With her ground-breaking firm, Infiheal, founder and CEO Srishti Srivastava is creating waves in the mental wellness space. The flagship product from Infiheal, Healo, is an AI-powered co-therapist that helps users navigate mental health issues, acquire psychological insights, and connect with self-care and mental health specialists. A major turning point for the startup was recently reached when Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognised Infiheal on his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, bringing national recognition to Srivastava’s efforts.
The Journey: From Child Genius to Mental Health Advocate
Srishti’s adventure started in 2003 when, at the age of twelve, she made her TV debut on Child Genius, India’s top children’s quiz program, which was hosted by Siddhartha Basu. She was thrilled to be among the 320 young talents, but as she froze on stage, the event became horrific. Her problem with social anxiety, which would eventually affect her life and profession, began with this experience.
Due to her emotional upheaval, Srishti sought treatment, and her family relocated from Nagpur to Mumbai in order to receive better mental health care. She overcame these obstacles to achieve academic success, passing the IIT-JEE tests and graduating from IIT Bombay with a degree in Chemical Engineering. But she continued to experience social anxiety, particularly when she had to perform or be in the spotlight.
The Birth of Infiheal
Srishti’s motivation to start Infiheal was sparked by her struggles with social anxiety and her continuous quest for a useful therapy. Her desire to provide more individualised and accessible mental health support gave rise to Infiheal, which was founded in 2021. Her goal was to create an Indian-specific version of Calm or Headspace, with an emphasis on individualised therapy rather than just material.
Srishti observed that her colleagues were becoming more in need of mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired to create Healo, an AI-powered companion for mental wellness, by this realisation. Healo is made to recognise the unique characteristics of its users and pair them with the most appropriate therapists. A variety of self-care options, such as calming music and attention timers, are also offered by the AI system.
Healo: An AI-Powered Mental Health Companion
Healo is a noteworthy discovery in the field of mental health treatment. Through user interaction, the AI-powered platform provides support for a range of life obstacles, including relationship problems and work-related stress. In the event that a user’s problem is serious, Healo can put them in touch with an internal therapist right away or refer them to a distress hotline if they are experiencing psychosis or suicidal thoughts.
In order to give Healo the empathy and understanding of a human therapist, data from therapy sessions was fed into large language models (LLMs). Srishti highlights that although artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, is not perfect, Healo reduces errors by incorporating safety measures and cultural training tailored to Indian consumers.
Overcoming Challenges and Scaling Infiheal
Even with its achievements, Srishti admits that creating and growing Infiheal has difficulties. She has encountered many challenges, ranging from finding the proper talent to overcoming legal restrictions. Another major obstacle has been monetising the platform, especially in the B2C industry, which can be hard to break into in India. In order to get around this, Infiheal is looking into joint ventures with hospitals and government organisations, such as the National Institute for Mental Health and Rehabilitation (NIMHR) and the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID).
Additionally, 1,000 mental health experts have joined Infiheal’s network and advocate for the platform on behalf of their clients. The startup is also contacting businesses via conventional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), pitching Healo as a low-effort, anonymous mental health.
Recognition and Future Plans
The creative strategy used by Infiheal has not gone ignored. Together with IBM, the startup took first place in the Nasscom AI for Business Grand Challenge the previous year. Infiheal’s image has been further enhanced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent mention on Mann Ki Baat, underscoring its potential to revolutionise mental health treatment in India.
In the future, Srishti intends to broaden the reach of Infiheal, especially through collaborations with medical facilities and governmental organisations. Additionally, she is committed to making Healo even better so that it can continue to be a secure and useful tool for mental health.
Advice for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
Srishti, a woman entrepreneur in the difficult sector of mental health, offers insightful counsel to other women who aspire to launch their own businesses. She stresses the value of having a solid support network and being resilient. “It’s imperative to be ready to take on obstacles head-on,” she states. “Assemble a support system of fellow female founders and cheerleaders who can provide encouragement and support.”
It is encouraging to follow Srishti’s path from a socially awkward youngster to a prosperous businesswoman and mental health advocate. She is significantly changing the mental wellness scene in India with Infiheal, providing thousands of people who are seeking improved mental health with encouragement and assistance.
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