Egyptian mental health platform, Shezlong acquies funds from Singapore-based investor, AAIC.
Egyptian mental health platform, Shezlong has acquired undisclosed funds from Asia Africa Investment Consulting (AAIC), a Singapore-based investor that invests in health care startups in Africa.
Other investors who participated in the round include Mohamed El Khamissy, an investor in different health and wellness startups across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States and Cairo-based angel fund HIMangel.
Shezlong is a digital psychotherapy platform that allows users to find and speak to licensed psychiatry therapists through its web-based platform.
With Shezlong, users can book up to hour-long video or voice sessions with over 500 therapists that the platform hosts. The users can choose not to share their identity with the therapists and their details are kept private.
According to the startup, the platform has received ten thousand cases from different countries including Egypt, Saudi, UAE, Qatar, Germany, and the United States, since it started operations.
Shezlong provides free assessments to users to help them understand their mental health and identify psychological problems.
In a statement, the startup said that it uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help users manage stress and anxiety, “It is the need of the hour especially considering COVID-19 situation and the anxiety among individuals due to uncertainty and social distancing.”
The startup plans to use the new funds to expand its services across the region as well as to Arabic countries while introducing new products including texting-based therapy and corporate wellness programs.
Founder and CEO of Shezlong, Ahmed Abu ElHaz said, “Mental health is important at every stage of life and our mission in Shezlong is to help people manage their psychological and mental health at all times and make therapy accessible to everyone. The new investment will help us expand our services vertically and horizontally in the Middle East.”
Also, Director of AAIC, Shigeru Handa said, “Your mind controls your health. Shezlong has great potential to help bring people back to good health through its platform with its privacy protection. We live in a stressful world with uncertainties such as COVID-19, which has led to increased psychological distress. We are excited to join Shezlong’s journey to address such mental health challenges.”
Shezlong was founded in 2014 in Cairo.