Seeking mental health support can be a challenging process, but some founders are leveraging AI to make techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) more accessible to those who may not have access to professional help. Dr. David Burns, a renowned psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience, has developed an app called Feeling Great based on his methodologies.
Burns partnered with Jeremy Karmel, a former growth leader at Doordash and Reddit, to create Feeling Great, which is the title of one of Burns’s bestselling books on mental health.
Established in 2022, the company recently announced raising $8 million in seed funding co-led by Learn Capital and TitleTownTech, along with participation from Lux Ventures, WaveMaker Three-Sixty Health, Pacific Health Ventures, and Treble Capital. Feeling Great is launching its app today after a beta period that involved around 3,000 users.
With 14 employees, Feeling Great aims to invest in app development and marketing. Rob Hutter, founder of Learn Capital, shared his personal connection to Burns’ work and praised the collaboration with Karmel as a strong combination for app scaling.
The App and Technology
Burns highlighted the app’s focus on guided lessons, combining Burns’ knowledge with modern AI models to accelerate emotional well-being. The Feeling Great app offers interactive mental health courses, emotional management tools, and a chatbot for practicing coping techniques.
The app’s AI models are based on Burns’ T.E.A.M. approach, emphasizing empathy and actionable advice for users. Feeling Great aims to deeply relate to users and evaluate AI effectiveness in understanding user needs.
Burns explained the app’s physiological impact on emotions, turning negatives into positives and addressing recurring negative thoughts. By training AI models, the app can offer consistent empathy, unlike human therapists.
While the app doesn’t replace human therapy, it provides continuous support and reminds users to seek professional help for serious issues. New features such as voice-based AI and an anonymous mode are in the works.
Opportunity and the Road Ahead
In a crowded mental health market, Feeling Great competes with marketplace startups connecting users with therapists and meditation apps. Learn Capital believes in the transformative impact of AI-driven therapy to enhance human potential at scale.
The founders emphasize the app’s affordability and continuous availability, supporting users alongside traditional therapy. Future plans include clinical approval and expanded features such as long-term memory and voice-based interactions.
Feeling Great is currently available in the U.S., offering a free trial and an annual subscription at $99. As the app evolves, it aims to provide comprehensive mental health support to a broad audience.
