Inner Peak AI (Techstars '24)

Today is World Mental Health Day. I encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on the role of mental health in your life. We as humans have created immense complexity in the way we live our lives. What clothes we wear, what things we have, and what people we are invited to associate with all consume a large portion of our time and energy. Comparing ourselves to others along these dimensions is a way we can derive a cheap sense of self worth and meaning. But it also can have long-term damaging consequences to ourselves and to those we belittle. When we strip away all of these facades and comparisons, what is left? I encourage you to spend today and every day building something that will be left when all else is gone: intrinsic self worth, self love, and compassion for those around you. #worldmentalhealthday #youmatter #findyourinnerpeak Inner Peak AI (Techstars '24)

Ben Anandappa and I founded Inner Peak AI (Techstars '24) with the vision of blending the best of human and technology to enhance our ability to deliver high quality, affordable, mental health support at scale. Therefore, we are committed to promoting the ethical use of AI and adhering to national and global standards of user privacy and protection. When we heard of the recently created EDSAFE AI Alliance Industry Council (https://lnkd.in/gFUZM2b5), the leading cross-sector voice for the responsible and safe adoption and use of AI in education, we thought there was a strong mission alignment, and decided to join, becoming one of the first 100 members. Today, we are excited to announce our membership in the Council and our commitment to ensuring our policies, practices, and products are consistent with the SAFE Framework. Please join us in our commitment to the ethical use of AI. You can view EDSAFE's full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gjDRNE5w You can view the logos of all partner organizations here: https://lnkd.in/gFUZM2b5

Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. Over 20% of high school students have seriously considered suicide in the last year, with 10% actually attempting suicide. Mental health is and will continue to be one of the biggest issues facing this generation, and Inner Peak AI (Techstars '24) is proud to be fighting to address it. You never know what someone is going through, so today on World Suicide Prevention Day, I and the rest of the Inner Peak team want to remind you to check in on your friends and family. You never know when a kind word, hug, or moment of compassion can save someone’s life. If you’re struggling, reach out to someone. You don’t have to struggle alone. The first step to feeling better is talking to a trusted friend, loved one, or medical professional. You can call or text 988 to speak with someone at any time. While Inner Peak is not a crisis resource, it can help prevent circumstances from escalating to a crisis. If you or a loved one is struggling, check out a 7-day free trial of Inner Peak by downloading our app. Be safe, be well, and let's reach our Inner Peaks together. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #FindYourPeak

The?Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures accelerator?is proud to announce the 12 startups selected for the Class of 2024. These groundbreaking, early-stage companies are designing innovative solutions that generate greater economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Americans,?i.e., the 60% of Americans who are living paycheck to paycheck. This year’s class highlights startups addressing a broad spectrum of vital challenges. Whether they’re supporting underbanked Latinos, democratizing access to legal services, empowering families to maximize food benefits, or helping individuals break free from debt, these founders are united by their dedication to making a difference while building substantial businesses with significant financial returns. https://lnkd.in/eubuE4Jt Keith Camhi, Pia Desai, Gemma Lenowitz, Felipe Rubio, Robert Kelly Gabriel Money, GAGE, Inkwire, Inner Peak AI, Investrio, Latte, LawLaw, LegalEase, Lulo, SpendCare, Inc., The Care Hack, Workrz

A company’s first customer launch is always a special moment for a founding team, but what could make it truly unforgettable? When it happens to be at your alma mater! I'm beyond excited to share that Inner Peak AI's first customer launch was at my high school, St. John's Jesuit High School & Academy an all-male Catholic high school in Toledo, Ohio. I am so proud that my alma mater is taking a leading role nationally in defining how technology can be used to better support our students' mental wellness. Thank you to Brendan Malone Nick Butler Todd Black, Kari Bonnell, and many others at St. John's for leading the charge. To make the moment even more special, St. John’s students embraced our technology-driven, personalized mental wellness app with open arms, as 75% of the student body downloaded the app and created an account. 75% completely blows our expectations out of the water, especially considering the industry benchmark for "good" mental health app activation rates is typically around 30-35%. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing students try out your product and watching that light-bulb go off when they realize its value. Inner Peak allows students to select an AI wellness coach persona, who offers support and validation as well as asking thoughtful questions. After identifying their challenges, the coach then recommends targeted videos created by our team of licensed therapists. The coach has numerous guardrails in place to protect student safety and privacy, including connecting to crisis care as needed. Students took to their coaches immediately - over 30% of the students who accepted our terms of service had a full conversation with their AI coach within a few days of signing up. I had a fantastic experience as a student at St. John’s. It was my teachers and classmates at St. John’s who started me on my entrepreneurial journey almost 15 years ago by inspiring me to want to “change the world.” St. John’s challenged me to be a better student, leader, and “man for others.” I would not be where I am today without my St. John’s experience. It was such a great joy to be able to start Inner Peak’s journey of changing the world of high school mental health and wellness with my brilliant co-founder Ben Anandappa at the place my own journey began. Thank you St. John's Jesuit High School & Academy for all you have done and continue to do for me. I am honored to get the chance to pay it forward through Inner Peak. Go Titans! If you are a parent, student, or teacher interested in bringing Inner Peak AI to your school or family, please email me at [email protected] or book time directly on my calendar to learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gY2pCv42. You can also download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store and try our 7-day free trial. Let's help each other reach our Inner Peaks!

One of the most important decisions a startup founder has to make is whether to remain a solo founder or choose someone to co-found with. Often identifying a co-founder is compared to looking for a romantic partner because of the complexity involved. In many cases cofounders will spend more time together during the life of the company than with anyone else. This is why I’m beyond excited to officially announce that Ben Anandappa is joining Inner Peak AI as Co-Founder & CTO!!! Ben brings years of deep backend software engineering expertise from his time studying Computer Science at Harvard and working at Citadel. One of the many things that make Ben such a great fit for Peak is his combined interest in behavioral science and engineering. After working in a relationship studies lab at Northwestern, he considered getting a PhD in social psychology, but chose to join Peak instead. Ben and I first met in college at Harvard about 7 years ago. We drifted out of touch after graduation until Ben saw my LinkedIn post about Peak. He reached out and we immediately discovered our shared passion for applying technology to provide personalized, effective, and affordable mental wellness support. We share similar personal values and missions, and communicate extremely well through key decisions about the future of the business. People compare having a startup to having a? young child, and bringing on a cofounder to starting to share custody of your child with someone else. After working closely together with Ben for the last 6 months and seeing his passion for making a difference in student mental health, the high quality of his work output, and the incredible emotional intelligence and communication skills he brings to the table throughout some of the most difficult conversations possible for a company, there is no one I would rather share custody of Peak with. A warm welcome to Ben and thank you in advance for dedicating the next 5-10 years of your life to helping others reach their Inner Peak. So excited for us to change the world together!

Another project I am excited to be a part of includes Inner Peak Ai (https://www.innerpeak.ai). Much appreciation for Sean Wheelock taking a risk and turning his vision into a mission. Combining technology and psychology, Inner Peak offers 24/7 mental health resources through a programmed service that is personalized and verified with DSM-5-TR features. Mental health is overall health, and I am grateful to extend this narrative and project to students and campus administrators.