FeelWell

The problem that FeelWell aims to address is the lack of emotional support and development opportunities for young mothers under 25 in Tanzania and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

In Tanzania, over 27% of girls become mothers before the age of 18, often facing significant challenges in managing the emotional and psychological demands of parenthood. This is compounded by limited access to mental health resources and support services, as Tanzania has only 0.08 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, one of the lowest ratios in the world.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, it's estimated that 14 million girls between the ages of 15-19 give birth each year, many of whom lack the emotional skills and support networks to navigate the complexities of early motherhood. This can lead to higher rates of postpartum depression, anxiety, and strained parent-child relationships, which can have long-term impacts on the well-being of both the mother and child.

Factors contributing to this problem include social stigma, economic insecurity, and a lack of educational opportunities for young women. Without access to resources that foster emotional intelligence and coping strategies, these young mothers often struggle to manage the unique challenges they face, perpetuating cycles of vulnerability and poor developmental outcomes for their families.

By addressing the emotional needs of young Tanzanian mothers, FeelWell aims to empower this underserved demographic and improve their overall well-being, which can have far-reaching impacts on their communities and the broader social and economic fabric of the region.

FeelWell is an AI-powered mobile application designed to provide on-demand emotional intelligence support and coaching for young mothers under 25 in Tanzania. The app utilizes advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze user input, such as communication patterns, stress responses, and emotional expressions, to offer personalized guidance and resources.

At the core of FeelWell's solution is the AI-driven emotional intelligence (EQ) coaching feature. By continuously monitoring user data and patterns, the app's AI algorithms can identify areas for growth and provide tailored recommendations to help young mothers develop self-awareness, empathy, and effective coping strategies. This includes guided mindfulness exercises, communication techniques, and customized action plans to address specific emotional and relational challenges.

In addition to the AI-powered coaching, FeelWell also connects users with certified EQ coaches for one-on-one virtual sessions. These expert-led interactions allow young mothers to delve deeper into their emotional experiences, receive targeted support, and track their progress over time.

The app's comprehensive suite of features also includes a community forum, where users can connect with peers, share their stories, and build a supportive network. FeelWell also provides access to a library of parenting resources, educational materials, and mental health information to empower young mothers with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the complexities of early parenthood.

By leveraging the power of AI and providing holistic emotional support, FeelWell aims to equip young Tanzanian mothers with the skills and resilience to thrive, both as individuals and as nurturing caregivers for their children.

In Tanzania, there are approximately 1.2 million girls between the ages of 15-19 years old. Of this population, over 27% or 324,000 girls become mothers before the age of 18. This means that FeelWell's primary target population consists of around 324,000 young mothers under the age of 25 in Tanzania.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, the problem is even more widespread, with an estimated 14 million girls between the ages of 15-19 giving birth each year. This large and underserved population of young mothers faces significant challenges in managing the emotional and psychological demands of parenthood, often without access to adequate support and resources.

By focusing on this target population of young Tanzanian mothers, FeelWell aims to directly impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals, empowering them with the emotional intelligence skills and support they need to thrive as parents and community members. The solution's potential to scale and be replicated in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa could ultimately benefit millions of young mothers in the region.

The FeelWell team is uniquely positioned to deliver this solution to young Tanzanian mothers, with a strong connection to the communities we aim to serve.

The founder and CEO, Juliana Magesa, is a Tanzanian social entrepreneur who experienced the challenges of early motherhood firsthand. Juliana became a mother at the age of 19 and struggled to navigate the emotional and practical demands of parenting without adequate support. This personal experience has fueled her passion to create a solution that addresses the needs of young mothers in her community.

Alongside Juliana, the FeelWell team includes:

1. Imani Lwiza, a Tanzanian child psychologist with 8 years of experience working with families in underserved communities. Imani's deep understanding of the emotional and developmental needs of young children will be instrumental in shaping the app's content and features.

2. Asha Mfinanga, a Tanzanian software engineer and AI specialist, who will lead the development of the app's AI-driven emotional intelligence coaching system. Asha's technical expertise and familiarity with the local context will ensure the solution is tailored to the unique needs of Tanzanian users.

3. Kili Nkwabi, a Tanzanian community organizer with a strong track record of engaging with young women and families in rural areas. Kili will spearhead the outreach and implementation strategy, ensuring the solution is responsive to the communities' input and priorities.

