What Takalam does

Takalam is a digital mental health platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, operating as Takalam L.T.D. in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Founded in 2021 by Khawla Hammad following her personal experience with postpartum depression, the company provides online counseling services connecting individuals with licensed bilingual (Arabic/English) counselors via a mobile app (iOS and Android) and web platform. Its core technology stack includes an AI-powered well-being companion called Aila that delivers 24/7 conversational support, AI-enabled counselor matching assessments, mood tracking, and secure video/chat/teleconferencing sessions. The platform reports 15,000+ registered clients, 77+ licensed counselors, and 3,500+ completed sessions, with individual sessions priced between $45 and $150 per 45 minutes.

Takalam operates a hybrid B2C and B2B business model. Consumer revenue comes from per-session bookings ($45-$150), monthly and annual subscriptions, and prepaid session bundles consumable within one month. Enterprise revenue is generated through corporate employee wellbeing programs, white-labelled digital solutions, and clinical integrations for hospitals, sold via multi-year B2B contracts. Distribution channels include self-serve app stores, a direct enterprise sales team, an insurance partnership with Dubai National Insurance, an AI integration partnership with Inception (a G42 entity), a research partnership with Zayed University, and a government social cohesion partnership with Maa'an. The company also participates in the Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health (2025) and startAD / Google.org's AI for Good Sandbox. All personal counseling data is hosted on Microsoft Azure North UAE to satisfy local data residency and ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021, with stated GDPR and PCI-DSS compliance.

As of the most recent disclosed information, Takalam has raised $1 million in Pre-Seed funding (January 2022) led by Emirates Angels, Nowaisi Investments, Plug n Play, and a Jordanian fund, with an additional ADIO grant (2021) and a F6 Ventures investment (2023) noted in supplementary data. The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with Khawla Hammad as CEO and Inas Shashieh as Co-Founder and COO. Its near-term strategic emphasis is on deepening AI-native capabilities (via the Inception partnership), scaling enterprise distribution through insurance and government channels, and extending the service line into adjacent wellness verticals such as dietetics.

Name

Takalam

Legal name

Takalam L.T.D.

Website

https://takalamhere.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Takalam is an Abu Dhabi-based digital mental health platform offering bilingual Arabic/English online counseling with licensed therapists, an AI well-being companion (Aila), and enterprise B2B wellbeing programs for insurance, university, government, and corporate clients across the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Mental Health Counseling

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

akta.pro primary industry

Workplace Mental Health & EAP-Integrated Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAK)

Keywords

• Online mental health counseling
• Telehealth platform services
• Corporate wellness programs
• AI mental health companion
• Culturally grounded therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Per-Session Booking: Users pay a per-session fee ranging from $45 to $150 USD per 45-minute session with licensed counselors. Sessions are available via video, chat, or teleconference.
2. Monthly and Annual Subscriptions: Users can subscribe to monthly or annual subscription plans for ongoing access to counselor sessions and platform services.
3. Session Bundles: Users can purchase bundles of counseling sessions (Session Bundles) consisting of a specified number of sessions to be utilized within one month.
4. Corporate/Enterprise B2B Contracts: Takalam partners with organizations to provide employee wellbeing programs, white-labelled digital solutions, and clinical integrations, generating B2B subscription or contract revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Takalam is a mobile-first digital mental health platform that connects individuals with licensed counselors for one-on-one online therapy sessions delivered via video, chat, or teleconference in Arabic and English. The platform also offers an AI-powered well-being companion called Aila for 24/7 conversational support, and provides B2B employee wellness programs, white-labeled solutions, and clinical integrations for organizations and healthcare providers.

