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  • March 2019 (Revised June 2021)
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HelloSelf: Foundation

By: John R. Wells and Benjamin Weinstock
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:16
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Abstract

On January 6, 2019, HelloSelf, a London-based “BrainTech” company, founded a year earlier by Charles Wells, soft launched. The proposition was simply to help its members “Be your Best Self.” The company provided its registered members with access to a clinical psychotherapist, a life coach, and an AI engine that personalized advice. The platform provided members with the ability to set goals, track progress, and discover new things about themselves. Throughout the previous nine months, over 500 people had registered interest in the proposition, price points had been tested, competitors analyzed, members and specialists interviewed, and wireframes developed, but there were several questions still crossing Wells’ mind. Did the subscription LifeCoach bot model combined with pay-as-you-go therapist sessions make sense? How could he attract an early cohort of users? How would HelloSelf interact with the broken mental health solutions in the UK? How quickly would the platform scale and learn to provide meaningful AI support for both therapists and the LifeCoach bot? And most importantly, would the platform deliver on the mission “to help everyone discover, understand and experience their Best Self”?

Keywords

Startup; Start-up; Startup Management; Startup Marketing; Startups; Start-ups; BrainTech; Marketing Research; Strategic Decision Making; Strategy Development; Strategy Dynamics; Neuroscience; Cognition; Cognitive Psychology; Health & Wellness; Health Care; Health Care Reform; Health Care Outcomes; Self-awareness; Mental Health; Wellbeing; Wellness; Funding; Equity Financing; Raising Capital; Synergies; Team Building; National Health Insurance; Artificial Intelligence; MVP; Business Startups; Health; Health Care and Treatment; Management; Well-being; Marketing Channels; Decision Making; Strategy; Technology; United Kingdom; London

Citation

Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "HelloSelf: Foundation." Harvard Business School Case 719-492, March 2019. (Revised June 2021.)
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Related Work

    • March 2019 (Revised June 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    HelloSelf: Foundation

    By: John R. Wells and Benjamin Weinstock
Related Work
  • HelloSelf: Foundation By: John R. Wells and Benjamin Weinstock
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