Brain in Hand
Brain in Hand is a UK digital health company providing a mobile coaching platform that combines app-based self-management tools with dedicated human coaching and 24/7 on-demand support for autistic and ADHD adults, funded through DSA, Access to Work, and NHS commissioning.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Brain in Hand does
Brain in Hand is a UK-based digital health company, founded around 2010 and headquartered in Exeter, that operates a mobile coaching platform for autistic and ADHD adults. The product combines a smartphone application (iOS and Android) with dedicated one-to-one human coaching and 24/7 on-demand responder access, co-produced with neurodivergent users over more than 14 years. Core app features include a Traffic Light mood monitoring system (configurable to prompt every 2–3 hours), a personalised diary and planner with travel-time reminders, customisable Solution Packs of coping strategies, and a one-tap escalation path to a live responder. The company states that over 25,000 individuals have been supported across workplace, education, and health and social care settings.
The revenue model is a recurring B2B2C subscription built on three UK institutional funding rails: (1) Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) for higher education students, channelled through the Student Loans Company's eQuote portal; (2) Access to Work grants of up to £66,000 per year for neurodivergent employees, channelled through assessors including Maximus; and (3) direct subscription commissioning by NHS bodies and local authorities (named partners include Kirklees, Surrey, Richmond, Wandsworth, Bristol, Greenwich, Thurrock, East Sussex, Cornwall NHS, and the West of England Combined Authority). A direct self-referral pathway for individuals is also offered. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated based on cohort size and implementation scope. Go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-oriented, with end-to-end implementation managed by Brain in Hand for employer HR/Diversity & Inclusion teams and case-management referral pathways for public sector commissioners.
Brain in Hand has invested in independent clinical validation: a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry (May 2023), led by University of Leicester and University of Plymouth researchers and funded by SBRI Healthcare, demonstrated statistically significant reductions in anxiety (p<0.001), quality-of-life improvements, and reductions in self-injurious behaviour in autistic adults. The company meets the NICE Evidence Standards Framework Tier C for Digital Health Technologies, holds Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications, and has achieved NHS Digital Data Security and Protection Toolkit 'Standards Exceeded' alongside DTAC compliance, making it one of the few clinically validated, regulatorily certified digital support tools positioned within the UK neurodevelopmental pathway.
Brain in Hand firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brain in Hand
- Legal name
- Brain in Hand Ltd
- Website
- https://braininhand.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Brain in Hand is a UK digital health company providing a mobile coaching platform that combines app-based self-management tools with dedicated human coaching and 24/7 on-demand support for autistic and ADHD adults, funded through DSA, Access to Work, and NHS commissioning.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brain in Hand industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Health Coaching Platform
- NAICS
- Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Therapy Platforms (ADHD/Autism/Behavioral Coaching) (HLALAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Special Needs Skill-Building & Therapy Learning Apps (Autism, OT/PT, Life Skills) (EDAFAKAJ), Executive Functioning & Self-Regulation Coaching (OT) (EDAKAFAI)
Keywords
Where Brain in Hand is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Brain in Hand business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Licensing (Public Sector Commissioning): Brain in Hand is commissioned by NHS bodies, local authorities, and educational institutions to provide support to eligible individuals. Organisations pay for the service, which is then made available to users at no direct cost to them.
- Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) Funding: Students access Brain in Hand through DSA, which funds specialist assistive technology. Needs assessors recommend Brain in Hand; costs are covered by the Student Loans Company (SLC) via the DSA scheme. SAAS-funded students require annual reassessment.
- Access to Work (AtW) Funded Subscription: Neurodivergent employees and self-employed individuals fund Brain in Hand through the UK Government's Access to Work scheme, which provides grants of up to £66,000/year for workplace support. Brain in Hand is listed as a funded support tool within AtW packages.
- Local Authority / Service Provider Contracts: Local authorities (e.g., Kirklees Council, Surrey, Richmond, Wandsworth) and health and social care providers commission Brain in Hand for their client populations, managing end-to-end implementation from outreach to outcomes reporting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | DSA-funded student subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Access to Work funded workplace subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Health & Social Care commissioned subscription |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brain in Hand product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brain in Hand provides a digital coaching platform that combines a mobile app (iOS/Android) with personalised digital self-management tools, a dedicated human coach, and 24/7 on-demand responder support to help autistic and ADHD individuals manage anxiety, overwhelm and daily routines. The service is delivered as subscription licences commissioned by public-sector bodies (NHS, local authorities, DfE/Student Loans Company), accessed via Access to Work, or self-referred directly by individuals.
