Mental health app Voda raises £270k to address UK LGBTQ+ mental health crisis
June 6, 2024
Mental health app Voda has raised £270k in pre-seed funding to help combat the UK’s LGBTQ+ mental health crisis. After a successful test launch in 2023, as reported, Voda secured funds from an investment round led by Freiraum Ventures, alongside impact investors Lightbulb Trust and ULTRA VC.
Designed to help LGBTQ+ people build self-compassion, heal and release shame, the funding will support the app’s offerings to provide inclusive and accessible mental health support for queer people. The platform, co-designed with seven LGBTQ+ psychotherapists who identify across the spectrum of gender, sexuality and ethnicity, currently serves over 12,000 LGBTQ+ folks globally, with 4,000 users based in the UK, the largest percentage of its global users.
Founding team of Voda (from left to right): CTO Kris Jack, CEO Jaron Soh, Lead Therapist Chris Sheridan Image credit: Voda
The app teaches the user evidence-based therapy approaches to self-regulate, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness.
In February 2024 research, led by University of Manchester, found that trans people in England are more likely to have long-term poor mental health, with some facing a risk five times higher than cisgender people. In 2022, YouGov reported that half of LGBTQ+ Britons (51%) said they experienced or were diagnosed with a mental health condition, compared to a third of the general population (32%).
“The LGBTQ+ community faces significantly higher rates of mental health issues due to systemic discrimination and personal trauma. This disproportionate impact has been widely documented. Yet, the financial inaccessibility of private therapy, combined with the lack of LGBTQIA+ affirming care within the NHS is worsening this mental health crisis, leaving many without the support they need. This needs to change. And the approach must be rooted in empathy, kindness and inclusivity,” stated Jaron Soh, co-founder and CEO of Voda. “We started Voda because each of us had faced mental health struggles related to our queer identities and wanted to create a supportive space for others on similar journeys. Our personal experiences of overcoming shame and the lack of access to genuine support have gone on to shape the app for our users. We hope that by placing lived experience at the forefront of our approach, Voda will have more impact and foster deeper understanding and connection with queer folks."
Voda is backed by an intersectional roster of investors across gender, sexuality and ethnicity. Commenting on the investment, David Photien, Partner at Freiraum Ventures and one of the partners, said: “As health technologies advance, offering more personalized care, we are delighted to partner with Voda in their mission to provide inclusive and accessible mental health support to the LGBTQ+ community.”
Angel investor and founder of t2.world, Sammi Wei shares David's sentiment: “For every avoidable tragedy broadcasted about our community, I'm reminded of society's audacity to deny us the basic ethics of love and identity. This is why I'm investing in Voda to be a dependable source of healing and comfort to our queer and trans siblings everywhere in the world."
Investor Richard Duncalf OBE JP added: “Investing in Voda as an angel investor was a privilege. There was no way that I wouldn’t support the team and the wider LGBTQ+ community”.
SIGN UP TO WORKPRIDE’S PANEL ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Jaron Soh, also a myGwork member, will be speaking at WorkPride’s Diversity and Inclusion in Entrepreneurship and Startups panel on June 18, 2024 at 8pm (BST), where he will be offering WorkPride attendees a free trial of Voda. Click here to sign up to WorkPride and the panel here completely free of charge.