GIMBHI‘s Q&A with aNUma’s Founder, Gregory Roufa

Gregory Roufa is a healthcare technology entrepreneur and thought leader focused on the intersection of science and spirituality with over 25 years of experience. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of aNUma, a company pioneering virtual reality interventions to support families facing with life-threatening disease diagnoses. Prior to aNUma, Roufa co-founded Corrigo Incorporated, a facilities management platform which was acquired by JLL in 2015. At Corrigo, he led a 40+ person product team serving over 700 organizations including several Global 1000 companies.

Recent news on ANUma

What does aNUma do?

aNUma operates on two fronts: Clear Light, a multi-session program, helps families navigate life-threatening disease diagnoses. In addition, Clear Light has been offered to healthy individuals interested in deepening their relationship with mortality. 

aNUma's Experience Platform powers group experiences in AR and VR. It is used by research institutions across the US, Spain, and Israel to develop and deliver their own experiences.

Why did you start aNUma?

We founded aNUma based on the insight that modernity is plagued by the illusion of separation—something we see as a root cause of today's mental health crisis. 

Through technology, we create powerful group experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other, and the greater natural world. 

While Clear Light transforms how people engage with mortality and life itself, our platform enables solutions with the potential to address critical challenges—from anxiety and loneliness to substance use.

Where does the name aNUma come from? 

aNUma derives from "numadelic," a term combining the Greek pneuma ("breath," "spirit," or "soul") with the suffix -delic. 

While "psychedelic" means "mind manifesting," numadelic suggests "spirit-revealing"—reflecting our focus on technology that helps connect humans to a sense of something greater than themselves.

Is your work evidence based?

Yes. Our innovative approach is validated through peer-reviewed research available at: https://anuma.com/science. 

A forthcoming publication in early 2025 reports on a study demonstrating statistically significant benefits on 6 validated psychological metrics for Clear Light, while ongoing research by partner institutions continues to validate the broader platform's effectiveness.

Subscribe to news and reports about mental health startups & mental health investors at gimbhi.substack.com