As part of the startup Interview series, we are going to interview Mrs. Sandra de Monte from MindBerry, a woman-founded telehealth startup from London offering a digital platform to connect and work with mental health and coaching professionals online.
Sandra, thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. Can you briefly outline the company’s story, what is MindBerry’ key goal? Who are the founders and how it all became what it is today?
The MindBerry platform enables organisations and teams to improve their wellbeing.
I was personally inspired to found MindBerry by my experiences after my father had a heart attack in our garden when I was 14. There was nothing like MindBerry available then and the term PTSD did not exist. Prior to founding MindBerry, I was a Student Counsellor at Royal College of Art, London. I attended Harvard University for Global Health Delivery in association with Harvard X and did my clinical training during my postgraduate studies in Integrative Psychotherapy & Counselling at Regent’s University in London.
What kind of products and services does your company offer?
Our mantra is “Your Mind Matters.” We enable potential by empowering minds. MindBerry provides access to effective high-quality mental wellbeing care. We offer bespoken webinars and 1:1 sessions via video, audio and instant messaging on our secure platform. Additionally, our clients can use our messaging service with the professional of their choice for free and unlimited. We have developed our technology in-house to ensure security and efficiency.
What’s the latest progress in the project, and what are you focusing on right now?
We are focused on building MindBerry’s profile and customer base by delivering mental health benefits for employers to help build the future of mental health care.
What pain of your customers are you helping solve? What is your company’s offering and what kind of customers and partners are you looking for?
We have a clear value proposition. We have a high-quality healthtech product but that alone doesn’t ensure success. MindBerry delivers a comprehensive solution that this part of the healthcare system has previously found hard to access. We are making mental health care more accessible by creating a frictionless experience for members, providers, and employers. Using our proprietary digital platform, MindBerry connects leading companies and their employees to qualified empathetic mental health professionals.
What differentiates MindBerry from its competitors?
MindBerry is purpose-driven and exists to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We differentiate on customer relationships by proving value: showing employers ROI (productivity, retention, and loyalty of employees). We are a digital platform with the human touch.
Do you use AI technology in your product? How does it work for you?
MindBerry offers its mental health platform to companies as a benefit for their employees. While it provides both in-person and online therapy, it’s telehealth-first. We are working on our next exciting project; In the Future, MindBerry onboards clients online and uses artificial intelligence to match them to mental health professionals and coaches.
Do you have any projects related to COVID-19 research? If so, can you explain how your product is contributing to a global fight against coronavirus?
COVID-19 has hit everyone but especially 18-34 year-olds, according to Sapien Labs “Mental State of the World 2020” research. We have explored non-traditional distribution channels by initiating partnerships with universities – and this applies to universities globally – underlining the importance of providing students with resources that support connection. Fostering mental health and wellbeing are critical factors in creating a thriving, inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, and students.
What is your business model and how are you planning to get early customers onboard? Have you already raised money for your operations and building the platform?
We have a scalable model and will partner with governments, corporates, and commercial health plans so they can turn to MindBerry at times of disruption for our high-quality evidence-based care, our proprietary technology platform, and human touch delivering world-class consumer experiences.
What milestones have you had in fundraising and where are you now?
We successfully participated in Virgin StartUp’s CrowdBoost Accelerator in 2019 and expect to secure Series A funding in 2021. Funds will be used to help accelerate plans to expand global reach, the network of providers, and build an amazing global tech company.
What was it like growing your team? What are the challenges and surprises you encountered? What tips do you have for building a solid team?
We have been fortunate to attract a talented management team and experienced advisors, all of whom are very passionate about making a difference in behavioral health. We have a relatively small team so talent and agility are important.
What are your company’s plans for the future, your major dream in 2021?
We are optimising our core healthtech business while creating future growth opportunities. We are transitioning to MindBerry 2.0 with brilliant new app development. Our aim is to have an impact on people’s life.
What do you think about the business climate in the UK and in EU in general?
Well, I agree that the best time to start a business is on the heels of a recession. And while the pandemic makes this a different type of recession there are factors that make this a great time to start a business including abundant capital, and businesses and consumers being open to new products and services.
To summarize our interview I would like to ask your opinion about the future of the HealthTech industry, especially considering the impact of pandemics and all this economic turbulence.
I think HealthTech is the most exciting sector right now. Healthcare was ripe for disruption and there has been a real opportunity for innovation. The pandemic has accelerated trends that were already underway. The pandemic underlined the role businesses have to play in supporting mental health and wellbeing and companies understand the need to take it seriously. The pandemic made clear that our emotional health is precious, and employers are conscious they must meet increasing demand. Combined with the openness of young people toward mental health discussions, and that good mental health coverage for employees leads to success for companies, and you can say there is a solid foundation for the future of healthtech. The change was inevitable and the change is welcome.
