“It’s like a dating app… but for therapy.”How TellMe is building emotional support for students

“It’s like a dating app… but for therapy.”
That’s how the idea was casually described in the conversation and it instantly captured what the startup is trying to do.

The founder behind TellMe, built under Hartell’s Wholeness Private Limited, is working on something simple but often missing,a space where students and early professionals can just talk. The platform offers on-demand emotional support, connecting users to trained listeners or psychologists within minutes, through anonymous micro-sessions designed to be accessible and immediate.

But this wasn’t an idea that came from market research or trend spotting.
It came from lived experience.

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A journey that started long before the startup

Coming from a medical background and working toward becoming a heart surgeon, the founder spent nearly 14 years in rigorous training. During that time, he lost seven peers directly or indirectly to mental health struggles. One of them was a close friend during postgraduate training, and that moment became the turning point.

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It wasn’t about building a startup.
It was about understanding why high-performing, intelligent individuals were struggling silently.

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That curiosity turned into research.
Research slowly turned into a problem.
And the problem eventually turned into TellMe.

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Not therapy. Something before therapy.

TellMe isn’t positioned as a traditional therapy platform. The idea is to intervene earlier when someone is overwhelmed, confused, or just needs to talk before things escalate into deeper mental health challenges.

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The platform focuses on preventive emotional support.
Someone dealing with exam stress, relationship issues, or personal confusion can connect instantly and talk it out.

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The philosophy is simple:
If people get the chance to process their thoughts early, they may never reach the stage where therapy becomes necessary.

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Why build this as a startup?

The founder initially considered building it as a non-profit. But over time, he realized that scaling empathy sustainably requires a structured business model. Relying purely on donations or CSR funding would make long-term impact difficult.

That’s when the shift happened from initiative to startup.

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He also credits his interaction with 18startup and mentorship within the community for helping him understand how to build something sustainable, not just meaningful. The focus moved from “helping a few” to “building something that can scale impact.”

From heart surgeon to startup founder

The transition wasn’t straightforward.
Two and a half years ago, he didn’t even know what a startup meant.

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Everything pricing, costs, product, tech, growth had to be learned from scratch. Over time, through reading, experimentation, and mentorship, the idea slowly evolved into a working MVP.

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TellMe is currently in its early stage, just weeks into being live, still validating the model and focusing on steady growth “adding value one life at a time.”

What TellMe is building now

The platform is currently focused on students and early-career professionals aged 18–28.
Instead of heavy marketing, the team is working through colleges, universities, and education platforms partnering directly with institutions to reach users where they are.

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The goal isn’t to replace therapy.
It’s to make talking easier.

Sometimes, all someone needs is a neutral listener not advice, not judgment, just clarity.

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A startup built on listening

One of the most meaningful milestones shared in the conversation was de-escalating multiple suicide-risk calls within a short period. For the founder, this validated the entire journey that even early-stage support can create real impact.

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TellMe’s core idea remains simple:

• Talk before things build up
• Share before things spiral
• Listen before things break

And that’s where the platform positions itself somewhere between silence and therapy.

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Built around anonymity and trust

The platform is designed to be anonymous, collecting minimal data and focusing on confidentiality. The aim is to remove hesitation and make it easier for users to open up without fear of judgment.

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The role of 18startup in the journey

As a member and alumni of the 18startup community, the founder highlighted how the ecosystem helped structure the idea, refine thinking, and approach the problem more objectively. The experience wasn’t just about startup building — it also influenced decision-making, personality, and long-term direction.

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It wasn’t about quick growth.
It was about building the right foundation.

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One conversation at a time

TellMe is still early- Still validating and Still building.

But the intention is clear make emotional support accessible, anonymous, and immediate for those who just need someone to listen.

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Sometimes, startups don’t start with markets. They start with moments.

This one started with a simple phrase:
“Tell me.”

To hear the full conversation and understand the journey in detail, watch the complete InnerCircle Podcast.