mentalis

What mentalis does

mentalis GmbH is a German digital therapeutics company founded in 2018 as a spin-off from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, headquartered in Nürnberg. The company develops CE-certified medical device smartphone applications combined with regular therapeutic telephone and video consultations to deliver hybrid mental health care. Its product portfolio spans eight programs: six aftercare programs for patients discharged from psychiatric inpatient treatment (Phönix for depression, Appstinence for alcohol use disorder, InBalance for borderline, ReConnect for psychotic disorders, MyJourney for eating disorders, and TEK for emotion regulation), plus two transdiagnostic 'immediate help' products targeting gaps in standard care (CareNow for adolescents aged 13–21 and Resilience+ for adults aged 16+ on therapy waitlists or returning to work). The technology platform is grounded in over a decade of academic research and incorporates Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions, smartphone-sensor-based health monitoring, and approach-avoidance modification training, with clinical efficacy validated across multiple randomized controlled trials showing effect sizes ranging from d=0.41 to d=1.02.

The company operates a B2B2C go-to-market model in which statutory German health insurers (Krankenkassen) reimburse mentalis programs as 'Besondere Versorgungsangebote' (special care offerings), and partner clinics refer discharged patients into the programs. Distribution relies on a network of 100+ hospital and clinic partners and 40+ health insurance providers across Germany, with patients self-enrolling online after confirming insurance coverage. Revenue streams include health insurance reimbursement, self-pay options for uninsured patients, and non-dilutive research funding from the G-BA Innovationsfonds (~€8.2M cumulative across three projects: SmartAssistEntz, iCAN, and QUATEMAR). The company is privately held by its three co-founders (Dr. Christian Aljoscha Lukas, Alexander Ploner, and Leonhard Glomann) together with Geschäftsführer Hans-Jürgen Stein, with no disclosed external institutional investors.

Name

mentalis

Legal name

mentalis GmbH

Website

https://mentalis-health.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

mentalis is a German digital therapeutics company that delivers CE-certified mental health aftercare and immediate-help programs combining smartphone medical device apps with therapeutic telephone consultations, serving patients discharged from psychiatric clinics and individuals on therapy waitlists, reimbursed through 40+ statutory health insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Mental Health / Digital Therapeutics

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Neurocognitive Therapeutics (Digital) (HLACANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy) (HLALAEAA), Integrated Behavioral Health (Collaborative Care) Platforms (HLALAEAC), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Digital therapeutics
• Mental health aftercare
• CE-certified medical apps
• Tele-psychotherapy programs
• Digital mental healthcare

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Reimbursement: Services are reimbursed through statutory health insurance (GKV) partnerships. Numerous Krankenkassen (health insurance providers) cover mentalis programs as 'Besondere Versorgungsangebote' (special care offerings). Patients typically pay no direct costs when their insurance participates.
2. Self-Pay / Private Payment: Programs available for self-paying patients (Selbstzahler:in) who either do not have participating insurance or choose to pay out-of-pocket.
3. Innovation Fund Research Projects: Government funding from Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) Innovationsfonds for clinical research projects including SmartAssistEntz (~2.4M EUR), iCAN (~3.5M EUR), and QUATEMAR (~2.3M EUR). These fund clinical trials and pilot implementations of new care models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

mentalis develops and delivers eight CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare programs (Digital Health Applications) for mental illnesses, combining a smartphone therapy app with regular telephonic and video consultations by licensed psychologists and psychotherapists. Programs target post-clinic aftercare for depression, alcohol addiction, borderline, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and emotion regulation, as well as immediate-help offerings for adolescents and adults. Services are primarily reimbursed by statutory health insurance providers in Germany as 'Besondere Versorgungsangebote'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Appstinence: Aftercare program for alcohol problems, supporting long-term abstinence with 12 phone conversations and a therapy app.
• Phönix
• InBalance
• ReConnect
• MyJourney
• TEK
• CareNow
• Resilience+

