Vandrevala Foundation
Vandrevala Foundation is an India-based non-profit operating a free 24x7 mental health helpline via phone and WhatsApp in 11 languages, supplemented by paid video/telephonic therapy sessions, group therapy, and a volunteer training academy serving individuals in mental health crisis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersMumbai, India
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vandrevala Foundation does
Vandrevala Foundation, founded in 2009 by Priya Hiranandani-Vandrevala and Cyrus Vandrevala and headquartered in Mumbai, India, is a non-profit organization operating India's first 24x7x365 mental health helpline. The foundation provides free psychological counselling and crisis intervention to anyone experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, suicidal thoughts, or emotional distress, accessible via phone (+91 9999 666 555) and WhatsApp in 11 vernacular languages across India and abroad. Over 14 years it has facilitated more than 1 million confidential conversations.
The platform combines a freemium delivery model with a paid consultation tier. Free services include the round-the-clock helpline, online group therapy sessions, and pro bono counselling for individuals facing financial or personal barriers. Paid video/telephonic consultations are offered at Rs. 500-750 per 45-60 minute session with qualified mental health professionals selected from a panel of psychologists, psychiatrists, and licensed clinical psychologists. The Skill Academy provides extensive virtual training to employees and volunteers, most of whom hold postgraduate degrees in psychology, psychiatric social work, or M.Phil/PhD credentials. Supporting infrastructure includes Zoho Forms for appointment booking and partnerships with 300+ Indian universities and colleges that channel students and interns for training and counselling referrals.
Go-to-market relies on direct-to-consumer access combined with awareness campaigns, earned media coverage in major Indian publications, celebrity endorsements (notably Saif Ali Khan Pataudi), and partnerships with governments and educational institutions to reduce stigma around mental health. The founders have extended their social impact work beyond India via The Bricks Foundation in California, focused on addiction recovery infrastructure. There is no disclosed venture capital or institutional investment; the organization operates on grants and founder funding alongside earned revenue from paid consultations.
Vandrevala Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vandrevala Foundation
- Legal name
- Cyrus and Priya Vandrevala Foundation
- Website
- https://vandrevalafoundation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Vandrevala Foundation is an India-based non-profit operating a free 24x7 mental health helpline via phone and WhatsApp in 11 languages, supplemented by paid video/telephonic therapy sessions, group therapy, and a volunteer training academy serving individuals in mental health crisis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vandrevala Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Counseling Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy) (HLALAEAA), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)
Keywords
Where Vandrevala Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mumbai
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vandrevala Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Free Helpline Service: Charitable free mental health support service available 24x7 via phone and WhatsApp, funded by the foundation as part of its non-profit mission.
- Paid Consultation Sessions: Video/telephonic therapy sessions with expert mental health practitioners. Sessions priced starting at Rs. 750 per session for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Users can select preferred counsellor and book recurring appointments.
- Pro Bono Counselling: Short-term care support offered to individuals in need who face financial or personal barriers to seeking help.
- Group Therapy Sessions: Free online group therapy sessions focusing on various concerns with expert facilitators, providing sense of belonging and shared growth.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Emergency Mental Health Support |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paid Video/Telephonic Consultation |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paid Consultation (About Us Rate) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Group Therapy Sessions |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vandrevala Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vandrevala Foundation provides free 24x7x365 mental health crisis intervention and psychological counselling via phone and WhatsApp, available across India in 11 vernacular languages. It complements these free services with paid video/telephonic consultation therapy sessions with qualified mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors), free online group therapy, pro bono counselling for those with financial barriers, and a Skill Academy that trains volunteers and employees in crisis intervention.
Product overview
Vandrevala Foundation offers a dual-tier mental health support platform consisting of a free 24x7 crisis intervention helpline (accessible via phone and WhatsApp) and a paid consultation service featuring video/telephonic therapy sessions with qualified mental health professionals. The free helpline serves as the organization's core crisis support offering, while the paid consultation platform enables long-term therapeutic engagement. Supporting services include the Skill Academy (volunteer training), free group therapy sessions, and pro bono counselling for those with access barriers. The foundation has facilitated over 1 million conversations since 2009 and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Mental Health Helpline Free 24x7x365 crisis intervention helpline providing psychological counselling and emotional support via phone and WhatsApp to anyone in India experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, suicidal thoughts, or emotional distress.
- Paid Consultation Paid video/telephonic consultation therapy sessions with qualified mental health experts (psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors). Sessions cost Rs. 500-750 per 45-60 minute session and offer long-term therapeutic support with preferred counsellor continuity.
