Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

emterrapy: a mental healthcare platform that promotes climate-friendly practices and reduces carbon footprint, leveraging smart technology for online therapy.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

At emterrapy, we understand that traditional therapy can be expensive and inaccessible to many Nigerians so, we have created an innovative solution that breaks down barriers to accessibility, affordability, and sustainability. Our teletherapy sessions utilize smart technology to reduce carbon footprint and eliminate the need for in-person commutes by connecting therapists to individuals and, making mental health support more convenient and affordable. Our mobile app also offers many resources including, eco-anxiety support, environmental education, and sustainable living tips. Our AI-powered voice changer feature ensures high security and anonymity for clients who do not want their identities revealed during sessions; we are dedicated to making mental healthcare more inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate.

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

Traditional therapy in Nigeria is often expensive and inaccessible, with long commutes contributing to carbon emissions and barriers to sustainable mental healthcare delivery. This makes it difficult for individuals to get the mental health support they need.

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

- Teletherapy: Online sessions reduce travel needs, lowering costs and carbon footprint. - Smart Technology: Leveraging smart technology to track physical activities, promote eco-friendly habits, enhance climate change efforts, and foster sustainable well-being. - Mobile App: Provides access to eco-anxiety support, sustainable living tips, and environmental education. - Affordability & Accessibility: Ensuring easy access to affordable mental healthcare for average-earning Nigerians. - Privacy & Security: Guaranteeing privacy protection policy for clients including AI-powered voice changer features for anonymity.

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

- Average income-earning Nigerians between the ages of 18 - 55. - Psychologists - Athletes - Business owners

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-05-03

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

0

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

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

Miss Mimi Pine is a graduate of BSc Business Management from Benue State University. She worked as a quality control officer with Nobis Trading Company Limited before moving to Knowledge Factory International where she worked as a business developer. After the demise of the CEO of Knowledge Factory International, she experienced a near suicidal case of depression which exposed her to the challenges individuals face with accessing affordable therapy in Nigeria. This gave birth to ''emterrapy''.

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

www.emterrapy.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

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Emterrapy provides job opportunities to certified therapists in Nigeria regardless of gender or location. This helps to minimize unemployment rate which is a factor contributing to poverty.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

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 believe that there is no health without mental health. For an individual to be productive and innovative at whatever he finds himself doing, he needs to be of sound mind. This is what ''emterrapy'' stands to promote; a society where everyone is of sound mind and health, ready to face challenges no matter the situation.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

At emterrapy, we are against the stereotype that mental health issues predominantly affect women in Nigeria as the lesser gender. The Nigerian society expects men to deal with mental health issues silently rather than seeking help because they might be seen as weak which is a wrong assumption. We believe that both genders experience mental health challenges and priority should not be given to one gender over the other nor should the female gender be seen as weaker for seeking help to address issues that affect both males and females. Equal attention is given to clients of both males and females when addressing mental health issues particularly, during therapy. We encourage more female psychologists to register on our platform and, we promote inclusivity in the workplace.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

emterrapy offers equal employment opportunities to certified therapists and psychologists on our platform not minding gender or location. As long as you meet the age requirements to practice and are qualified, you can render your services to clients and get paid. We also offer therapy services to working-class individuals because we believe that being of sound mind is the bedrock of productivity in the workforce. This is why we encourage enterprises, companies, organizations, and businesses to engage in monthly or quarterly therapy sessions for staff to enable them to function properly. This also helps to identify areas of improvement within the workplace and creates a more conducive environment for staff. These activities promote decent work and economic growth for the society.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

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

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

We leverage smart technology to promote green space therapy, eco-friendly habits, environmental education, and climate-friendly practices.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

Through our mobile application, we promote eco-anxiety support, enhance climate change efforts, and foster sustainable well-being.

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

At emterrapy, we believe in partnership to achieve goals. Promoting good mental health cannot be achieved without partnering with healthcare facilities and healthcare providers such as psychologists. This is why we give equal opportunities to certified psychologists to register on our platform where they get to offer their services to those in need. Health facilities also help promote our platform by spreading the message of how effective online therapy is in reducing carbon footprint.

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.

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.

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

There are several online therapy platforms in Nigeria, but none of them utilize smart technology to minimize carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices while offering affordable and secure services with guaranteed client confidentiality. In addition, our unique AI voice changer feature provides extra security and anonymity for high-profile clients who wish to conceal their identities during therapy sessions. We are building upon existing online therapy services to create a new platform where client confidentiality is ensured through the use of smart technology to encourage sustainable living practices.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our competitors are: - Better help - 360 psyche - Mytherapist.ng - Blueroom care Our competitive advantage lies in using our competitors' weaknesses to improve our own. We offer a more affordable and convenient package plan for our clients. This includes ensuring privacy protection policies and eco-anxiety support, environmental education and, leveraging smart technology to reduce carbon footprint. Our profit-sharing percentage for psychologists is cheaper than that of our competitors. In addition, we are introducing a new AI voice changer feature that makes therapy sessions more confidential, swift, and seamless for users.

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

Yes. I have collaborated with NGOs, the Benue State Government, the Benue State Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Tourism in Benue State on various projects focused on empowering women and advocating for girls' education.