About Voda

Anyone can face mental health challenges, but for LGBTQIA+ individuals, these challenges often carry added layers of stigma, discrimination, and exclusion. This means that traditional mental health often leave many feeling unseen or unsupported.

Voda is the LGBTQIA+ mental health companion designed in collaboration with leading LGBTQIA+ clinical psychologists and psychotherapists.

Our content is rooted in evidence-based modalities like Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and delivered through a culturally competent, identity-affirming lens. Our app is developed with LGBTQIA+ psychotherapists and clinical psychologists, ensuring authenticity, clinical rigour, and inclusivity across gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.

Early studies show that Voda users experience a 43% reduction in anxiety (GAD-7) and 40% reduction in depression (PHQ-9)—proving that culturally competent care works.

Why I Started Voda

Mental health problems such as depression, self-harm, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, but they’re more common among people who are LGBTQIA+. A recent study by Stonewall found that over the previous year: half of LGBTIQ+ people had experienced depression, three in five had experienced anxiety, one in eight LGBTIQ+ people aged 18-24 had attempted to end their life, and almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life.

Growing up gay in Singapore, where same-sex sexual activity were criminalised, I struggled deeply with shame and confusion. In my adult life, therapy helped me understand how these early experiences shaped me and gave me the tools to heal.

Voda is the solution I wish I had: a mental health companion that is accessible, affordable, inclusive, and designed for people like me.

Today, Voda supports over 30,000 LGBTQIA+ individuals across the globe and has been named “App of the Day” in 35+ countries on iOS and Android.

My Role

As Co-founder and CEO of Voda, I lead our mission to democratise access to inclusive mental health care for LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide. I oversee our strategic direction and ensure our values of compassion, inclusivity, and innovation are embedded across every product decision, partnership, and user experience.

I also represent Voda across healthtech, policy, and social innovation forums, working to build coalitions that amplify our impact.

My broader vision is to use Voda not only as a platform for care but also as a tool for systemic change: challenging the status quo in mental health, advocating for policy reform, and building a more affirming world for LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

We’ve raised £900K (US$1.15M) in early-stage capital from an intersectional group of investors who believe in reimagining what LGBTQIA+ mental health can and should look like.