PONDER
Pocket-size therapeutic
advice, anywhere at anytime.
Our mission is to provide affordable, accessible, and practical therapeutic support.
The pace of change in today's interconnected world is becoming unpredictable and volatile, impacting our collective mental health.
2019
2024
$
Global
Pandemic
Australian
Bushfires
US
Civil Unrest
Global Supply Chain Disruptions
Ukraine War
Cost Of Living Crisis
Chat GPT
Launches
Israel & Palestine Conflict
Globally, the mental health sector is in a state of emergency and ongoing therapy is becoming inaccessible and unaffordable for many.
Graph 1.0 The percentage of the population affected by persistent anxiety or depression:
Source: Global monitor (2021)
Figure 1.0 - Barriers to therapy
Affordability
Availability
Location
Language
Representation
Stigma
Source: Psychology Today (2022)
Ponder uses Gen AI & voice technology to provide ethical therapeutic guidance and practical life advice.
Trained using clinical psychological materials and techniques.
Clinical Psychology
Holistic Coaching
Promotes well-being by connecting physical, emotional, and mental dimensions.
Mindfullness
Bring users back to the present moment overall well-being and decision-making abilities.
Conversational
Delivers scientifically supported guidance in a conversational and concise manner through voice technology.
Ponder is a mental wellness platform that acts as a preventive form of mental health care and a supplementary service in between sessions.
It aids users in managing daily disruptions and setbacks before they escalate into more complex situations.
It also directs users towards professional help for more serious issues.
Mental Wellness
Mental Health
- Focus on thriving and overall well-being
- Preventative measures
- Daily habits
- Stress management
- Positive social connections
- Coping strategies
- Support systems
- Seeking help
- Mindfulness
- Self-care
- Resilience building
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Managing mental disorders
- Professional interventions
- Medication
- Therapy
Ponders helps users
develop these skills
Ponder refers users to local
clinicians for more serious issues.
“Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into innovation.”
We dedicated months to enhancing our AI training and building a unique framework based on therapeutic principles and continuous qualitative research.
Ponder’s AI was trained by Sarah King who is a specialist in grief and trauma counselling and has experience in offering human-centred mental health interventions through digital channels.
Utilising her skills and knowledge, Sarah developed a robust framework for our AI model. This model is designed to assist users in finding balance by offering personalised therapeutic guidance tailored to their individual values.
2.Reflect
Encourage the user to reflect on their own values and determine what aspects of their situation they can influence, and what is out of their control.
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2
3
3.Empower
Empower the user to take action. This could be having a hard conversation, seeking professional help, or viewing the situation in a different light.
1.Validate
Show empathy and acknowledge that the person's experience and feelings are valid, creating a judgement-free and open space.
Our user tests indicated that Ponder has the potential to enhance users' interpersonal relationships and promote a more fulfilled and balanced life.
User Test
User Interview
Quotes
Taya, Female, 32
Content Creator
Candice - Female, 27
Primary School Teacher
“I feel like I had a breakthrough, a really strong breakthrough! It would be a great supplement to therapy, something a little more personal that you
could have with you”
“‘Hearing a voice soothingly tell me this is what you should know is emotionally supportive ...I would use it at school to find balance after a kid has a meltdown“
Jake - Male, 40
Manger Public Services
““I love that it was objective, friends are too subjective, they have opinions about your
life already””
George, Male, 62
Retired
““I liked it because it gave me point-by-point tips on how to plan my retirement
even though my wife and I don’t always see eye to eye. It’s also very easy to use”
Lisa - Female 30
Community Coordinator
“I have ADDHD and I really enjoyed using Ponder as a tool to access
strategies to help with my executive dysfunction. loved that it gave my great answers to my questions on queer love. My therapist doesn't understand Queer culture.”
Maddie - Female 59
Writter
“I was stuck between two worlds as I entered the next phase of my life and it helped me uncover which direction I should focus on and made me feel confident on going back to spend extended time with elderly parent”
*Names changed to protect privacy
Ponders' simplicity and ability to leverage emerging technology enable it to successfully enter the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific Mental Health app market.