Products and services

• Phönix CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare program for depression, helping patients regain joy in everyday life after inpatient clinic treatment. Combines a 12-month therapy app with 12 telephone sessions with licensed psychologists, delivered as part of the mentalis Nachsorge portfolio.
• TEK CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare program focused on emotion regulation, helping patients better perceive and understand their own and others' feelings. Combines therapy app and telephone psychological sessions within the mentalis Nachsorge portfolio.
• MyJourney CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare program for eating disorders (anorexia and/or bulimia), helping patients build a healthy relationship with food and self after clinic discharge. Combines therapy app and telephone psychological sessions within the mentalis Nachsorge portfolio.
• InBalance CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare program for borderline personality disorder, supporting patients in finding self-confidence and emotional stability after clinic discharge. Combines therapy app and telephone psychological sessions within the mentalis Nachsorge portfolio.
• Appstinence CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare program for alcohol use disorder, supporting long-term abstinence after alcohol withdrawal through a therapy app and 12 telephone conversations with psychologists. Validated in the SmartAssistEntz RCT showing 28-40% lower relapse risk versus control.
• CareNow CE-certified digital therapeutic immediate-help program for adolescents and young adults aged 13-21 experiencing sadness, loneliness, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. Provides rapid professional psychological support without waitlists via a smartphone app combined with therapeutic conversations.
• ReConnect CE-certified digital therapeutic aftercare program for people with psychotic disorders, providing structured psychological support in everyday life after clinic discharge via a therapy app and telephone psychological sessions.
• Resilience+ CE-certified digital therapeutic immediate-help program for adults aged 16+ who are psychologically stressed, waiting for therapy, or returning to work after mental health-related sick leave. Combines transdiagnostic content with specific modules for selected disorder categories such as depression, stress, self-esteem issues, substance use, and ADHD.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28-40% reduction in relapse risk for alcohol use disorder patients (SmartAssistEntz RCT)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding academic partner and primary research institution. mentalis originated from over a decade of research at FAU's Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. Prof. Dr. Matthias Berking leads research collaboration. Company co-founder Dr. Christian Aljoscha Lukas was a long-time researcher at FAU.
• Universitätsklinikum ErlangencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical partner for multiple research projects including SmartAssistEntz, iCAN, and QUATEMAR. Provides clinical expertise and patient recruitment for randomized controlled trials.
• Universität BambergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for eating disorders and body image studies (MyJourney predecessor research). Collaboration on app-based interventions for body dissatisfaction.
• Universität GreifswaldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for iCAN project focused on chatbot-assisted depression aftercare for youth and young adults. Provides clinical research expertise.
• LMU München (Universität München)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner contributing to mentalis evidence base and clinical validation studies.
• AOK BayerncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor German statutory health insurance provider and consortium partner in SmartAssistEntz study. Offers mentalis programs as covered care for insured members.
• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of Germany's largest statutory health insurers. Partner in iCAN project. Covers mentalis programs for eligible insured members.
• AOK Baden-Württemberg, AOK Nordost, AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/SaarlandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional AOK health insurance providers partnering in iCAN project. Collectively represent significant covered lives for mentalis program distribution.
• BAHN-BKKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman railway health insurance fund. Partner in SmartAssistEntz, QUATEMAR, and iCAN projects. Covers mentalis programs for BAHN-BKK insured members.
• IKK classic, mkk – meine krankenkasse, Mobil BetriebskrankenkassecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStatutory health insurance providers participating in QUATEMAR project. Partner network enabling insurance coverage and patient access to mentalis programs.
• BKK-VBUcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman company health insurance fund (Betriebskrankenkasse). Partner in iCAN project for depression aftercare in youth.
• Klinikum Nürnberg (Standort Nord)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor hospital partner in SmartAssistEntz consortium. Recruits and treats alcohol-dependent patients, referring them to mentalis aftercare programs.
• Klinikum der Universität MünchencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUniversity hospital partner in SmartAssistEntz project. Clinical partner providing treatment and patient referral to mentalis programs.
• Bezirksklinikum Ansbach, Frankenalb-Klinik Engelthal, Krankenhaus AltdorfcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional psychiatric hospital partners in SmartAssistEntz consortium. Provide alcohol addiction treatment and refer patients to mentalis aftercare.
• Universität BambergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in SmartAssistEntz project. Contributes research expertise on alcohol use disorders and digital interventions.
• GWQ ServicePlus AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerService company for company health insurance funds. Partner in QUATEMAR project enabling therapy initiation support.
• inav – Institut für angewandte Versorgungsforschung GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInstitute for applied healthcare research. Consortium partner in SmartAssistEntz project contributing evaluation and healthcare research expertise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HelloBetter (formerly GET.ON): German digital mental health company offering internet-based CBT programs (iCBT) for depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and other conditions. Direct competitor in the German statutory health insurance market with multiple courses covered by Krankenkassen and a comparable evidence base.
• Selfapy: Berlin-based digital mental health company offering online therapeutic programs for depression, burnout, anxiety, and eating disorders. Competes with mentalis in the German digital aftercare space, also pursuing statutory insurance reimbursement.
• Mindable Health: German digital therapeutics startup offering app-based treatment for panic disorder and agoraphobia with CE certification and statutory health insurance coverage. Direct competitor targeting overlapping clinical indications via the German reimbursement pathway.
• Sympatient: Munich-based digital therapeutics company focused on anxiety disorders and OCD, using VR exposure therapy combined with psychological support. Comparable in German market positioning, CE certification, and insurance reimbursement strategy.
• Deprexis: Germany-origin digital therapeutic for depression with strong clinical evidence base (multiple RCTs) and CE certification. Direct predecessor-style competitor in the depression digital therapeutics space, now part of GAIA AG.

Broad incumbents

• GAIA AG: Hamburg-based digital therapeutics company with a broad portfolio including Deprexis (depression), Velibra (anxiety), and others. Competes in adjacent indications with mentalis and has deeper commercial reach globally.
• SilverCloud Health (Amwell): Ireland-origin digital mental health platform now owned by Amwell. Offers iCBT programs with evidence base across depression, anxiety, and stress — comparable to mentalis in hybrid care delivery and clinical validation approach.

Emerging players

• Minddistrict: Dutch digital mental health platform offering e-health and blended care solutions for mental health providers and insurers across Europe. Comparable hybrid model (app + human coaching) targeting European reimbursement markets.
• Meru Health: Finland/US digital mental health company offering therapist-led online programs combining app-based CBT with video sessions. Comparable hybrid model and clinical evidence approach to mentalis, though focused on US/EU enterprise contracts.

Regional players

• Mika Health: German digital health company (formerly Fosanis) offering the Mika app for cancer-related psychological support and other chronic conditions. Comparable in German DTx regulatory approach and statutory insurance reimbursement strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/mentalis-Nachsorge/61572203196923
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mentalis-health
• Instagraminstagram.com/mentalis_nachsorge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 mentalis