Sound Off

What Sound Off does

Sound Off, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN 46-4875047), founded in 2014 and headquartered at 4040 Broadway, Suite 501, San Antonio, Texas. The organization operates a single mobile application that delivers anonymous mental health support to post-9/11 veterans. Users download the app, confirm geographic region, and receive a permanent, anonymous username that cannot be reverse-linked to their true identity. The service is delivered via VoIP voice calls and end-to-end encrypted messaging, with the architectural design ensuring that neither Sound Off nor its technical partners acquire personally identifiable information through normal platform use. Sound Off cites four addressed barriers — personal and professional stigma (47% of post-9/11 veterans with PTSD fear career harm), lack of trust in doctors (45% prefer friends or family over professionals), VA bureaucracy (average 40-day wait times), and rural geography (mean distance to VA mental health services).

The product model is a two-sided volunteer network. On the supply side, Sound Off recruits licensed mental health clinicians who donate their time and screened, trained peer supporters ("Battle Buddies") who are themselves veterans and have walked the same path as users. Users can choose between a professional clinician and a peer supporter for each session. Marketing and outreach run through organic social media, downloadable digital and print awareness materials, newsletter signup, and earned media coverage; distribution is through Apple's App Store and Google Play Store.

The business model is donation-funded philanthropy: the app is free to download and free to use indefinitely, with no premium tier, advertising, or data monetization. Sound Off is supported by charitable contributions from individuals and sponsoring organizations, holding a Charity Navigator Three-Star rating and Candid/GuideStar Platinum Transparency 2025. The organization has 1-10 employees, no disclosed institutional investors, no parent company, and no M&A history. Strategic recognition includes the Mission Daybreak 2022 award for veteran mental health innovation. Operating scope is the United States only, and there are no disclosed revenue figures, funding rounds, or financial filings.

Name

Sound Off

Legal name

Sound Off, Inc.

Website

https://sound-off.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sound Off is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a free mobile app providing anonymous mental health support to post-9/11 veterans via volunteer clinicians and screened veteran peer supporters using VoIP calls and end-to-end encrypted messaging.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Telehealth/Remote ABA & Digital Behavior Coaching (EDAKAHAL), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Remote Monitoring (HLACAFAD)

Keywords

• Mental health support
• Veteran services
• Anonymous counseling
• Peer support app
• Mobile health platform

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Sound Off is funded primarily through donations. Donations are critical to making the app as accessible as possible to veterans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sound Off provides a free mobile application that delivers anonymous mental health support to veterans by connecting them with volunteer clinicians and screened peer supporters (Battle Buddies) via VoIP calls and end-to-end encrypted messaging. The app assigns users a permanent, anonymous username and is designed to overcome barriers such as stigma, VA wait times, and geographic distance to mental health services.

Product overview

Sound Off is a single mobile application providing anonymous mental health support for veterans. The app connects users with professional clinicians and screened peer supporters through VOIP calls and end-to-end encrypted messaging. Users download the app, confirm their geographic region, and receive an anonymous permanent username to access mental health support on their terms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sound Off Mobile Application

Quantifiable outcome

• Removes barriers to mental health support including 47% who fear seeking help will harm their career, 45% who prefer friends/family over professionals, 40 day average VA wait times, and mean distance to VA services

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Volunteer ClinicianscoreOthersSound Off partners with a generous network of volunteer clinicians who provide anonymous mental health support services to veterans through the app. These are licensed mental health professionals who volunteer their time.
• Peer Supporters (Battle Buddies)coreOthersScreened, trained peer supporters who are Veterans that have walked the same path as those seeking help. They provide peer-to-peer support and have been validated as veterans themselves.
• Sponsoring OrganizationssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizations that provide support through sponsorship to help Sound Off make their app as accessible as possible to veterans in need.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BetterHelp: Largest direct-to-consumer online therapy platform offering licensed-counselor access via messaging, chat, phone, and video. Comparable to Sound Off as a digital channel delivering mental health support to consumers via a mobile/web app, though BetterHelp serves a general population (paid subscription) while Sound Off is veteran-focused, free, and anonymous with peer-support options.
• Talkspace: Public online therapy platform connecting users to licensed therapists via messaging and live sessions. Comparable to Sound Off as an app-based outpatient mental health delivery channel, though Talkspace is paid, employer/insurer-distributed, and clinician-only — lacking the anonymous, peer-supporter, veteran-vertical specialization that defines Sound Off.
• Lyra Health: B2B mental health benefits platform serving employers and health plans with live therapy, coaching, and on-demand self-care. Comparable as a digital outpatient mental health delivery model, though Lyra is employer-funded, clinician-led, and broader in population than Sound Off's veteran, donation-funded, peer-inclusive model.
• Cerebral: Telehealth platform focused on anxiety, depression, and ADHD care including medication management and counseling. Comparable as an app-based outpatient mental health delivery channel, but Cerebral is paid, clinician/prescriber-only, and has faced regulatory scrutiny — contrasting Sound Off's anonymous, free, peer-inclusive nonprofit model.
• Headspace Health: Digital mental health and meditation platform combining self-guided content with on-demand therapist/coach access via employer and health plan distribution. Comparable as a mobile-first behavioral health platform, though Headspace Health is consumer/employer-paid and content-led rather than a free, peer-driven, anonymous veteran service.

Direct peers

• Cohen Veterans Network: Nonprofit operating a national network of outpatient mental health clinics for post-9/11 veterans, service members, and families. Most directly comparable peer: same veteran-vertical focus, free-to-user model, hybrid clinician + peer-support delivery, and 501(c)(3) funding base — though delivered via in-person/telehealth clinics rather than an anonymous mobile-first app.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with physical and mental health programs, including peer support and mental wellness services. Directly comparable as a major veteran-focused nonprofit operating mental health and peer-support programming, though WWP operates a broad portfolio of programs rather than a single mobile app for anonymous support.
• Stop Soldier Suicide: Nonprofit dedicated specifically to reducing veteran suicide through peer support, clinical care coordination, and prevention programs. Directly comparable on mission (veteran suicide prevention), delivery model (peer + clinical), and nonprofit funding structure, though Stop Soldier Suicide is program-based rather than an anonymous mobile app.
• Give an Hour: Nonprofit providing free mental health services to veterans, active-duty service members, and their families through a network of volunteer licensed providers. Closely comparable to Sound Off's volunteer-clinician model and veteran focus, though delivered via in-person/telehealth referrals rather than an anonymous, app-mediated channel.

Emerging players

• 7 Cups: Online platform offering free, anonymous peer-to-peer emotional support with optional access to licensed therapists. Comparable to Sound Off as an anonymous, mobile/app-delivered mental health support service that blends trained peer listeners with optional clinician escalation, though 7 Cups serves a general population rather than the veteran vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soundoff

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Sound Off