What Selfapy does

Selfapy is a Berlin-based digital health company founded in 2013 that develops and operates CE-certified Class 1 medical device online therapy programs for mental health conditions. The company's core offering consists of six condition-specific 12-week programs based on cognitive behavioral therapy: Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Binge-Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Chronic Pain, and Panic Disorder. Each program comprises 12 structured lessons featuring psychoeducational content, interactive exercises, videos, audio materials, and a digital mood diary, delivered via a web application (app.selfapy.com) and native iOS and Android apps. Programs are monitored by an in-house psychology team for safety, with keyword-based crisis detection and PHQ symptom tracking built into the workflow.

The company operates a prescription-driven B2B2C go-to-market model under Germany's DiGA (Digital Health Applications) regulatory framework. Four of the six programs (Depression, GAD, Binge-Eating, Bulimia) are listed in the BfArM DiGA directory and are 100% reimbursed by German statutory health insurers when prescribed by a physician or psychotherapist via PZN codes integrated into practice management software. Chronic Pain and Panic Disorder programs are available on a private-pay basis. Patients obtain activation codes through their health insurers, with Selfapy offering a free prescription submission service to streamline the process. Additional distribution occurs through a partnership with Teleclinic for telemedicine-mediated prescribing.

Selfapy has completed over 40,000 therapy courses and has validated its programs through randomized controlled trials conducted with Charité Berlin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Universität Heidelberg, and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, reporting effect sizes such as Cohen's d of -0.85 for anxiety. The company has raised approximately €13.6M+ across six funding rounds from 2015 to 2023, with the most recent €7M round in February 2023 led by strategic pharmaceutical investor Medice Arzneimittel and designated for European market expansion and new digital therapeutic development. The company employs 51-100 people and is led by CEO Adham Kassab, with founders Nora Blum and Katrin Bermbach continuing in co-founder roles.

Name

Selfapy

Legal name

Selfapy GmbH

Website

https://selfapy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Selfapy is a Berlin-based digital health company offering CE-certified, CBT-based online therapy programs for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain, and panic disorder. Programs are prescribed by physicians and 100% reimbursed by German statutory health insurers under the DiGA framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Mental Health Therapeutics

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Neurocognitive Therapeutics (Digital) (HLACANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy) (HLALAEAA), Eating Disorder Treatment Programs (HLAFACAK)

Keywords

• Online cognitive behavioral therapy
• Digital mental health programs
• Prescription digital therapeutics
• Guided self-help therapy
• DiGA health applications

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. DiGA Reimbursement (Digital Health Applications): Selfapy's core programs (Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Binge-Eating, Bulimia) are fully reimbursed by German statutory health insurers as certified DiGA (Digitale Gesundheitsanwendung). Patients pay nothing with a valid prescription. The company receives reimbursement through the German health insurance system.
2. Private Pay (Chronic Pain, Panic Disorder): Programs for chronic pain and panic disorder are available for self-paying patients (not covered by statutory insurance), representing a private-pay revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Selfapy provides CE-certified Class 1 medical device online therapy programs based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for mental health conditions including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, chronic pain, and panic disorder. Each program is a structured 12-week course of 12 lessons delivered via web application and native mobile apps (iOS/Android), with psychologist oversight for safety monitoring. The core programs for depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are fully reimbursed by German statutory health insurers under the DiGA framework.