- Free Group Therapy Sessions Free online group therapy sessions focusing on various mental health concerns with expert facilitators, providing participants with a sense of belongingness and shared growth.
- Pro Bono Counselling Services Short-term pro bono counselling support for individuals in need who face financial or personal barriers to seeking professional mental health help, creating an accessible and inclusive environment.
- Skill Academy Volunteer Training Program Volunteer recruitment and training program that prepares employees and volunteers (most with psychology backgrounds) through extensive virtual training by licensed mental health professionals to manage crisis conversations effectively.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 million+ conversations facilitated over 14 years of operation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Vandrevala Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vandrevala Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Vandrevala Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Bricks FoundationcoreThe Founders (Cyrus and Priya Vandrevala) are working to create affordable infrastructure in California for those struggling with addiction through the creation of The Bricks Foundation. This represents the founders' expanded efforts beyond the Vandrevala Foundation's Indian operations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vandrevala Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amaha: India-based mental health platform offering online therapy, psychiatry, and self-care tools via app and web. Comparable as a digital mental health service in India with both paid therapy and free resources, though with stronger product/tech surface.
- YourDOST: Indian online counselling and emotional wellness platform serving students and working professionals via chat, voice, and video. Comparable in target demographic (students/young adults) and therapy delivery model, with established university partnerships.
- Wysa: AI-driven mental health platform with chatbot-based emotional support and human therapist escalation. Comparable as an India-originated digital mental health service serving anxiety, depression, and crisis — though with an AI-first delivery model rather than helpline-first.
- iCall (TISS Mumbai): TISS-operated psychosocial helpline offering free telephone and email counselling across India. Directly comparable as a nonprofit mental health helpline serving similar Indian demographics with similar crisis-intervention and chronic-care support model.
- Tele-MANAS: Government of India's national tele-mental health service launched in 2022, offering free 24/7 mental health support across India. Directly comparable as a free, multilingual crisis helpline serving overlapping populations.
- Snehi: Indian nonprofit providing emotional support and suicide prevention helpline services via phone and email. Comparable as a nonprofit crisis-intervention mental health service in India serving distressed individuals across the country.
Broad incumbents
- Practo: India's largest digital health platform offering doctor consultations, including mental health practitioners, via app. Comparable as a digital health delivery channel in India with mental health as a service vertical, though broader than Vandrevala's specialization.
- BetterHelp: Largest global online therapy platform offering video, phone, and chat therapy with licensed therapists. Comparable as a teletherapy platform serving mass-market consumers globally, though U.S.-focused and for-profit.
Emerging players
- MindPeers: India-based mental wellness platform offering therapy, counseling, and self-help content via app. Comparable as a digital mental health service in India with paid therapy tiers, though younger and smaller scale than Vandrevala.
- Lissun (by Lissun.app / Heka Health): Indian mental health platform focused on outpatient therapy and corporate EAP partnerships. Comparable as an India-based mental health delivery platform targeting therapy demand, though more commercially oriented than Vandrevala's nonprofit model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vandrevala Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceVandrevala Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vandrevala Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Vandrevala Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vandrevala Foundation 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 Vandrevala Foundation
What does Vandrevala Foundation do?
Vandrevala Foundation provides free 24x7x365 mental health crisis intervention and psychological counselling via phone and WhatsApp, available across India in 11 vernacular languages. It complements these free services with paid video/telephonic consultation therapy sessions with qualified mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors), free online group therapy, pro bono counselling for those with financial barriers, and a Skill Academy that trains volunteers and employees in crisis intervention.
Is Vandrevala Foundation a public or private company?
Vandrevala Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vandrevala Foundation founded?
Vandrevala Foundation was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Vandrevala Foundation based?
Vandrevala Foundation is headquartered in Mumbai, India, in the Asia region.
How does Vandrevala Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Free Helpline Service is the primary driver. The others are paid Consultation Sessions, pro Bono Counselling and group Therapy Sessions.
Who are Vandrevala Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amaha, YourDOST, Wysa, iCall (TISS Mumbai), Tele-MANAS and Snehi. Broad incumbents are Practo and BetterHelp. Emerging players are MindPeers and Lissun (by Lissun.app / Heka Health).
Does Vandrevala Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vandrevala Foundation.
What industry is Vandrevala Foundation in?
Vandrevala Foundation's product category is Mental Health Counseling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLALAEAI, Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms, with a secondary code of HLALAEAA, General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy). Its NAICS code is 621330 and its SIC code is 8300.