022San Francisco, CA
  5. FacebookChief Financial Officer2009 — 2014
  6. GenentechChief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President2005 — 2009South San Francisco, CA
  7. GenentechSenior Vice President, Product Operations2001 — 2005South San Francisco
  8. GenentechVice President, Product Development1998 — 2001South San Francisco
  9. GenentechDirector, Business Development1996 — 1998South San Francisco, CA
  10. GenentechManager, Business Development1995 — 1996South San Francisco, CA
  11. GenentechAnalyst, Business Development1994 — 1995South San Francisco, CA
  12. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.Equity Research Analyst, Biotechnology1991 — 1994New York, NY

Skills & more

Mergers5Cross-functional Team Leadership27Forecasting8Corporate Development23Financial Modeling26Strategy33Start-ups48Venture Capital28Business Strategy16Strategic Planning21Investor Relations5Financial Analysis11
+10 moreMergers & AcquisitionsLeadershipExecutive Financial ManagementDue DiligenceManagementPharmaceutical IndustryBiotechnologyExecutive ManagementAnalyticsStrategic Partnerships

Languages English

From David's professional profile.

Investments

Board seats

Castlight HealthSurveyMonkey

Per curated public sources.

Podcasts & interviews

featuring David Ebersman

David Ebersman Fireside Chat

South Park Commons

Building an Effective Employee Wellbeing Strategy with David Ebersman and Michael Callans

Sapphire Ventures

David Ebersman, CEO of Lyra Health, Speaks at Rock Health 2015

Cut Canvas Creative

A Fireside Chat with David Ebersman '91

Brown University Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship

Funding The Future Of Healthcare — Ep. 13 w/ David Ebersman, CEO at Lyra Health

Providence Ventures · medium.com

Frequently asked questions

Who is David Ebersman?
David Ebersman co-founded Lyra Health in 2015 and led it as CEO for a decade, building the workplace mental health provider to a $5.58 billion valuation and 20 million covered members before handing the CEO seat to Jennifer Schulz in January 2025 and becoming chairman of the board. He was previously CFO of Facebook from 2009 to 2014, where he oversaw the May 2012 IPO — then the largest U.S. internet listing ever — and before that spent fifteen years at Genentech, rising to executive vice president and CFO. A Brown University graduate and Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow, he started Lyra after leaving Facebook to return to healthcare, writing that fewer than 20% of people with behavioral health conditions were properly diagnosed and effectively treated.
Where does David Ebersman work?
David Ebersman is Co-Founder & Chairman (CEO 2015–2025) of Lyra.
What companies did David Ebersman found?
David Ebersman founded Lyra.
What boards does David Ebersman sit on?
David Ebersman holds tracked board seats at Castlight Health, SurveyMonkey.
Where did David Ebersman go to school?
David Ebersman studied at Brown University (A.B., International Relations and Economics).
What awards has David Ebersman received?
Selected as an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow in 2000.
What podcasts and interviews feature David Ebersman?
Tracked appearances include "David Ebersman Fireside Chat", "Building an Effective Employee Wellbeing Strategy with David Ebersman and Michael Callans", "David Ebersman, CEO of Lyra Health, Speaks at Rock Health 2015", and 2 more.

Same school

Shared employers