High schoolers from Eastlake High School in Sammamish, WA, have developed CheersAI, an innovative online platform designed to support mental health among students. Co-founders Dhruv Reddy (CEO), Balaji Prasanna Venkatesh (CTO), and Rithvik Rathinasabapathy (CIO) created this free and easy-to-use website to help their peers navigate tough times through chat and communication.
Inspired by a local tragedy, the platform aims to provide a supportive space for students without the distractions of high-tech features. CheersAI’s launch is timely, coinciding with the upcoming Mental Health Day on October 10th.
The simplicity and accessibility of CheersAI have already received positive feedback from the student community, highlighting its potential impact. The platform underscores the founders’ commitment to addressing critical societal issues through empathy and innovation.
CheersAI has successfully raised $20,000 in funding and is actively seeking further investment to expand its reach and impact.
Dhruv Reddy emphasized the platform’s unique approach, saying, “We wanted to create something that wasn’t overly complicated. The simple chat and call features allow students to talk and share their feelings, which can be a crucial step in getting through low phases. It’s this simplicity that sets us apart from other platforms.”
Balaji Prasanna Venkatesh discussed the platform’s community focus, saying, “CheersAI is designed to foster a supportive environment. We want to make sure that students feel they have a place where they can openly express themselves without fear of judgment.”
Rithvik Rathinasabapathy added, “Our goal was to create a resource that felt approachable and impactful.”
CheersAI is not built just to provide another chat service. Reddy and his team aim to overcome three major obstacles in current mental health support for high schoolers: the lack of accessible, affordable resources, the stigma associated with seeking help, and the overwhelming complexity of existing platforms.
With numerous mental health resources online, Reddy feels his team is uniquely positioned to tackle this issue. They understand what their peers need, have direct access to potential users at their school, and can quickly iterate to improve the platform based on direct feedback. “If I want to talk to students about their mental health needs, I can go to school tomorrow and have meaningful conversations with dozens of them instantly,” Reddy said. “Compared to larger companies, it would take them months to engage with students and gather similar insights.”
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CheersAI has a small team of mostly high school students working in development and content creation, ensuring the platform remains relevant and user-friendly for its target audience. The company also has a roadmap of features for analytics, parental controls, and insights in the works.
For more information, visit https://cheersai.co.
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