START
Start Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1984 operating as a Federally Qualified Health Center and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic across 18 Louisiana parishes, delivering integrated primary care, behavioral health, housing, and social services to underserved and vulnerable populations through seven primary locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersHouma, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What START does
Start Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Houma, Louisiana, operating an integrated healthcare and social services network as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). The organization delivers primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, dental services, pharmacy, HIV care, housing programs (including Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and the Wren Way Supportive Housing program for individuals with serious mental illness), veteran services, and youth and family services through seven primary locations across 18 Louisiana parishes spanning Houma, Thibodaux, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Covington, Mandeville, Lafayette, and Shreveport.
The organization's business model combines government healthcare reimbursements (Medicaid, Medicare via FQHC designation), federal and state grants (HRSA, SAMHSA, HUD), and charitable donations. Services are billed on a sliding scale based on household income and size, with no individual turned away for inability to pay. Distribution occurs through community health center clinics, street outreach teams, ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) teams, 24-hour mobile crisis response, courier-based pharmacy delivery, and a mobile application (The Starting Point) integrated with the FindHelp platform. The target customer segments are underserved and vulnerable populations including individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorders, poverty, veterans, and families requiring perinatal or youth services.
START Corporation has grown from its flagship Houma campus to seven locations statewide over four decades, with recent strategic expansions including a $5M Bezos Day 1 Families Fund award (2022), a $1M HRSA award (November 2024), a French Quarter clinic capital campaign (2025), and the opening of a Children's Clinic and Behavioral Health Crisis Wing at the Houma location in April 2026. The organization is led by Casey Guidry, who has served as President & CEO since 2006 and holds an LCSW license from Louisiana. Notable credentials include 2023 HRSA Community Health Quality Recognition badges for Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Health Information Technology (HIT), plus the 2023 LWCC Safest 70 workplace safety award.
START firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- START
- Legal name
- Start Corporation
- Website
- https://startcorp.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Start Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1984 operating as a Federally Qualified Health Center and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic across 18 Louisiana parishes, delivering integrated primary care, behavioral health, housing, and social services to underserved and vulnerable populations through seven primary locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
START industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Health Services
- NAICS
- Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Health Centers (FQHCs & Look-Alikes) (HLAFAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI), Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF)
Keywords
Where START is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
START business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Government Healthcare Reimbursements: Revenue from Medicaid, Medicare, and other government healthcare programs through the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation. Services billed include primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, and pharmacy services.
- Federal and State Grants: Funding from government entities including HUD (housing programs), HHS (healthcare programs), and state contracts. The organization received a $5M Bezos Day 1 Families Fund award in 2022 for family homelessness programs.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations through the organization's fundraising campaigns, including capital campaigns for facility expansion (e.g., French Quarter clinic) and general operational support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sliding Scale Discount based on household income |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
START product offering
Product offeringCore offering
START Corporation operates a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and social service programs across 18 parishes in Louisiana. The organization delivers integrated primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, dental services, pharmacy, HIV care, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) services. It also provides housing programs including Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and the Wren Way Supportive Housing facility, alongside veteran services, youth and family programs, and case management.
Product overview
START Corporation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1984 that operates as a healthcare and social services provider across Louisiana. The organization functions as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with multiple service lines. Its core offerings include START Community Health Centers providing integrated primary care, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy, and specialty services; the START Pharmacy for prescription fulfillment with courier delivery; comprehensive Housing Programs including Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and the Wren Way Supportive Housing program; Behavioral Health Services through ACT teams and CCBHC model; Substance Use Treatment; Veteran Services; Youth and Family Services; and HIV Treatment and Prevention. Additional offerings include The Starting Point mobile app integrated with FindHelp, Healthy Start perinatal services, and WIC nutrition programs. The organization serves 18 parishes across Louisiana through seven primary locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Starting Point App: Mobile application for accessing START services, available on Apple Store and Google Play
- START Community Health Centers
- Wren Way Supportive Housing
- START Now
- START Pharmacy
Products and services
- START Community Health Centers Federally Qualified Health Centers providing integrated primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, dental care, HIV treatment, pharmacy access, Medicaid/Medicare enrollment, hepatology, PrEP, and rapid testing across five Louisiana locations for underserved populations regardless of insurance status.
