Ruralmente

Ruralmente addresses the mental health of producers and agricultural workers in Colombia, where 2.7 million work and 40% of this population face psychological problems. Globally, with 857 million farmers, the impact is vast. Less than 10% receive professional help in Colombia. Our solution, Almácigo, offers access to psychologists via WhatsApp, improving well-being and productivity, and reducing costs for agricultural companies. With Ruralmente, we seek to change this reality by offering essential services for a vital sector.

Our company provides mental health care services to individuals within the productive chains of agribusiness companies, aiming to improve productivity and well-being. Our solution utilizes accessible technology through WhatsApp called Almácigo, to identify and follow up on affected areas of life, connecting users with psychologists specialized in rural contexts. Additionally, it gathers data on work situations and mental health to share with companies and other stakeholders.

Ruralmente serves agricultural producers and workers who suffer from mental health issues, which result in a decline in their productivity and quality of life. In Colombia, despite the high prevalence of mental health problems, the access of this population to professional services is limited (Ministry of Health, 2018). Our platform provides specialized psychological services through WhatsApp and connects them with psychologists via tele-assistance, improving their well-being and efficiency.

Our Ruralmente team, led by Yhon Emmanuel Yepes Guisao, is deeply rooted in the Colombian agricultural community. With direct experience in the sector and an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by producers, we designed Almácigo to reflect their real needs and aspirations. Active community participation in development and continuous feedback ensure that our solution is practical, relevant, and sustainable, strengthening agricultural well-being and productivity. 

We are a team of psychologists who have worked towards focusing our practice to understand the unique challenges faced by the rural community. And we excel at training psychology professionals on these topics. Additionally, we have a team of advisors from business and technology. Our partners who support us with the platform development deeply understand technology applied to the agricultural environment. 

Ruralmente has been selected in the Pilot stage because it has successfully connected 25 farmers with psychologists specialized in the rural context. We have addressed key issues such as frustration, work-related stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychosocial challenges, obtaining positive results that have improved the mental and emotional well-being of farmers. This direct experience and the observed changes in the quality of life of the beneficiaries confirm the effectiveness of our solution and its relevance in the field of rural psychology.

We are finalizing another partnership with a local company to support their farmers and show them the data behind these problems, while making the case for better productivity.

Ruralmente seeks collaboration with Solve to refine our Almácigo platform and expand strategic partnerships in the agricultural sector. With Solve's global network and strategic support, we aim to strengthen our business model and scalability strategies, positioning ourselves as leaders in agricultural mental health at an international level.

We are looking to get support on our business development, learn from other Solvers how they have overcame barriers of financing, when the target audience does not have high purchasing power and we have to look for cross-subsidization opportunities. We think getting the exposure to Solve will help us understand how to be better at the financing model. On the other hand, mental health in rural Colombia, and in the world, is still a taboo. Not many people understand the struggles faced by farmers and the impact this has on overall global economies. Therefore, having the backing and exposure from Solve will help us tell the world more about these problems. Advocating, and showing the world that international organizations care about this would help us scale our solutions to a global level. 

Ruralmente stands out for its care model based on accessible technology, customization, and specialized psychosocial services. The Almácigo platform offers a personalized virtual assistant (Alma) to provide immediate care, data analysis for informed decisions, geographic location for impact localization, and connection with mental health professionals. This allows us to lead the improvement of user well-being and productivity, offering comprehensive assistance tailored to their needs.

Ruralmente connects farmers with psychologists via WhatsApp, improving their mental health and productivity. Almácigo, our platform, uses AI for analysis and monitoring, and telepsychology for specialized care. With collected data, we help agricultural companies understand and improve the well-being of their workers or allied producers. Our impact is measured by the decrease in psychosocial problems and the increase in productivity. In the pilot, 25 farmers showed significant improvements in their well-being, validating our theory of change.

Ruralmente aims to improve the mental health of 500 farmers in Colombia by 2025, increasing their productivity by 25%. We use SMART indicators to measure progress: number of farmers served, reduction in reports of stress and anxiety, and increase in agricultural productivity. We conduct periodic surveys and data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of Almácigo, ensuring that our goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Ruralmente's core technology is a digital platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze mental health data and connect farmers with specialized psychologists. Through WhatsApp, Almácigo offers personalized virtual assistance and telepsychology, facilitating access to mental health services in rural areas. This integration of AI and mobile communication enables timely interventions and improves agricultural productivity, benefiting both individuals and communities.

2 full-time and 8 part-time

1 year

Our focus is on creating a work environment where all team members feel welcomed and valued. Currently, our diversity encompasses gender, ethnicity, and experience. We implement equity policies, offering equal opportunities and professional development. Our commitment is to maintain a workspace where each person can contribute to their fullest potential, being a model of inclusion in the agricultural sector.

Ruralmente offers mental health services through Almácigo, a platform that connects farmers with psychologists. Our B2B model generates revenue by selling subscriptions to agricultural companies, which in turn benefit their workers and/or allied producers. We provide accessible and specialized care, improving well-being and productivity. Clients need our services to support the mental health of their workers, resulting in a happier and more efficient workforce.

Ruralmente focuses on financial sustainability through a B2B subscription model, with a projected annual growth of 20%. With an initial capital of $1,593.49 USD, we have established initial discounts and anticipate reducing operating costs. The investment will be allocated to innovation and scalability, ensuring long-term viability. Our success is reflected in customer commitment and operational efficiency, marking a clear path towards profitability and social impact.