Cairo-headquartered Online Mental Health Platform, Shezlong, raised an undisclosed sum to expand its services in the MENA region. It also plans to introduce new products that focus on mental health including Texting-Base Therapy and Corporate Wellness programs.   

The new investment came from AAIC, a Singapore based investor focused on healthcare in Africa, GCC based Mohamed El Khamissy, Chairman of MK Capital and Khaled Ismail, Chairman of HIMangel. A number of health and wellness entities across the Middle East, Europe, and the US were also included. 

“Mental health is important at every stage of life and our mission in Shezlong is to help people manage their psychological and mental health at all times and make therapy accessible to everyone. We believe that with the new investment, Shezlong will be able to expand its services vertically and horizontally in the Middle East”, said Ahmed Abu ElHaz, Founder and CEO of Shezlong. 

Shezlong was founded in 2014. The startup connects patients with licensed therapists through online video sessions. It offers free assessments to assess patients’ mental health and detect psychological problems. 

“I am excited to be part of this deal with Shezlong; a much needed online service amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought with it a lot of emotional pressure. I believe that having a balanced mind and body is essential for individuals to live a healthy lifestyle, and Shezlong along with its professional therapists offer the perfect platform for that”, said Mohamed El Khamissy, Chairman of MK Capital.  

Shezlong uses cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches individuals how to manage stress and anxiety. Additionally, it provides them with relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and positive self-talk. These tools are especially sought out in the current now due to uncertainty and social distancing. 

The platform currently hosts over 500 consultants. It has attracted ten thousand cases from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Germany, and the US. It also has about 100,000+ registered users who follow up frequently with their therapists.