The FeelWell team's deep roots in the Tanzanian community, combined with their diverse set of skills and experiences, will enable us to design and deliver a solution that is truly responsive to the needs of young mothers. By centering the voices and perspectives of the target population, we aim to create an impactful and sustainable solution that empowers young Tanzanian mothers to thrive.

So far, the FeelWell team has:

• Conducted extensive user research and needs assessments with over 50 young mothers in Dar es Salaam to deeply understand the challenges they face and gather insights to inform the app's development.
• Built the initial prototype of the FeelWell mobile application, incorporating the AI-driven emotional intelligence coaching, virtual sessions with EQ experts, and a range of supportive resources and community features.
• Launched a pilot program in one low-income community in Dar es Salaam, onboarding 15 young mothers aged 18-24 to use the FeelWell app and provide feedback on their experience.
• Collected and analyzed data from the pilot users, including usage metrics, sentiment analysis, and qualitative user interviews, to iterate on the app's design and content.
• Established partnerships with local community organizations and healthcare providers to facilitate user recruitment and provide wraparound support services for the young mothers.

The learnings and insights gathered from this initial pilot phase have been invaluable in shaping the FeelWell solution and ensuring it is truly responsive to the needs of the target population. As we continue to refine the app's features and business model, we are positioned to scale the solution to reach more young Tanzanian mothers in the coming years.

We are applying to Solve because the program's focus on addressing equity gaps in learning and empowering underserved communities aligns perfectly with FeelWell's mission. We believe that Solve can help us overcome several critical barriers we face in scaling our solution:

Financial Barriers: As a social enterprise in the early stages of development, FeelWell faces significant financial constraints in expanding our reach and securing the necessary resources to grow our impact. The Solve funding, along with the potential to connect with Solve's extensive partner network, would provide crucial capital and strategic support to scale our operations and reach more young Tanzanian mothers.

Technical Expertise: While our team has strong technical capabilities in AI and mobile app development, we recognize the value that Solve's network of experts and mentors can bring to further refine and enhance FeelWell's technological capabilities. Access to Solve's technical resources and guidance would help us optimize the app's AI-driven features and ensure seamless user experience.

Cultural and Community Engagement: As a Tanzanian-led initiative, we understand the importance of deeply engaging with the local communities we serve. However, navigating cultural nuances and building trusted relationships can be challenging. Solve's connections with on-the-ground partners and its expertise in community-centered design would be invaluable in helping us strengthen our outreach and ensure FeelWell is truly responsive to the needs of young Tanzanian mothers.

By supporting FeelWell through the Solve program, we believe we can overcome these barriers and unlock the full potential of our solution to positively impact the lives of young mothers in Tanzania and, ultimately, inspire similar initiatives in other parts of the world.

What makes FeelWell's solution innovative is its unique approach to addressing the emotional intelligence and mental health needs of young mothers in Tanzania through the power of AI and technology.

Existing solutions in this space often focus on providing general parenting resources or basic mental health support, but FeelWell takes a more personalized and comprehensive approach. By leveraging advanced AI algorithms to analyze user data and provide tailored emotional intelligence coaching, the app can deliver highly targeted and effective support that is responsive to the individual needs of each young mother.

This AI-driven emotional intelligence coaching is a significant improvement over traditional one-size-fits-all approaches, as it empowers users to develop self-awareness, empathy, and effective coping strategies specific to their unique circumstances and challenges. The integration of virtual sessions with certified EQ experts further enhances the personalized nature of the support, creating a holistic ecosystem of resources for young Tanzanian mothers.

Moreover, FeelWell's comprehensive suite of features, including community forums, mindfulness exercises, and educational materials, positions the app as a transformative platform that can catalyze broader positive impacts. By fostering emotional intelligence and building resilient support networks, the solution has the potential to create a ripple effect, empowering young mothers to become agents of change within their communities.

If successful, FeelWell's model could serve as a blueprint for similar initiatives targeting the emotional and mental health needs of vulnerable populations in other parts of the world. The innovative use of AI to personalize emotional intelligence support, combined with a holistic approach to well-being, could disrupt the traditional landscape of mental health and parenting resources, ultimately leading to more inclusive and impactful solutions for underserved communities.

FeelWell's theory of change is rooted in the understanding that by empowering young Tanzanian mothers with the tools and resources to develop their emotional intelligence, we can create a meaningful and lasting impact on their well-being and that of their families.

