Tanzania - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Akili Yangu is a mobile application in the mental health space. We want to see a world where every individual has the tools and support they need by providing personalized, accessible and evidence-based resources to empower individuals mentally

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our project under Mindful Mastery Company Limited is advocating on mental wellness for all and the chosen approach to tackle the mental health challenges and their effects is by creating a mobile application as we recognize the value of Technology, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in revolutionalizing health-care delivery. Through the application, we join the Global effort aligning with SDG number 03, to control the rising burden of mental illnesses by increasing awareness and in-turn, the health-seeking behaviors of the population on issues pertaining mental health especially those who are hindered by stigma and financial constraints. We want to enable to access mental health care in terms of therapy, consultations as well as support group sessions via virtual platforms due to the already pre-existing stigma. Again emotional support will be made readily available by an Empathetic AI chatbot that will also guide users in utilising tools to improve their mental health.

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

The WHO recognizes mental health as a Global-issue of concern due to the high prevalence of mental illnesses affecting 1 person out of every 4 people. A large population of those with mental illnesses are unattended and taking youth as an example, it is 71%. This is due to stigma, highly prevalent in our society due to low level of awareness and knowledge on mental health. Few mental health specialists available gives a doctor-patient ratio of 1 per 100,000 people globally. In Tanzania it gives Psychiatrist to population ratio of 0.0625 for 100,000 people and Psychologist to population ratio of 0.0375 for 100,000 people, worsening the problem. WHO estimates the Tanzania Mental health profile of 2017 having a burden of mental illnesses in terms of disability-adjusted life years 2727.86 per 100,000 population and suicide mortality rate at 5.4 per 100,000 population affect the society on all levels and calls for innovative solutions like Akili Yangu.

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

Major benefits of using Akili Yangu are firstly, access to reliable information on mental health which is expert-curated which will improve health-seeking behavior, reduce stigma and promote emotional awareness. Secondly, access to guidance to use evidence-based tools and methods to improve their mental health like guided meditation and yoga as well as 24/7 emotional support via by our AI, Nana. Thirdly, access to a safe and moderated platform to get mental health care virtually i.e virtual consultations as well as a platform to connect, get support and share experiences with other users all over the world.

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

The target population for Akili Yangu in terms of behavior are those individuals who are digital-friendly and have a health-seeking behavior. In terms of geographics, those in areas with internet access and in terms of demographics are those people of all genders, with basic literacy to read and write English or Swahili aged 16+ assuming that is the age at which most people in our setting have access and conversant use of digital appliances however I and my team are well aware that it is amenable to change due the fast-evolving world.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-04-12

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

No

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.)

Ignas Bangi is the other owner. He is a 23 years old male, a final year student at Dar es salaam Institute of Technology. He is skilled in software development, with two years experience in web and mobile application development, product designing(UI/UX designer) and user-centric design. He was the first runner in 2022 Africa and India Hackathon which was under UNESCO and UN in India.

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

http://youtu.be/VtF2AgFSLaw?si=mirzDzW-zWS6Pfvr

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Mental well-being is necessary for individuals to be able to work efficiently. By improving the society relations, reducing the cost spent in Mental Health-care, reducing workplace absenteeism due to Acute episodes of Mental illness requiring hospitalization and the suiciude mortality-rate which reduces the national workforce, we are definitely aligning with the Zero-Poverty Goal.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

5

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Since food security can well be maintained with physical and mental fitness appropiate to work efficiently, our startup in aslo indirectly aligning with that goal

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

This is actually the core goal of Akili Yangu Project. As mental well-being is part and parcel of an individual's general well-being, startups that focus on improving mental well-being and accessibility of mental wellness promoting assets like ours are definetely working gowards Good health and well being attainment for the global population.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

With the feature of an Expert-curated database of information on mental health in simple lay-man language, in both English and Swahili languages, in different forms like videos, articles and podcasts according to use preference, we are no doubt working to enhance quality education dissemination to the society in mental health and related issues. We want to ensure conducive and comfortable environment for people to easily understand on mental health related agendas.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Since mental well being plays a great role in ensuring people are working to their greatest potential for maximum productivity then we are prmoting economic growth as well

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

none

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Access to quality mental health care is directly influenced by economic status to cover the costs of care, distance from care centers. By creating a system of remotely and virtually accessing care via Teletherapy intergration, we actually by-pass the constraints of travel costs (keeping in mind that the centers providing mental health care fully including in patient treatment are hardly three, two of them being Muhimbili National Hospital ang Mirembe Hospital; together with provision of quality services of virtual consultation that will be insuarance-covered also helps overcomes the economic constraint of cost paying for mental health care hence bridging the gap between haves and have-nots.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Safety of cities highly depends on the inhabitants. People with Substance Use Disorders are commonly implicated in many of crimes in the society as they are driven by "arosto" to rob, steal to get the money to buy the substances they are addicted to. None-the-less, communities' safety is also dependent on the relationships between individuals. Other than crimes, misbeliefs, myths that people with mental illnesses have been bewitched by others highly distorts the society order. Akili Yangu provides access to means to enable individuals attain better coping-mechanims not to end up in addiction but also education on the correct science behind mental illnesses.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

none

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

none

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

none

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

none

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

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

Peace goes hand in hand with safety. Where there is safety people tend to be a peace. By prevention and elimination on mental illness-related causes of peace disruption, we work on enhancing peace as well.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

none

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

5

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

5

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

5

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

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

We have therefore improved the pre-existing products by compling up all pre-existing features and again addition of some extra features like inclusion of services in Swahili language for the indigenous Tanzanians who aren't familiar with English. Also the features of our AI Chatbot is a great revolution in the mental health space.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Recognizing other pre-existing players in the mental health space like Mantra health, Better Health, Talk Space and the likes, Our unique selling point is our Empathetic AI chat bot Nana who will enable 24/7 availability of emotional support to users, channeling them to relevant specialists as well as guide them in wellness enhancing exercises like breathing exercises as well as the incorporation and availability of all services in Swahili language hence favoring those Tanzanians who aren't familiar with English language. Also, Akili Plus has pooled all features found in these pre-existing applications in one space for more user convenience. Since we recognize the financial constraints encountered by users in accessing mental health services, we want to partner with insurance companies so that they can cover the virtual consultations their customers have via our application.

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

Yes. As a member of the Innovation Support Team, under Director of Research, Innovation and Publication Office, at the university I am currently studying for my Bachelor Degree Programme, that is Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences; I have been mentoring young female innovators in the unit. I do this particularly by helping them refine their innovative ideas, sharpen their skills for grant applications as well as unleash available opportunities for them to explore for better sustainability in the innovation ecosystem which includes funding as well as incubation, mentorship and startup registration assistance.