Product overview

Takalam operates as a comprehensive digital mental health platform offering both B2C and B2B services. The core product is the Takalam App, a mobile application providing online counseling with licensed therapists in Arabic and English. The platform integrates an AI companion called Aila for 24/7 conversational support. For organizations, Takalam for Organizations provides corporate wellness programs and white-labelled solutions. Additional offerings include counselor matching assessments, mood tracking tools, session bundles, guided meditations, a mental health blog, and CSR/impact programs for community outreach. The platform supports multiple consultation modes including video, chat messaging, and teleconferencing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Takalam App (Mobile Application) Mobile-first application (iOS and Android) connecting individual users with licensed counselors for online mental health counseling sessions via video, chat, or teleconferencing in Arabic and English. Includes Aila AI companion, mood tracking, counselor matching assessments, and guided meditations.
• Aila (AI Wellbeing Companion) Standalone 24/7 AI conversational well-being companion available in Arabic and English that listens, supports, and guides users through everyday challenges. Provides free conversational support between human counselor sessions.
• Takalam for Organizations (Business Portal) Dedicated B2B portal offering corporate employee well-being programs, white-labeled digital mental health solutions, and clinical integrations for hospitals and healthcare facilities, including organizational dashboards and reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ clients served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• startAD / Google.orgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025AI for Good Sandbox program, an initiative supporting AI innovations for social impact in healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
• Google for StartupscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Selected for Growth Academy: AI for Health program, a global accelerator supporting startups using AI for healthcare innovation across Europe, Africa, and Middle East.
• InceptioncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Strategic partnership to bring AI to mental health care, integrating Inception's AI capabilities into Takalam's platform.
• Zayed UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership for AI-enabled innovative mental health solutions, including research collaboration and student wellbeing programs.
• Dubai National InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2024Insurance partner launched new partnership to offer Takalam's mental health platform as a covered benefit to policyholders.
• Maa'an (معاً)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership with UAE government social cohesion initiative to expand mental health access to communities through digital platform.
• Hub71coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Abu Dhabi-based startup ecosystem and accelerator where Takalam was founded in 2021, providing startup support and community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BetterHelp: Global direct-to-consumer online counseling marketplace owned by Teladoc; the largest scaled benchmark for Takalam's per-session therapy model and the dominant incumbent Takalam must differentiate against culturally in MENA.
• Talkspace: US-listed online therapy platform offering video, chat, and asynchronous counseling plus B2B/insurance distribution; comparable business model mix of consumer subscriptions and enterprise contracts that Takalam is replicating in MENA.
• Headspace Health (Headspace + Ginger): Major mental wellbeing app combining self-guided content, coaching, and on-demand therapy, sold B2C and through employers; comparable content-plus-counselor product mix that competes with Takalam for digital wellbeing mindshare.

Direct peers

• Lyra Health: Enterprise-focused mental health benefits platform serving employers with global EAP-style coverage; directly comparable to Takalam's B2B 'Takalam for Organizations' corporate wellbeing motion and insurance-led distribution.
• Spring Health: Employer-paid mental health benefits provider combining AI-driven matching with licensed therapist network; closely mirrors Takalam's smart assessment/counselor matching plus corporate wellness positioning.
• Modern Health: Global mental health platform for employers offering therapy, coaching, and self-guided digital care; comparable B2B-first model with multicultural counselor matching similar to Takalam's Arabic/English cultural focus.
• Wysa: AI-first mental wellbeing chatbot with human therapist escalation, used by employers and health systems globally; directly comparable to Takalam's Aila AI companion plus licensed counselor hybrid model.

Regional players

• Shezlong: Egypt-founded Arabic-language online therapy platform serving the Arab world; the closest direct regional competitor to Takalam, offering counseling in Arabic and competing for the same culturally grounded MENA user base.
• Altibbi: Leading MENA digital health platform offering teleconsultations and content in Arabic; broader telehealth incumbent in the same geography that could expand into mental health and compete with Takalam.
• Doctor Anywhere: Asia-headquartered regional telehealth platform with MENA expansion that includes mental health services; comparable in offering integrated virtual care including behavioral health, threatening Takalam's regional positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/takalamhere
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/takalam
• Instagraminstagram.com/takalamhere
• Xx.com/TakalamHere

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 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 Takalam