Check out InnerHour for online counselling for corporate clients

Are you in need of a therapist but feeling nervous about visiting a consultant? Do you want an expert advice on clearing your thoughts but time is a constraint?

A platform on psychological wellness — InnerHour — provides online counselling to individuals and corporate clients.

The Mumbai-based start-up has raised $450,000 in its first round of funding from financial advisory firm Batlivala & Karani Securities, investment firm Venture Works and others.

Founded in 2016 by Amit Malik and Shefali Batra, doctors with over 15-years of psychiatric practice, InnerHour aims to create a customised platform for the corporates to engage with and seek counselling anonymously.

Of 1.3 billion, around 150 million Indians need mental care assistance. According to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, only 30 million families have access to mental health facilities. Citing social stigma and lack of variable quality of therapists, the start-up sees no competitors and witnesses $300 billion global market as growth indicators for all mental-health care organisations.

With over 30,000 people engaged with the start-up assessments and around 150 client conversations every day, they earn revenue through business to consumer model that involves payments for individual sessions. Stating that a mere 1.3 per cent of the Budget was spent on health in 2016, and only 0.09 per cent of it being allocated for mental health, the start-up endeavours to bridge the gap through availability of free sessions as well.

Though the service is currently available only online the beta version of the app is already in process. Moreover, they are developing products that are aimed to democratise access to psychological support by using technology.