Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Train Your Brain Initiative is a comprehensive mental health hub that is a home for mental wellness aiming to disrupt the mental health space in Kenya and Africa by transforming the way people access and interact with mental health service.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Train Your Brain Initiative which is a comprehensive mental health hub that is leveraging technology to offer mental health solutions to young people. By using a website, Train Your Brain seeks to offer round the clock mental health support through an AI powered chatbot with preprogrammed responses to assist especially in emergency situations. In addition, patient focused counselling services that incorporate the use of AI to match users to therapists based on preferences, and adding a therapist rating functionality to enhance user experience. Moreover, incorporating mental health gamification through virtual reality experiences and wellness contests that encourage users to engage in self-care. Finally, disseminating mental health information through films, and selling mental health themed merchandise. The platform will incorporate a sign language feature, text to speech, voice assistant and many more to make mental healthcare accessible to those who are physically disabled.

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

According to Statista, 1 in 4 individuals in Kenya is perceived to be grappling with mental health issues. This has been worsened by the rate of unemployment and the ever rising cost of living, which has resulted in people copying with their mental health issues through drugs or even worse, suicide. The total estimated economic burden on account of mental health conditions on the Kenyan economy in 2021 is KES 62.2 billion (US$571.8 million). Train Your Brain wants to address the various barriers to mental wellness like limited access to mental health services, high cost of therapy, misconceptions on mental illness and the stigma around mental healthcare. The Train Your Brain initiative is seeking to address these issues by educating people and offering a safe space for people to ask for help affordably and conveniently.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The biggest advantage of using our platform is that it is readily available and can be accessed easily by anyone, anywhere at anytime. Furthermore, our platform is user focused, and we put the needs of our customers first by prioritizing their needs, wants and preferences hence enhancing user experience. Most importantly, is that unlike everyone else out there, our approach to mental health is fun and creative making it a delight for our consumers to engage with our products and services. Finally, is the fact that we are offering our products and services affordably to ensure that clients can obtain our services without straining financially.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The project is targeting people who are struggling with mental health in the society, specifically young people from the ages of eighteen to thirty in Kenya.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-10-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Arnold Ochieng’ is the Chief Technology Officer and is a tech enthusiast, currently pursuing a degree in Computer Networks and Cyber Security. He is passionate when it comes to matters technology and how it can be used to improve the quality of life for all. Arnold has worked on a number of projects, such as a power management system, designing a check in and inventory system for New Life Home Trust Kisumu where he interned. He is invested in cybersecurity but is also delving into android development, automation and IoT projects. Mirell Nazi is the Head of Film and Creativity and is a Kenyan Screenwriter and Film Producer who is passionate about storytelling and empowering her community. With a diploma in Film and TV production, she aims to take authentic African stories to a global market while advocating for mental awareness. She has taken part in a couple of local short film productions. 'Inauma' is her first short film on mental health which she wrote, directed and produced.

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

https://trainyourbrains.info/ ; https://www.instagram.com/train_your_brain_intitative/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

2

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

2

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Train Your Brain is significantly contributing to the third sustainable development goal by making mental healthcare accessible and available for all thereby promoting good health and wellbeing for all. By breathing life to the fourth target of the third global goal, Train Your Brain, is reducing stigma around mental health, offering mental health services at affordable prices, educating people on mental health and sparking important conservations on mental health especially on men's mental health in Africa. Cumulatively, all this contributes towards advancing mental healthcare by utilizing AI and technology.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

2

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

2

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

2

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

2

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

2

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

4

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

4

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

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

5

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

Train Your Brain is looking to build on the mental healthcare services available and make them even better. By using technology, Train Your Brain wants to improve on traditional therapy by offering it online. For therapy services available online, Train Your Brain has gone a step further to create an AI powered chatbot to ensure reliability especially when therapists are not available live. Most importantly, for people who are looking for mental healthcare services that prioritize their needs and preferences, Train Your Brain is offering patient focused therapy services as an alternative, this ensures that the demands of these people are met.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Train Your Brain faces fierce competition from the market. There is competition from traditional therapy that is offered by Amani Centre and Mathare Mental Hospital. Furthermore, the initiative faces competition from organizations offering remote therapy such as Mantra Care and our biggest competitor Shamiri. What set's my initiative apart from my current competitors is that I have incorporated AI and technology to make therapy more effective. Our therapy sessions are affordable, patient focused and personalized to make them more effective. Unlike most mental health platforms that offer only therapy I want to offer a dynamic approach that uses people, technology and films to deliver not only therapy but other services and information as well. Most importantly is that the initiative is for the youth by the youth and through creativity and innovations offers a fun way to tackle mental illness in order to reduce stigma.

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

I utilize social media platforms especially LinkedIn to share opportunities, offer mentorship, coaching and guidance to female entrepreneurs.