Theodoric Chew, 28, co-founded mental health startup Intellect in 2019.
“We’re not just an app, we’re not just a helpline for people in need,” Chew said. CNBC does it.
Intellect is an “integrated mental health care system that aims to address any level of risk and need,” she said.
“It could be as sharp and critical as a crisis call. [where] “You need to talk to someone on the ground… down to the smallest detail, to have more confidence,” said the Singaporean CEO.
Founded in 2019, the company’s services range from mental health screening tools and self-care programs to doctor consultations and in-person clinics. Intellect has more than 200 employees in 12 countries and claims to have served more than 3 million people by 2024.
From drop shipping to advertising arbitrage, Chew began experimenting with various internet businesses throughout his teenage years.
“A lot of it started during my high school years (ages 12 to 16)… I was already working on a couple of my own things at that time,” said Chew, who attended Raffles Institution, a well-known and prestigious school in Singapore.
At the age of 16, Chew decided to drop out of high school.
“Looking long-term, I don’t really see myself going down the path of… being a top student, going to a top university or being a top lawyer or doctor,” he said.
But what he did know was that he wanted to spend more time creating things. “For me, it’s all about working on startups and not, you know, doing theory.”
Chew had a couple of “lucky breaks” after dropping out, he said.
By the age of 20, he had already successfully founded and sold his first startup, Existgreat, a self-help content platform that featured interviews with people like American entrepreneur and speaker Gary Vaynerchuk.
Following the acquisition, Chew went on to work at a couple of startups, where he gained further experience.
Recounting her own experience with mental health, Chew said: “I had my first panic attack when I was 16.”
“That’s when I really realized something was wrong,” he added.
Chew sought help from a therapist and was later diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Through his own experience, the Singaporean native discovered a glaring problem: While mental health issues are common in Asia, it is a largely underserved sector.
Theodoric Chew served in National Service in Singapore for 2 years.
Courtesy of Theodoric Chew
According to the World Health Organization investigation“Nearly one billion people worldwide live with mental health problems, of whom approximately 260 million live in the WHO South-East Asia Region.”
In addition, around 82% of workers in Asia are at “medium to high” risk of developing mental health problems, according to a study. report by insurance broker Aon and Telus Health.
“For me, a few things started to click,” Chew said. “It’s not news that Asia has one of the highest rates of mental health crises, but the stigma is very strong.”
Of course, there are cultural and historical nuances that determine how Asians tend to deal with their own mental health. They tend to be less inclined to share their feelings openly, Chew explained.
“This is also reflected in a broader, more social approach to healthcare. There is a lot of investment and innovation in secondary, primary and tertiary care; we see hospitals being built,” but the mental healthcare market is immature, Chew said.
I don’t think I’m the smartest, I don’t think I’m the most capable but… I’m naively ambitious, and I think that’s served me reasonably well.
Teodoric Chew
Co-Founder and CEO of Intellect
Chew saw that her friends were also struggling with their own mental health needs and didn’t know where to start.
At the time, “there was virtually little to no innovation in mental health in Asia,” he added.
“Not a lot has been done, but the problems are very real,” Chew said. “So that gave us a really good starting point: how do we approach this question of helping people get started?”
And thus the intellect was born.
“I think in the early stages, any founder has to be a little bit deluded,” Chew said. “I don’t think I’m the smartest, I don’t think I’m the most capable, but… I’m naively ambitious, and I think that’s served me reasonably well,” he said.
Throughout his career, Chew has been clearly aware of his strengths and, more importantly, his shortcomings. Knowing where his weaknesses lie, Chew outsources certain skills and tasks to employees.
“As a founder, particularly if you’re young, you have to be very aware of your flaws, rather than your virtues, and be open-minded to learning,” he said. “Our entire executive team is much more experienced and knowledgeable than I am.”
Intellect now offers in-person clinic visits.
Courtesy of Theororic Chew
Aside from being “naively ambitious” and having a strong self-awareness, Chew’s key to success has been threefold: having an innate interest in building things, having the drive to experiment with ideas, and expecting challenges along the way.
However, the reality is that “it’s never too simple or easy for anyone, so you always have to overcome that inertia,” Chew said. “I think [expecting] “Being part of the journey is also very important.”
Looking ahead, Chew wants to expand Intellect beyond Asia, with the goal of being the “global leader in hyperlocal mental health care,” he said.
“The journey has been very exciting and rewarding… I didn’t even expect how quickly we could address such a glaring need.”
When asked about how he handles the anxiety and stress of being a startup founder, he said he works on regulating his emotions and stress, and tries to compartmentalize.
“Sometimes it is really necessary to do parking work at work,” he said.
“I think having my own personal free time in space is important to me, so I can function in the long term.”
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