The Indian Institute of Management –Kozhikode (IIM-K) LIVE, a laboratory for innovation, venturing and entrepreneurship incubated eYogi.in based at NASSCOM 10,000 Startup Warehouse in Kochi. It is now working to address the mental wellness using the new technology solutions to address the lack of trained experts, due to the limited infrastructure and the social stigma associated with the condition. It raised about Rs. 25 lakh through seed funding from Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).
eYogi.in plans to introduce the new platform for mental wellness to the student community in Kerala from May 2018 and plans to apply for patent to the new innovative techniques they are planning to introduce into this niche area of development.
The start-up is founded by three IIM Kozhikode, Executive MBA graduates started as an academic project has evolved into a full-fledged company.
A high priority challenge for parents and teachers in Kerala these days is the lack of interest shown by children in their studies and the high interest and time spent by them on social media networks. The addiction to social media results in attention deficit disorders and the lack of enthusiasm and focus leads to learning disabilities.
The company intends to use latest technology solutions such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, mobility, wearable devices etc to augment the availability of trained experts and to make their services available to the nook and corner of the country.
It entered into a strategic alliance with SEDDAC, a Kochi-based NGO associated in delivering social uplifting activities in the most backward and needy communities in Kerala. SEDDAC helps in liaising with the experts and acts as a motivator for anxious parents and students to take up the services from the firm.
According to Vinod Mathew, co-founder, eYogi.in even though tele-consultation and counselling are around for a long time, the attempt to utilize new technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, wearable and connected devices to improve the delivery of mental wellness support with limited practitioner interactions is new and opens up a huge leap of improvement. We are planning to establish research relationship with leading universities to implement the new finds in this area and provide the learnings from the practice to support further research in this domain."
In their initial service offering, eYogi.in is bringing telephonic counseling to students and parents. The first batch of counselors will undergo training in the latest techniques in the mental wellness counseling by end of March. The training is attended by 20 experts from student and family counseling across the state.