Slingshot AI
Slingshot AI builds Ash, a consumer-facing AI therapy chatbot powered by a specialized "foundation model for psychology" trained on diverse behavioral health data, serving individuals who cannot access or afford traditional mental health care via a direct-to-consumer subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersAlbany, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Slingshot AI does
Slingshot AI is a New York City-based private company whose flagship product is Ash, an AI-powered mental health therapy chatbot built on what the company describes as a "foundation model for psychology" — a specialized large language model trained on diverse behavioral health data and integrating multiple evidence-based therapeutic modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and motivational interviewing). The system is designed to respect users' self-determination — supporting autonomy, competence, and relatedness — rather than impose a single therapeutic philosophy, and is positioned as a complement rather than replacement for human therapy. The product launched in 2022 following approximately 18 months of development, with a formal pivot to the foundation-model framing articulated in a January 2024 company manifesto.
Ash is distributed as a direct-to-consumer subscription application accessible via a self-serve web/mobile experience (talktoash.com) and the company's main website (slingshotai.com), with no enterprise sales motion, channel partners, or resellers referenced. Slingshot AI employs a product-led growth strategy that leverages beta feedback from 25,000 testers (including a large number of licensed therapists) and a published 300-participant clinical study reporting improvements in depression, anxiety, and wellbeing, alongside earned media and policy coalition participation (American Innovators Network) to build credibility.
The business generates revenue through undisclosed consumer subscription pricing, targeting individuals who cannot access or afford traditional therapy. Cumulative users reached 150,000+ since launch. The company has raised $93 million in total funding across rounds in 2024 and 2025, with the most recent a $53M Series A extension in July 2025 co-led by Radical Ventures and Forerunner Ventures with participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Backed by top-tier consumer and AI-focused venture capital, Slingshot operates with an 11–50 person team headquartered in New York City.
Slingshot AI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Slingshot AI
- Legal name
- Slingshot AI
- Website
- https://slingshot.xyz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Slingshot AI builds Ash, a consumer-facing AI therapy chatbot powered by a specialized "foundation model for psychology" trained on diverse behavioral health data, serving individuals who cannot access or afford traditional mental health care via a direct-to-consumer subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Slingshot AI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI Mental Health Therapy
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) & Addiction Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAD), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Remote Monitoring (HLACAFAD)
Keywords
Where Slingshot AI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albany
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Slingshot AI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- AI Therapy App (Ash) — Consumer Subscription: Slingshot AI generates revenue through its AI-powered therapy app Ash, offered on a subscription basis to individual consumers. The app provides on-demand mental health support accessible at any time, addressing the gap for users who cannot afford or access traditional therapy. Specific tier pricing is not publicly disclosed.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Consumer subscription for AI therapy app Ash |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Slingshot AI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Slingshot AI builds and sells Ash, an AI-powered mental health therapy app for individual consumers. Ash is powered by a proprietary foundation model for psychology trained on diverse behavioral health data and integrates multiple therapeutic modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, motivational interviewing) to deliver personalized, on-demand conversational therapy support via a subscription-based mobile/web app.
Product overview
Slingshot AI is an a16-backed mental health technology company based in New York City with a single flagship product: Ash, an AI-powered mental health therapy app. Ash is built on a specialized psychology foundation model trained on diverse behavioral health data, offering personalized mental health support through conversational AI. The product incorporates multiple therapeutic modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, motivational interviewing) and adapts to individual user needs, value systems, and cultural norms. The company positions Ash as a tool to help address the mental health crisis by providing accessible therapy support, noting that 54% of people struggling with mental health do not receive care.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ash: AI therapy chatbot and flagship product of Slingshot AI, designed to provide personalized mental health support using therapeutic approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and motivational interviewing. The product was launched in 2022 and claims to assist over 150,000 users in managing stress and anxiety.