- START Pharmacy
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% of Wren Way program participants transitioned into stable housing in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use START
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
START technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
START partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)coreSTART operates as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) under SAMHSA guidelines, required to serve anyone who requests care regardless of ability to pay, place of residence, or age.
- HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration)coreSTART operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) under HRSA's Health Center Program. Receives HHS funding and has Federal Public Health Service deemed status with respect to certain health-related claims.
- CrescentCareminorJoint op-ed published with CrescentCare CEO highlighting how CCBHCs are transforming lives across Louisiana through accessible, trauma-informed care, and calling on Congress to secure long-term funding.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
START competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Merakey: Large national nonprofit providing behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disability services, and housing supports across multiple states. Comparable to START in behavioral health and housing service lines but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
- Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit delivering behavioral health, housing, veteran services, and community health programs across the U.S. Comparable to START's integrated service portfolio (especially veteran and housing programs) but operates at national scale rather than a single state.
Regional players
- SWLA Center for Health Services: Federally Qualified Health Center serving Southwest Louisiana with primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy. Comparable FQHC operating model and Louisiana footprint to START, though concentrated in the Lake Charles region.
- EXCELth: Louisiana-based FQHC operating multiple health centers in the Greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas offering primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. Direct geographic and service overlap with START's FQHC footprint and patient populations.
- Teche Action Board: Louisiana FQHC serving rural Southeast Louisiana with primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services. Comparable community health center model to START's rural parish locations, though operating in a more rural geography.
- InclusivCare: Louisiana FQHC serving the Greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas with primary care, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services, including HIV care. Overlapping patient population and service lines with START, particularly the Ryan White HIV program and community health center operations.
Direct peers
- NOELA Community Health Center: New Orleans-based FQHC providing primary care, behavioral health, and enabling services to underserved populations. Comparable in scope and patient population to START's New Orleans community health centers.
- CrescentCare: New Orleans-based FQHC and HIV/AIDS service organization delivering integrated primary care, behavioral health, and social services across Southeast Louisiana. Directly comparable to START as a peer Louisiana FQHC with overlapping service lines; already a documented collaboration partner through a joint op-ed on CCBHC funding.
- Odyssey House Louisiana: Louisiana-based nonprofit providing residential and outpatient substance use treatment, behavioral health, primary care, and housing services. Comparable to START's behavioral health, substance use treatment, and housing program lines (Wren Way, PSH, RRH), with similar Medicaid/grant-funded model.
- CareSouth: Multi-site FQHC delivering primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, and supportive services in Louisiana and the Southeast. Closely comparable operating model to START, including community health centers, sliding-scale fees, and integration of behavioral health into primary care.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
START social profiles
Digital presenceSTART compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
START financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
START leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
START funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
START M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about START
What does START do?
START Corporation operates a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and social service programs across 18 parishes in Louisiana. The organization delivers integrated primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, dental services, pharmacy, HIV care, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) services. It also provides housing programs including Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and the Wren Way Supportive Housing facility, alongside veteran services, youth and family programs, and case management.
Is START a public or private company?
START is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was START founded?
START was founded in 1984. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is START based?
START is headquartered in Houma, United States, in the North America region.
How does START make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Healthcare Reimbursements are the primary driver. The others are federal and State Grants and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are START's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Merakey and Volunteers of America. Regional players are SWLA Center for Health Services, EXCELth, Teche Action Board and InclusivCare. Direct peers are NOELA Community Health Center, CrescentCare, Odyssey House Louisiana and CareSouth.
Does START have an API?
No public API is recorded for START.
What industry is START in?
START's product category is Community Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAGAB, Community Health Centers (FQHCs & Look-Alikes), with a secondary code of HLAFACAI, Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers. Its NAICS code is 621 and its SIC code is 8000.