Serena

According to WHO data, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising the number of affected individuals from 491 million to 620 million. This surge highlighted the lack of access to mental health support due to costs, social stigma, or lack of available services. Only 3% of people with major depression in low- and middle-income countries can access formal mental health care, leading to silent suffering, negatively impacting personal lives, society, and the economy, with reduced productivity and inability to work being common consequences. Research shows that 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to anxiety and depression, resulting in losses of around $1 trillion. To help these millions of people lead better lives, we created Serena, a startup with the mission to democratize access to mental health and promote well-being through cutting-edge technology. Our first product, the Serena App, is a virtual therapist using Artificial Intelligence trained in scientifically proven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) methods for anxiety and depression. Integrated with WhatsApp, Serena is available 24/7, offering immediate, personalized, evidence-based support to help manage challenges effectively, improve quality of life, relationships, and performance. Our vision is to transform access to mental health with innovative technology, making it accessible to everyone, anywhere, anytime. We believe everyone deserves to live a full and healthy life, and we are committed to providing the tools and support necessary to make this happen. With Serena, we aim to break down barriers and stigma, offering a new form of mental health care that is efficient, accessible, and always available.