Products and services
- Ash Ash is an AI-powered mental health therapy app for individual consumers, built on a proprietary foundation model for psychology trained on diverse behavioral health data. It delivers personalized conversational therapy support integrating CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and motivational interviewing, with weekly pattern-recognition insights and embedded safety guardrails. Ash is offered on a subscription basis and positioned as an accessible, non-judgmental complement to traditional therapy.
Quantifiable outcome
- Improvements in depression, anxiety, and overall wellbeing reported in a 300-participant clinical study of Ash
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Slingshot AI
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Slingshot AI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature4 records
Slingshot AI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- American Innovators NetworkcoreSlingshot AI is a member of the American Innovators Network (AIN), a coalition of over 30 organizations advocating for small AI startups ('Little Tech') in federal and state AI policy debates. Over 1,000 AI-related bills were introduced across U.S. states in 2025 alone, and AIN positions itself to ensure smaller companies have a voice in shaping regulations that could disadvantage emerging players relative to larger established companies. Slingshot AI joined alongside partners including Doppel, Andreessen Horowitz, Scale AI, and Y Combinator.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Slingshot AI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cerebral:
- Headspace Health: Headspace (merged with Ginger) is a broad mental health platform offering meditation, coaching, and teletherapy. It overlaps with Ash on consumer mental wellness subscriptions and now on AI-assisted therapy via Ginger integration.
- Calm: Calm is a leading consumer mental wellness subscription (meditation, sleep, mindfulness). While currently less focused on AI therapy, it competes for the same mental health consumer subscription dollar and could expand into AI-driven support.
- BetterHelp: BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform (owned by Teladoc), connecting consumers to human therapists via subscription. It is a substitute offering to Ash for users willing and able to pay for traditional therapy and represents a key incumbent competitor.
- Talkspace: Talkspace is an established online therapy and psychiatry platform with B2B payer relationships. It competes with Slingshot for the digital mental health subscription segment and increasingly for employer/insurer contracts.
Direct peers
- Woebot Health: Woebot Health is one of the most direct competitors — an AI-powered chatbot delivering CBT-based mental health support to consumers and via B2B partnerships with payers and employers. It overlaps directly with Ash on AI-delivered therapy, evidence-based modalities, and clinical validation claims.
- Wysa: Wysa is an AI mental health chatbot combining CBT, DBT, and mindfulness techniques, with both consumer subscriptions and enterprise sales to employers and health plans. It directly competes with Ash in the AI-driven self-guided mental health support category.
- Replika: Replika is an AI companion chatbot that millions use for emotional support and mental wellbeing. While broader than therapy, it occupies adjacent conversational AI territory and competes for the same consumer mental health support wallet.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Slingshot AI social profiles
Digital presenceSlingshot AI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Slingshot AI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Slingshot AI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Slingshot AI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Slingshot AI
What does Slingshot AI do?
Slingshot AI builds and sells Ash, an AI-powered mental health therapy app for individual consumers. Ash is powered by a proprietary foundation model for psychology trained on diverse behavioral health data and integrates multiple therapeutic modalities (CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, motivational interviewing) to deliver personalized, on-demand conversational therapy support via a subscription-based mobile/web app.
Is Slingshot AI a public or private company?
Slingshot AI is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Slingshot AI founded?
Slingshot AI was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Slingshot AI based?
Slingshot AI is headquartered in Albany, United States, in the North America region.
How does Slingshot AI make money?
One revenue line is on record: AI Therapy App (Ash) — Consumer Subscription.
Who are Slingshot AI's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cerebral, Headspace Health, Calm, BetterHelp and Talkspace. Direct peers are Woebot Health, Wysa and Replika.
Does Slingshot AI have an API?
No public API is recorded for Slingshot AI.
What industry is Slingshot AI in?
Slingshot AI's product category is AI Mental Health Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAEAI, Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms, with a secondary code of HLALAEAD, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) & Addiction Teletherapy Platforms. Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8300.