Product overview
Brain in Hand is a unified digital coaching platform that combines a mobile app with human coaching support to help autistic and ADHD people achieve more at work, in education, and in life. The core product consists of the Brain in Hand App (digital self-management tools), One-to-One Coaching, and 24/7 On-Demand Support. The app includes key features such as the Traffic Light System for mood monitoring, Solution Packs for ready-made coping strategies, and Diary/Planning Tools for daily organization. Sector-specific packages extend the platform for Workplace (employer support), Education (DSA-funded students), and Health & Social Care settings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brain in Hand App A digital self-management coaching platform combining practical digital tools with human coaching support to help neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD) users manage anxiety, overwhelm and daily challenges. Accessible 24/7 on-demand.
- One-to-One Coaching
- 24/7 On-Demand Support
- Workplace Support Package
- Education Support Package (DSA)
- Health & Social Care Support Package
Quantifiable outcome
- 25,000+ individuals empowered with Brain in Hand support
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Brain in Hand
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Brain in Hand technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Brain in Hand partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NHScoreBrain in Hand is commissioned by the NHS to provide digital coaching support to autistic and ADHD adults. The NHS SBRI Healthcare programme (Accelerated Access Collaborative / Academic Health Science Networks) funded the clinical trial led by University of Leicester and University of Plymouth.
- Department for Education (DfE)coreBrain in Hand is commissioned and endorsed by the DfE, facilitating its inclusion in the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) framework for higher education students across England.
- University of LeicestercoreLed by Dr Samuel Tromans (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), University of Leicester researchers co-authored the independent clinical study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry investigating Brain in Hand's impact on autistic adults.
- University of PlymouthcoreLed by Professor Rohit Shankar MBE (Professor of Neuropsychiatry), University of Plymouth researchers led the clinical study and partnered with Brain in Hand and SBRI Healthcare.
- SBRI HealthcarecoreSBRI Healthcare (Accelerated Access Collaborative initiative, in partnership with Academic Health Science Networks) commissioned and funded the independent clinical study into Brain in Hand's effectiveness for autistic adults.
- SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative)coreSBRI (UKRI) funded the clinical study through its healthcare programme, supporting the development of Brain in Hand as an innovative digital health technology.
- Maximus (Access to Work Assessor)coreMaximus conducts Access to Work Needs Assessments on behalf of the UK Government and recommends Brain in Hand as a funded workplace support tool for eligible neurodivergent employees and self-employed individuals.
- West of England Combined AuthorityminorCommissioning partner listed on the Brain in Hand website as a trusted partner supporting the delivery of neurodiversity support services.
- East Sussex County CouncilminorLocal authority commissioning partner listed as a trusted organisation providing Brain in Hand support to eligible residents.
- Bristol City CouncilminorLocal authority commissioning partner listed as a trusted organisation providing Brain in Hand support to eligible residents.
- Royal Borough of GreenwichminorLocal authority commissioning partner listed as a trusted organisation providing Brain in Hand support to eligible residents.
- Thurrock CouncilminorLocal authority commissioning partner listed as a trusted organisation providing Brain in Hand support to eligible residents.
- Kirklees CouncilminorCommissioning Manager for Mental Health Tony Bacon has publicly endorsed Brain in Hand, noting benefits including reduced GP visits and hospital admissions as users self-manage stress levels.
- Surrey County CouncilminorListed as a health and social care partner using Brain in Hand to support autistic adults in their locality.
- London Borough of Richmond upon ThamesminorListed as a health and social care partner using Brain in Hand to support autistic adults in their locality.
- London Borough of WandsworthminorListed as a health and social care partner using Brain in Hand to support autistic adults in their locality.
- Cornwall NHSminorOne of seven clinical study sites for the independent research into Brain in Hand's impact on autistic adults, conducted across sites in England and Wales.
- Behavioural Insights Team (BIT)minorBIT conducted an independent evaluation of Brain in Hand in the workplace, published as a research document on the Brain in Hand resource hub.