The core activities of FeelWell's solution involve:

• Providing AI-driven emotional intelligence coaching to help young mothers cultivate self-awareness, empathy, and effective coping strategies.
• Connecting users with certified EQ experts for personalized virtual sessions to address specific emotional and relational challenges.
• Fostering a supportive community through in-app forums, where young mothers can share experiences, offer peer support, and build a network of trusted peers.
• Delivering a comprehensive library of educational resources and parenting guidance to enhance the users' knowledge and skills.

These activities are designed to directly address the immediate outputs we aim to achieve, which include:

• Improved emotional regulation and coping mechanisms among young mothers
• Increased self-awareness and empathy within the target population
• Stronger social support networks and community engagement
• Enhanced knowledge and skills related to parenting and personal growth

By addressing these immediate outputs, FeelWell expects to contribute to longer-term outcomes that positively impact the lives of young Tanzanian mothers and their families, such as:

• Reduced rates of postpartum depression and anxiety
• Stronger parent-child relationships and improved child development outcomes
• Increased economic and social opportunities for young mothers
• Empowered young mothers serving as agents of change within their communities

This theory of change is supported by extensive research on the importance of emotional intelligence in promoting mental health, strengthening family bonds, and fostering individual resilience, particularly among vulnerable populations like young mothers in Tanzania.

FeelWell's primary impact goal is to improve the emotional well-being and resilience of 300,000 young mothers under 25 in Tanzania by 2027.

To measure progress towards this goal, we have identified the following key indicators:

Increased emotional intelligence (EQ) scores:

• We will administer pre- and post-program EQ assessments to track improvements in self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation among our users.
• Target: 80% of participants will demonstrate a 20% or greater increase in their EQ scores after 6 months of using the FeelWell app.

Reduced rates of postpartum depression and anxiety:

• We will monitor the incidence of postpartum mental health issues among our users through self-reported surveys and clinical assessments.
• Target: 50% reduction in the prevalence of postpartum depression and anxiety among FeelWell users compared to national averages.

Improved parent-child relationship quality:

• We will use validated measures to assess the strength of the bond and communication between young mothers and their children.
• Target: 75% of FeelWell users will report a significant improvement in their parent-child relationship quality after 1 year of using the app.

Increased economic and educational opportunities:

• We will track the number of FeelWell users who secure employment, enroll in vocational training, or return to formal education.
• Target: 60% of FeelWell users will report an increase in economic and educational opportunities within 2 years of using the app.

By closely monitoring these key indicators, FeelWell will be able to measure the tangible impact of our solution on the emotional well-being, mental health, family dynamics, and socioeconomic status of the young mothers we serve in Tanzania.

At the core of FeelWell's solution is an AI-driven emotional intelligence (EQ) coaching system that leverages advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms.

The app's AI component continuously analyzes user input, such as text-based communication, audio recordings, and in-app interactions, to detect patterns and identify areas where young mothers may be struggling with their emotional well-being. Based on this analysis, the AI engine then provides personalized recommendations and guidance to help users develop specific EQ skills, such as self-awareness, empathy, and effective coping strategies.

The AI-powered coaching is further enhanced by the integration of virtual sessions with certified EQ experts. These experts can review the user's data and progress, provide one-on-one support, and collaborate with the AI system to refine the coaching content and approach.

In addition to the core EQ coaching, FeelWell's technology includes a secure in-app community forum, where users can connect with peers, share their experiences, and build a supportive network. The app also features a comprehensive library of educational resources and mindfulness exercises, all of which are tailored to the specific needs and cultural context of young Tanzanian mothers.

By leveraging the power of AI, FeelWell is able to deliver a highly personalized and scalable solution that addresses the unique emotional intelligence and mental health challenges faced by this underserved population. The technology's ability to continuously learn and adapt based on user data ensures that the app's support remains relevant and effective over time.

Through this innovative integration of AI, virtual coaching, and community-building features, FeelWell aims to empower young Tanzanian mothers with the tools and resources they need to thrive in their personal and family lives.

The FeelWell solution team consists of:

• 3 full-time staff members
• 4 part-time staff members
• 2 contractors or other workers

The full-time team includes the founder and CEO, Juliana Magesa, as well as the child psychologist, Imani Lwiza, and the software engineer and AI specialist, Asha Mfinanga.

The part-time staff members comprise the community organizer, Kili Nkwabi, as well as additional experts in areas such as user experience design, data analysis, and content development.

FeelWell also collaborates with 2 external contractors who provide specialized support in areas like mobile app development and EQ coaching.

