Kenya - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Heyrafiki is a mental health platform aimed at making mental health support accessible & affordable in Africa. It connects users with therapists & provides an all-in-one EHR system to streamline therapy processes, enhancing client&professional experiences

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Heyrafiki is a mental health platform designed to make mental health support accessible and affordable across Africa. Born from personal experience, Heyrafiki connects users with a comprehensive directory of therapists and offers an all-in-one Electronic Health Records (EHR) system to streamline therapy processes. The platform facilitates easy onboarding of clients, progress monitoring, payment processing, and task assignments, allowing therapists to maintain clear boundaries between their professional and personal lives. In less than 2.5 months, we managed to onboard 276 mental health experts, attracted over 300 clients, and expanded our team to five members and two volunteers.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Heyrafiki aims to solve the lack of accessible, affordable, and reliable mental health support in Africa. Many individuals struggle to find compatible therapists, leading to untreated mental health issues. Additionally, therapists face challenges in managing their practices efficiently due to scattered tools and platforms. Heyrafiki provides a comprehensive directory of mental health professionals and an all-in-one EHR system that streamlines client onboarding, progress monitoring, payment processing, and task assignments. This not only enhances client-therapist interactions but also helps therapists maintain clear boundaries between their professional and personal lives.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Heyrafiki offers several major benefits: 1. Accessibility: Provides a comprehensive directory of mental health professionals, making it easier for users to find and connect with compatible therapists. 2. Efficiency: Features an all-in-one EHR system that streamlines client onboarding, progress monitoring, payment processing, and task assignments, enhancing therapy management for professionals. 3. Boundaries: Helps therapists and clients maintain clear boundaries between personal and professional lives by consolidating all therapy-related activities into a single platform.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Heyrafiki’s product is aimed at two main groups: individuals in Africa seeking accessible and affordable mental health support, and mental health professionals. For clients, Heyrafiki offers a comprehensive directory of therapists, enabling easy access to compatible mental health experts. For professionals, it provides an all-in-one Electronic Health Records (EHR) system that simplifies practice management, including client onboarding, progress tracking, and payment processing. By serving both clients and therapists, Heyrafiki enhances the accessibility, efficiency, and quality of mental health care.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-06-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Daniel Moenga (Founder & CEO)- Technical Expert (Started Coding since 12 years old) Electrical Engineering & CS at University of Debrecen, 4 years in Tech Startups (Signvrse formerly Veezaviz, Rocket Jobs, T-Health) and AI & ML Expert. Janice Mbete Malu (UIUX & Product Lead)- Computer Science at Strathmore, 4+ years in Tech Corporate – 3+ Startups (EasyElimu, Xetova) and Software Engineer & UIUX Expert.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://heyrafiki.com

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Heyrafiki contributes to the goal of ending poverty by creating employment opportunities for mental health professionals. By connecting therapists with a broader client base through our platform, we help them secure more clients and generate income. Additionally, by providing affordable mental health support, we empower individuals to improve their mental well-being, which can enhance their productivity and economic stability. Our platform facilitates the growth of the mental health industry, contributing to the overall economic development of communities in Africa.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

I strongly agree that Heyrafiki contributes to good health and well-being. Our platform addresses critical mental health gaps in Africa by making support more accessible and affordable. By connecting users with a comprehensive directory of therapists and offering an all-in-one EHR system for efficient therapy management, Heyrafiki enhances the overall mental health landscape. This approach not only improves access to mental health services for individuals but also supports therapists in providing quality care, ultimately promoting better mental health outcomes and well-being across the region.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

2

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Heyrafiki promotes decent work and economic growth by creating job opportunities for mental health professionals and supporting their practice management. Our platform connects therapists with a larger client base, facilitating consistent work and income. By streamlining administrative tasks through our EHR system, therapists can focus more on providing quality care, enhancing their productivity. Additionally, by improving access to mental health support, we contribute to a healthier, more productive workforce, driving overall economic growth and sustainability in the mental health sector and beyond.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

I strongly agree that Heyrafiki contributes to industry innovation and infrastructure. By integrating a comprehensive directory of therapists with an all-in-one EHR system, we are revolutionizing the mental health sector in Africa. Our platform improves the efficiency and effectiveness of mental health services, offering innovative solutions that streamline practice management and client interactions. This not only enhances the accessibility and quality of mental health care but also supports the growth and development of mental health infrastructure, driving significant advancements in the industry.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Heyrafiki strongly contributes to reducing inequalities by making mental health support accessible and affordable across Africa, regardless of socioeconomic status. Our platform bridges the gap between urban and rural areas by connecting individuals with a diverse range of therapists online. By offering affordable mental health services, we ensure that even those in underserved communities have access to necessary support. Furthermore, we provide employment opportunities for mental health professionals from various backgrounds, promoting economic inclusivity and reducing professional disparities within the mental health sector.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

3

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Heyrafiki thrives on partnerships to amplify its impact on mental health accessibility. We have received support from Founders Factory Africa to further push SDG 3 and collaborated with universities like the University of Nairobi, and mental health organizations like Safe Space Arena. These partnerships have been crucial in providing funding, spreading mental health awareness, and integrating professional expertise into our platform. By building a network of stakeholders, we enhance our ability to deliver comprehensive mental health support, create job opportunities, and innovate continuously to meet the needs of our users.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Heyrafiki is innovative and unique in several ways. It represents a new type of product by combining a comprehensive therapist directory with an all-in-one EHR system tailored for mental health professionals. This technology improves existing solutions by integrating client onboarding, progress monitoring, payment processing, and task assignments into a single platform. It addresses an unmet need for accessible and affordable mental health support in Africa. While there are similar services, none offer the complete, streamlined experience Heyrafiki provides, making it a new version and extension of existing mental health tools.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our main potential competitors include traditional therapy directories and standalone EHR systems like TherapyNotes and SimplePractice. However, Heyrafiki stands out by combining these functionalities into one seamless platform, specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by both therapists and clients in Africa. Unlike competitors, Heyrafiki offers a holistic solution that improves accessibility, efficiency, and affordability of mental health services. Our focus on integrating local therapists and addressing regional mental health needs further differentiates us in the market.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, we actively promote female entrepreneurship by featuring Janice Malu, our Lead UI/UX expert and Computer Scientist, in community talks and workshops to inspire young women in tech. Additionally, Marion Yego, our Social Media Manager, leads initiatives to highlight the achievements of female entrepreneurs through different social media channels, encouraging more women to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.