Product overview

Selfapy is a Berlin-based digital health company offering a platform of CE-certified Class 1 medical device online therapy programs for mental health conditions. The core offering consists of six condition-specific therapy programs: Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Binge-Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Chronic Pain, and Panic Disorder. Each program is a 12-week guided self-help course based on cognitive behavioral therapy, comprising 12 structured lessons with psychoeducational content, interactive exercises, videos, audio materials, and a digital mood diary. Programs are accessible via web application and mobile apps (iOS/Android) and are prescribed by healthcare providers using PZN codes. For depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, costs are covered 100% by German statutory health insurers under the DiGA (Digital Health Applications) framework. Psychologist oversight is provided throughout each course for safety monitoring and user support. Additional services include a free prescription submission service, course renewal options, and crisis support features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Therapy Program - Depression A 12-week CE-certified online therapy program for adults with depression, based on cognitive behavioral therapy, comprising 12 lessons on psychoeducation and practical exercises. Costs are covered 100% by German statutory health insurers with a valid prescription.
• Online Therapy Program - Generalized Anxiety Disorder A 12-week CE-certified online therapy program for adults with generalized anxiety disorder, using cognitive behavioral therapy methods including psychoeducational content and practical exercises. Prescribable via PZN 17554323; costs covered 100% by German statutory health insurers.
• Online Therapy Program - Binge-Eating Disorder A 12-week CE-certified online therapy program for adults with binge-eating disorder, based on CBT with 12 lessons on emotion and stress regulation, self-esteem, mindfulness, social competence, and pleasure training. First certified DiGA for eating disorders in Germany.
• Online Therapy Program - Bulimia Nervosa A 12-week CE-certified online therapy program for adults with bulimia nervosa, using CBT methods including 12 lessons on psychoeducation, emotion regulation, self-esteem, and mindfulness. First certified DiGA for eating disorders in Germany.
• Online Therapy Program - Chronic Pain A 12-week online therapy program for adults with chronic pain conditions, based on evidence-based methods from behavioral therapy and mindfulness and commitment therapy. Available as a private-pay option via PZN 18759010.
• Online Therapy Program - Panic Disorder An online therapy program for adults with panic disorder, based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles. Currently available for self-paying patients (private pay).
• Selfapy Mobile App (iOS/Android) Native mobile applications for iOS and Android that provide access to all Selfapy therapy programs, including lesson content, interactive exercises, and a digital mood diary with calendar integration.
• Selfapy Web Application Browser-based web application at app.selfapy.com available on desktop and mobile browsers. Users register and enter a 16-digit activation code to access therapy programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39.5% average reduction in depressive symptoms after 12-week Selfapy program without psychological support (401 participants, randomized controlled study)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TelecliniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeleclinic provides online medical consultations (telemedicine) enabling patients to receive prescriptions for Selfapy's Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder programs within 2 hours, without visiting a physical doctor's office.
• Charité BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharité Berlin conducted clinical validation of Selfapy's Depression program. The effectiveness of the depression course was clinically confirmed by Charité Berlin researchers.
• Justus-Liebig-Universität GießenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJustus-Liebig-Universität Gießen conducted a randomized controlled evaluation study of Selfapy's Generalized Anxiety Disorder program with 156 participants, demonstrating significant symptom reduction (Cohen's d = -0.85) and 41.3% improvement in health-related quality of life.
• Universität HeidelbergmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversität Heidelberg conducted two randomized controlled studies evaluating Selfapy's Binge-Eating Disorder and Bulimia programs. The studies demonstrated significant symptom reduction with Cohen's d = -0.79 for Binge-Eating and Cohen's d = -0.50 for Bulimia.
• Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin is conducting an ongoing evaluation study of Selfapy's Chronic Pain program in collaboration with the Institute of Psychology. Pilot data showed significant reduction in pain symptoms.
• Spitzenverband Digitale GesundheitsversorgungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelfapy co-organizes regular CME webinars on DiGA in mental health with the Spitzenverband Digitale Gesundheitsversorgung (umbrella association for digital health provision). Participants earn 3 CME points.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HelloBetter: HelloBetter (formerly GET.ON) is a direct German DiGA competitor offering CBT-based online therapy programs for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress, reimbursed under the same DiGA framework. It targets the identical prescribing physician and statutory health insurance workflow that Selfapy relies on, and is one of the most well-funded competitors in the German digital mental health space.
• Mindance: Mindance is a German DiGA-certified mental health platform offering online courses for stress, burnout, and anxiety under the same statutory reimbursement pathway. It directly competes for prescribers, insurer attention, and patient mindshare in the German market.
• Sympatient: Sympatient offers DiGA-listed VR-based exposure therapy for anxiety disorders including phobias, OCD, and panic disorder. It competes directly with Selfapy's panic disorder program and broader anxiety indications under the same German reimbursement framework.

Broad incumbents

• BetterHelp: BetterHelp is the largest global online therapy platform, offering unlimited messaging and live sessions with licensed therapists via subscription. While it operates on a human-delivered rather than self-guided model and lacks DiGA certification, it represents the incumbent online therapy consumer brand against which Selfapy's value proposition is benchmarked.
• Headspace Health: Headspace Health (the combination of Headspace and Ginger) is a broad mental health platform offering meditation, self-guided content, and on-demand therapist/coaching services. It serves as a benchmark for consumer mental health brands and employer distribution at scale, contrasting Selfapy's clinically validated, prescription-driven model.
• Talkspace: Talkspace is a publicly traded online therapy platform connecting users to licensed therapists via messaging, audio, and video. It operates a similar therapist-monitored digital care model and competes for employer and insurer contracts in the same broader category as Selfapy.

Emerging players

• Meru Health: Meru Health is a digital mental health program combining clinician-led care with app-based CBT content for depression, anxiety, and burnout. It targets employers and health plans with a hybrid human-plus-digital model that intersects with Selfapy's therapist-monitored self-help approach.
• Wysa: Wysa is an AI-augmented mental health chatbot offering CBT-based self-help, with employer and health plan distribution. It represents an emerging digitally delivered mental health solution that overlaps with Selfapy's self-guided CBT programs while pursuing different evidence and reimbursement strategies.
• Big Health: Big Health develops evidence-based digital therapeutics (e.g., Sleepio for insomnia, Daylight for anxiety) with FDA clearance and employer/health plan distribution. It is comparable to Selfapy as a prescription-class digital therapeutic in mental health, though focused on different geographies and indications.

Regional players

• Oviva: Oviva is a European digital health company offering app-based therapeutic programs for obesity, diabetes, and related conditions, with strong presence in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK under similar reimbursement models. While focused on physical rather than mental health, it is comparable as a DiGA-equivalent digital therapeutic operating across European statutory reimbursement systems.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/selfapy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Selfapy