Voda, a UK-based mental health startup, has successfully secured £270,000 in pre-seed funding following a promising test launch in 2023. The funding round was led by Freiraum Ventures and supported by impact investors Lightbulb Trust and ULTRA VC. This financial backing marks a crucial step forward in Voda’s mission to provide inclusive and accessible mental health support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Recent research from the University of Manchester highlights the stark mental health disparities faced by the queer community in the UK.
Trans individuals, in particular, are at a significantly higher risk of long-term poor mental health, with some experiencing a risk five times greater than their cisgender counterparts.
A 2022 YouGov report further revealed that 51% of LGBTQIA+ Britons have experienced or been diagnosed with a mental health condition, compared to 32% of the general population.
Founded by Kris Jack and Jaron Soh, Voda aims to address these challenges by offering a mental health app designed specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The platform provides evidence-backed tools and resources to help users build self-compassion, heal from trauma, and release shame.
Key features include personalized advice, queer-led meditations, cognitive journaling, and self-guided therapy programs rooted in the lived experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The app is co-designed with seven LGBTQIA+ psychotherapists who represent a diverse spectrum of gender, sexuality, and ethnicity. Currently, Voda serves over 12,000 users worldwide, with 4,000 based in the UK.
Voda’s approach integrates various evidence-based therapy techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness practices.
Over the next five years, Voda aims to expand its reach to over 7 million LGBTQIA+ individuals globally, enhancing accessibility to tailored mental health support.
Jaron Soh, co-founder and CEO of Voda, expressed the personal motivation behind the startup:
“We started Voda because each of us had faced mental health struggles related to our queer identities and wanted to create a supportive space for others on similar journeys. Our personal experiences of overcoming shame and the lack of access to genuine support have gone on to shape the app for our users. We hope that by placing lived experience at the forefront of our approach, Voda will have more impact and foster deeper understanding and connection with queer folks.”
David Photien, Partner at Freiraum Ventures, highlighted the importance of personalized care in mental health technologies: “As health technologies advance, offering more personalized care, we are delighted to partner with Voda in their mission to provide inclusive and accessible mental health support to the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Sammi Wei, angel investor and founder of t2.world, emphasized the urgent need for dependable mental health support: “For every avoidable tragedy broadcasted about our community, I’m reminded of society’s audacity to deny us the basic ethics of love and identity. This is why I’m investing in Voda to be a dependable source of healing and comfort to our queer and trans siblings everywhere in the world.”
Investor Richard Duncalf OBE JP echoed these sentiments: “Investing in Voda as an angel investor was a privilege. There was no way that I wouldn’t support the team and the wider LGBTQIA+ community.”
The LGBTQIA+ community continues to face disproportionate rates of mental health issues due to systemic discrimination and personal trauma.
The financial inaccessibility of private therapy, coupled with the lack of LGBTQIA+ affirming care within the NHS, exacerbates this crisis.
Voda’s recent funding round underscores its commitment to addressing these challenges and making mental health support more accessible for the queer community.