Market Fit
Market Size
Not Therapeutic
Market Fit
The current landscape of mental health apps shows a distinct inclination towards meditation-focused offerings, leaving a niche for simple conversational apps that aren’t overly complex or expensive. This presents a strategic opportunity for new entrants to fill this gap with new innovative solutions that blend ease of use with comprehensive therapeutic functionalities for a low cost.
Global Market Size
The fast-growing market of the mental health app sector is in the Asia Pacific region and Australia. According to a CHOICE survey conducted in June 2022, over 1,000 participants revealed that 30% of Australians have downloaded one or more mental health apps on their smartphones.
Market Revenue
The Mental Health Apps Market is expected to grow from USD 7.09 billion in 2024 to USD 15.42 billion by 2029, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.82%. A new player with a solid value proposition, technological innovation, and effective marketing strategies securing only 1% of this expanding market could generate around USD 154.2 million in revenue by 2029.
Problem
- Global anxiety and depression levels are increasing due to unstable world conditions.
- Traditional support systems like family, friends, and religion are diminishing.
- Challenges to traditional therapy include cost, time, stigma, language, and location.
Existing Alternatives
- Traditional therapy sessions can be expensive and infrequent.
- Other mental health apps like BetterHelp, and Talkspace, offer professional counselling that is expensive and needs scheduling
- Informal support from friends and family, which lack objectivity and professionalism
Solution
- 24/7 accessible, affordable, and confidential mental health support through Gen AI & Voice
- Personalised, practical therapeutic guidance based on a blend of therapeutic methods and coaching techniques.
- Integration with daily life for immediate emotional support and crisis intervention.
Key Metrics
- Subscription revenue from individual users at $5-$10/month after a 3-day free trial.
- Licensing fees from organizations using the white-label version.
- Possible future revenue from in-app purchases or premium features.
Unique Value Proposition
Immediate, objective support at the touch of a button —combining therapy and life coaching to turn everyday problems into opportunities for growth.
High Level Concept
Pocket-sized therapy, anywhere at any time.
Unfair Advantage
- A unique blend of therapeutic methods and coaching techniques.
- Proprietary AI & Voice technology tailored for quick, accessible support.
- Positive initial user feedback indicates high user satisfaction and effectiveness.
- As a new entrant into the market, we can capitalise on emerging technologies and release innovative solutions without causing friction with users and creators
Channels
- Online marketing through social media and content platforms.
- Partnerships with educational institutions and health organizations.
- B2C App stores for direct consumer downloads.
- B2B sales for white-label solutions.
Customer Segments
- Individuals facing daily stressors who seek quick and accessible advice.
- Students, parents, and working professionals with time and cost constraints.
- Organisations such as schools, universities, organisational wellbeing companies and mental health practitioners who are looking for supplemental tools.
Early Adopters
- Active users of existing mental health apps who are open to trying new, innovative solutions.
- Individuals with busy schedules who require quick, accessible mental health support
- Social media users who engage with wellness content are likely to be receptive to trying Ponder through targeted advertising.
Cost Structure
Fixed Costs:
- GPT & voice-to-text licensing fees.
- Development costs for initial app build and design.
- Legal compliance and data security costs.
Variable Costs:
- Cloud hosting, GPT tokens and data storage costs are scaling with the user base.
- Marketing and user acquisition campaigns
- Fees associated with sales and partnerships
Revenue Streams
- Subscription revenue from individual users at $5-$10/month after a 3-day free trial.
- Licensing fees from organizations using the white-label version.
- Possible revenue from qualitative and quantitive data sources
"There is no one way to approach mental health services and support. It requires a bigger perspective than what's been looked at before — not just focusing on singular interventions or groups"
Alison Schafer, advisor for World Health Organisations
Our whitepaper outlines value proposition, technology, product-market fit, market size, costs, user insights, strategy, roadmap, business model, risks, and key insights.