FeelWell has been working on its solution for 11 months. The team, led by founder Juliana Magesa, began ideating and planning the solution in May 2023, drawing from Juliana's personal experiences and insights gathered from user research. Over the past 11 months, the team has built the initial prototype, launched a pilot program, and iterated on the design based on user feedback, laying the foundation to scale the solution.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values that are deeply embedded in FeelWell's organizational culture and hiring practices. We believe that building a diverse and inclusive team is essential to creating a solution that truly meets the needs of the young Tanzanian mothers we aim to serve.

At the leadership level, the FeelWell team is intentionally diverse, with a balance of genders, ages, and backgrounds represented. Our founder, Juliana Magesa, is a young Tanzanian woman who brings personal experience and deep cultural understanding to the initiative. The broader team includes individuals from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, including child psychologists, social workers, and technology experts.

To further strengthen the diversity, equity, and inclusion of our team, we have implemented the following practices:

1. Targeted recruitment: We actively seek out candidates from underrepresented groups in Tanzania, including young mothers, individuals with disabilities, and members of marginalized ethnic or religious communities. Our job postings and outreach highlight our commitment to DEI.

2. Equitable hiring and promotion: Our selection process is designed to minimize bias and ensure fair and equal opportunities for all applicants. We also provide ongoing professional development and mentorship to support the career advancement of team members from diverse backgrounds.

3. Inclusive work environment: We foster a welcoming and supportive work culture, where all team members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. This includes offering flexible work arrangements, mental health resources, and opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and learning.

Through these intentional efforts, FeelWell aims to build a strong, diverse, and inclusive team that can drive meaningful impact for the young Tanzanian mothers we serve. We believe that this diversity is a key strength that will enable us to develop and deliver a more responsive and effective solution.

FeelWell operates as a social enterprise, with a business model designed to balance financial sustainability and measurable social impact for the young mothers we serve.

Our primary customers and beneficiaries are young Tanzanian mothers under the age of 25, particularly those from low-income and marginalized communities. This target population faces a range of emotional, mental, and socioeconomic challenges that often go unaddressed due to limited access to quality support services.

FeelWell's core product is a mobile application that provides AI-driven emotional intelligence (EQ) coaching, virtual sessions with EQ experts, and a supportive community forum. The app is designed to empower young mothers by helping them develop essential life skills, build resilience, and access a network of peer support.

We generate revenue through a combination of two primary channels:

1. Partnerships with local governments and NGOs: We establish partnerships with government agencies and non-profit organizations that provide subsidized or free access to the FeelWell app for their beneficiaries.

2. Corporate sponsorships and grants: FeelWell secures funding from corporate social responsibility initiatives, foundations, and other donors who share our commitment to supporting young mothers in Tanzania.

By diversifying our revenue streams, FeelWell aims to achieve financial sustainability and scale our impact, while ensuring that our solution remains accessible to young mothers from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The combination of strategic partnerships and external funding allows us to provide a high-quality, personalized, and impactful service to our target population.

FeelWell's plan for achieving long-term financial sustainability is built on a diversified revenue model that leverages a combination of strategic partnerships, grant funding, and in-kind support.

Partnerships with NGOs and government agencies:

• FeelWell is currently in discussions with several non-profit organizations and local government agencies in Tanzania to establish subsidized or free access to the app for their beneficiaries.
• For example, we have secured a pilot partnership with the Ministry of Health to provide the FeelWell app to young mothers enrolled in their maternal and child health programs.
• These partnerships not only generate revenue but also expand our reach and impact among the target population.

Grant funding and philanthropic support:

• FeelWell has successfully secured a $12,000 grant from the Tanzanian Impact Hub to support the development and initial launch of our mobile application.
• We are also in the process of applying for additional grants from international foundations and corporate social responsibility initiatives that align with our mission of empowering young mothers.
• These grant funds allow us to invest in product development, user research, and scaling our operations without relying solely on revenue generation in the early stages.

In-kind support and donations:

• FeelWell has established partnerships with local universities and research institutions to provide pro-bono technical assistance, such as user experience design and data analysis.
• We have also received in-kind donations of cloud computing services, smartphone devices, and other resources from corporate sponsors to support our operations.

By leveraging this diversified funding approach, FeelWell is building a financially sustainable model that allows us to deliver our solution at scale while maintaining accessibility for our target population of young Tanzanian mothers. As we continue to grow and demonstrate our impact, we are confident in our ability to secure additional funding and partnerships to ensure the long-term viability of our work.