Context:
As regular readers know, at Slow we obsess over “person and theme” — our shorthand for the founder and the market. We look for resilient, driven entrepreneurs operating in categories that are not only important but also experiencing meaningful tailwinds. It’s this intersection — founder, market, and community — where we believe the most durable companies are built. That’s why we’re so excited to back Tayla Cannon and her company, Rebuildr, as she redefines what modern physical therapy (PT) can be.
Tayla’s story is personal and universal. After immigrating from Australia, she spent two years stuck in the broken US rehab system, experiencing chronic pain and the short-term, symptom-focused care that defines the status quo. Her journey — both as a patient and as a clinician — catalyzed her mission: to build a proactive, whole-system approach to PT that’s as integral to daily health as mental wellness is today.
Market Signal:
The market is clearly signaling a shift. We’re seeing the same playbook that transformed mental health — from crisis response to everyday wellness — now playing out in musculoskeletal care. PT is moving from “here are five exercises, good luck” to an integrated, continuous model. The numbers back this up: the US in-person PT market is $48B, while telerehab is growing fast at 13% CAGR and already worth ~$2B. On the ground, Tayla’s community growth is a leading indicator: 10k to ~140k Instagram followers in 18 months, 1,000+ PTs interested in her platform, and 350 beta applicants from just two stories. This is real, organic pull from both practitioners and patients.
How We Underwrite Creators:
Creator: Tayla is the rare founder who’s lived both sides of the problem and brings relentless output and clarity of vision.
Community: Her community is both a distribution channel and a feedback loop, driving product adoption and iterating on real needs.
Category: We’re witnessing the early innings of PT’s transformation from reactive to proactive care — mirroring shifts we’ve seen in mental health and fitness.
Business: Rebuildr is not just a SaaS tool — it’s a full-stack infrastructure play: certification, platform, and marketplace. This creates a new career path for PTs and a new care standard for patients. The burnout among PTs and the demand for proactive, performance-oriented care are converging now.
Asks:
For PTs: If you’re a practitioner looking to escape the hamster wheel of clinic burnout and want to build a scalable, fulfilling career, keep an eye on Rebuildr’s certification and platform launches.
For Investors/Operators: If you’re interested in the intersection of creator-led health, community-driven adoption, or the future of care infrastructure, reach out — we’d love to connect.
For Everyone: Read more about Tayla’s journey in TechCrunch and follow her progress. We’ll be sharing updates as she builds the future of PT.