In a world where healthcare often feels distant and impersonal, Touchkin, a Bengaluru-based startup, is redefining what it means to care. Founded by Jo Aggarwal and Ramakant Vempati, Touchkin was born from a deeply personal realization — that sometimes, the people we love most are struggling in silence, and we don’t even know it.
Both founders came from impressive backgrounds — Jo from the world of education technology and Ramakant from finance and analytics — but what united them was a powerful mission: to make empathy scalable through technology.
The Moment That Sparked an Idea
The idea for Touchkin came when Jo noticed how difficult it was to stay aware of a loved one’s well-being from afar. What if, she wondered, a smartphone could quietly sense when someone wasn’t doing well — based on subtle changes in their sleep, communication, or activity patterns?
That insight led to Wysa, an AI-powered mental health companion that listens without judgment, offers therapy-informed support, and helps people manage stress, anxiety, and depression — anytime, anywhere.
Unlike traditional chatbots, Wysa doesn’t just talk. It understands. It learns from millions of real conversations to provide empathy-driven responses grounded in psychology and evidence-based techniques like CBT and DBT.
Turning Smartphones into Well-Being Sensors
Touchkin’s platform takes an unconventional approach — it uses smartphone sensors, not wearables, to detect early warning signs of distress or chronic health issues. Its algorithms analyze behavioral data to predict emotional well-being and even physical health trends.
This makes the technology lightweight, scalable, and accessible, especially in emerging markets where expensive wearables aren’t feasible. The result is a platform that can reach millions — not just the privileged few.
Today, Wysa has supported over 6 million conversations across 30+ countries, becoming one of the world’s most trusted AI companions for mental well-being. Studies have shown that using Wysa can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression — proving that AI can, in fact, care.
Growth with Purpose
From its humble beginnings, Touchkin has drawn strong investor confidence, raising over $1.3 million in early rounds led by Kae Capital, with backing from industry veterans like Alok Mittal and Amit Gupta.
But what sets Touchkin apart isn’t just its tech — it’s its heart. Collaborations with insurers like Swiss Re and corporate wellness programs worldwide are making mental health support not only accessible but also stigma-free.
By embedding emotional intelligence into mobile technology, Touchkin is helping people across the globe find comfort and care at their fingertips — literally.
The Future: Empathy at Scale
For Jo and Ramakant, the journey is just beginning. They envision a world where every phone becomes a caregiver — sensing distress before a breakdown, offering help before it’s asked, and making mental health care truly universal.
As Touchkin continues to expand its portfolio and deepen its research, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just a healthtech company.
It’s a movement to make technology kinder.
From a spark of empathy in Bengaluru to a global digital companion changing millions of lives, Touchkin is proof that the future of healthcare isn’t just smart — it’s human.