- Student Loans Company (SLC)coreSLC administers the DSA funding framework through which Brain in Hand is provided to eligible higher education students. Needs assessors submit quotes via the SLC eQuote portal.
- Exeter UniversityminorBrain in Hand partnered with researchers at Exeter University (experienced in Single Case Experimental Design) to explore a new methodology for measuring the impact of Brain in Hand on neurodivergent people.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Brain in Hand competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Unmind: UK-headquartered digital mental health platform sold primarily to employers and NHS partners (similar B2B commissioning model). Comparable in targeting HR/D&I buyers and offering evidence-based digital wellbeing tools — overlapping with Brain in Hand's workplace and NHS positioning.
- Spill: UK digital mental health platform combining app-based self-management with live therapist messaging, sold to employers and SMEs. Closely parallels Brain in Hand's combination of digital tools plus on-demand human support delivered through workplace commissioning.
- Peppy: UK employee benefits platform delivering specialist human-led support (parenthood, menopause, fertility) often funded through employer benefits and Access to Work-style schemes. Comparable in the human-coach-plus-app delivery model and employer HR channel.
- Healios: UK digital health company delivering NHS-commissioned autism and ADHD assessments and intervention. Comparable NHS commissioning footprint and neurodevelopmental target population, with overlap on clinical/regulatory credentials.
- IESO Digital Healthcare: UK digital mental health provider delivering NHS-commissioned cognitive behavioural therapy via secure online platform. Comparable evidence-based digital therapeutic delivery model and NHS commissioning footprint.
Emerging players
- Limbic: UK digital mental health AI platform used within NHS IAPT pathways for patient triage and engagement. Comparable as an evidence-generating digital mental health company with NHS procurement credentials (DTAC, clinical evidence), overlapping the same commissioner buyers.
- Akili Interactive: Digital therapeutic company with FDA-cleared products for ADHD and cognitive conditions, combining app-based cognitive training with measurable clinical outcomes. Comparable in purposing a clinical-grade digital product for ADHD/autism populations.
- Woebot Health: AI-driven digital mental health platform combining conversational agent with clinically validated cognitive behavioural content. Comparable as a digital therapeutic aiming at anxiety and ADHD with evidence-generation, but delivering through AI rather than human coaching.
- Click Therapeutics: US prescription digital therapeutics company developing FDA-cleared software for depression, migraine, and other conditions. Comparable as a clinically validated digital therapeutic platform with regulatory-grade evidence and pharma-style commercialisation.
Broad incumbents
- Headspace Health: Large incumbent digital mental health platform (Headspace + Ginger) sold to employers, health plans, and public-sector buyers. Comparable digital wellbeing employer sales motion, though broader population focus than Brain in Hand's neurodevelopmental niche.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Brain in Hand social profiles
Digital presenceBrain in Hand compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Brain in Hand financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brain in Hand leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Brain in Hand funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brain in Hand 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 Brain in Hand
What does Brain in Hand do?
Brain in Hand provides a digital coaching platform that combines a mobile app (iOS/Android) with personalised digital self-management tools, a dedicated human coach, and 24/7 on-demand responder support to help autistic and ADHD individuals manage anxiety, overwhelm and daily routines. The service is delivered as subscription licences commissioned by public-sector bodies (NHS, local authorities, DfE/Student Loans Company), accessed via Access to Work, or self-referred directly by individuals.
Is Brain in Hand a public or private company?
Brain in Hand is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Brain in Hand founded?
Brain in Hand was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Brain in Hand based?
Brain in Hand is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Brain in Hand make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Licensing (Public Sector Commissioning) is the primary driver. The others are disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) Funding, access to Work (AtW) Funded Subscription and local Authority / Service Provider Contracts.
Who are Brain in Hand's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Unmind, Spill, Peppy, Healios and IESO Digital Healthcare. Emerging players are Limbic, Akili Interactive, Woebot Health and Click Therapeutics. Headspace Health is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Brain in Hand have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brain in Hand.
What industry is Brain in Hand in?
Brain in Hand's product category is Digital Health Coaching Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAEAJ, Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Therapy Platforms (ADHD/Autism/Behavioral Coaching), with a secondary code of EDAKAKAI, Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention. Its NAICS code is 621330 and its SIC code is 7372.