Being Initiative
Being Initiative is a non-profit youth mental health initiative hosted by Grand Challenges Canada that funds and supports innovative approaches to improve mental wellbeing of young people aged 10-24 across 12 priority low- and middle-income countries through grants and technical assistance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Being Initiative does
Being Initiative is an international mental health initiative launched in October 2022 and hosted by Grand Challenges Canada that funds and supports research and innovative approaches to improve the mental wellbeing of young people aged 10-24 in low- and middle-income countries. It operates across 12 priority countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam) through three core funding streams: Proof-of-Concept grants for early-stage innovations, Transition to Scale investments of $300,000-$1,500,000 CAD per innovation, and Ecosystem Catalyst funding for organizations coordinating national mental health strategies. The initiative is not a technology company but a funding and program delivery organization that supports a portfolio of innovations spanning AI chatbots, digital platforms, mobile applications, sports-based programs (Fútbol Más, Tackle, Fútbol con Corazón), arts interventions, and community-based models such as Mi Escudo in Ecuador and PREVENT in Pakistan. Technical support and capacity building are delivered through Orygen's Learning and Support Network, which operates six regional hubs across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Being is funded by institutional grants and philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. The initial $35M CAD commitment (October 2022) came from Fondation Botnar and Grand Challenges Canada through the Government of Canada, with subsequent funding from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Additional strategic partners include the Science for Africa Foundation (research coordination in Sub-Saharan Africa) and United for Global Mental Health (policy advocacy). Applications are submitted via Grand Challenges Canada's Fluxx online portal through structured RFP processes. The initiative publishes landscape analyses, innovation lookbooks, and SDG-linked reports, and maintains a peer-reviewed presence in The Lancet and The Lancet Psychiatry. Notable portfolio outcomes include Mi Escudo reaching approximately 59,016 children, 21,817 parents, and 3,606 educators in Ecuador. Being operates as a non-share, non-profit program under Grand Challenges Canada's governance with no equity ownership structure.
Being Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Being Initiative
- Legal name
- Grand Challenges Canada
- Website
- https://being-initiative.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Being Initiative is a non-profit youth mental health initiative hosted by Grand Challenges Canada that funds and supports innovative approaches to improve mental wellbeing of young people aged 10-24 across 12 priority low- and middle-income countries through grants and technical assistance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Being Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Global Mental Health Grant Programs
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI), Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA)
Keywords
Where Being Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Being Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Being Initiative receives funding from multiple partners (Fondation Botnar, Global Affairs Canada, UK aid through NIHR) and distributes it as grants to youth mental health innovators in 12 priority countries. The initial funding was $35M CAD with current Transition to Scale investments ranging from $300,000-$1,500,000 CAD per innovation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Being Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Being Initiative is a non-profit funding and program delivery initiative that awards grants to youth-led organizations developing mental health innovations in 12 priority low- and middle-income countries. It operates three funding streams (Proof-of-Concept, Transition to Scale at $300,000-$1,500,000 CAD per innovation, and Ecosystem Catalyst) and supplements grants with technical assistance through Orygen Global's Learning and Support Network, which runs six regional hubs.
Product overview
Being Initiative is a multi-component mental health initiative consisting of three core funding streams (Proof-of-Concept, Transition-to-Scale at $300K-$1.5M CAD, and Ecosystem Catalyst), supported by a Learning and Support Network delivered through six regional hubs by Orygen Global. The initiative publishes research reports (Mapping Youth Mental Health Landscapes, Empowering Futures SDG Report, Youth Voices Guide) and maintains an Innovation Lookbook showcasing youth-led solutions. Funding applications are managed through Grand Challenges Canada's Fluxx Community Portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Proof-of-Concept Funding
- Transition to Scale (TTS) Funding
- Ecosystem Catalyst Funding
- Learning and Support Network
Quantifiable outcome
- Reached approximately 59,016 children, 21,817 parents, and 3,606 educators through Mi Escudo program in Ecuador
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Being Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Being Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Being Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Science for Africa FoundationmajorAfrican partner supporting Being Initiative with research coordination, network building, and continental representation across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Orygen GlobalcoreSame as Orygen - leads the Learning and Support Network providing localized support through regional hubs to early-stage innovators in youth mental health.
- Grand Challenges CanadacoreGrand Challenges Canada is the host organization for Being Initiative. They manage the funding process, Fluxx portal, and overall program administration. Being is one of GCC's key initiatives focused on youth mental health in LMICs.
- United for Global Mental HealthcoreAdvocacy partner supporting Being through stakeholder engagement, worldwide network, and policy advocacy. Works to raise funds for mental health and ensure effective support.
- OrygencoreLeads the Learning and Support Network with six regional hubs providing technical support, capacity building, and knowledge exchange for funded innovators. Has extensive expertise in youth mental health through research, advocacy, and innovation.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Being Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Movember Foundation: Global philanthropic organization funding men's mental health programs, including in LMICs. It is a broad peer because it channels comparable donor capital into mental health program delivery and stigma reduction in many of the same geographies and via similar nonprofit mechanisms.
- Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest philanthropic foundations, with significant funding in global mental health research. Comparable as a broad incumbent funder that shapes the global mental health research agenda and could be a future partner, competitor for donor attention, or co-funder for Being's grantees.
- Grand Challenges Canada: Host organization of Being Initiative and a Canadian federal non-share not-for-profit corporation that funds global health innovations through integrated challenge programs; Being is essentially one of GCC's flagship mental health initiatives, so GCC is the most direct peer and parent entity.
Direct peers
- Fondation Botnar: Swiss philanthropic foundation and Being's anchor funder that invests in the wellbeing of young people in urban environments globally. Fondation Botnar is directly comparable because it both funds and shapes programmatic portfolios for adolescent health in LMICs.
- United for Global Mental Health: Global advocacy coalition working to increase political and financial commitments to mental health. It is a strategic partner to Being and a peer because both mobilize cross-sector action, policy advocacy, and pooled funding around mental health, especially in low-resource settings.
- Orygen: Australian youth mental health organization that operates Being's Learning and Support Network through six regional hubs. Orygen is directly comparable as a research-to-practice organization focused on youth mental health innovation, training, and global capacity building.
- Science for Africa Foundation: African-led philanthropic organization that supports science and innovation across the continent and is a strategic partner to Being. It is a peer because it both funds and coordinates research ecosystems in Africa, overlapping with Being's Sub-Saharan Africa portfolio and youth-focused work.
Emerging players
- Sangath: India-based non-profit that develops and scales adolescent and youth mental health interventions, including in low-resource settings. Comparable to Being-funded innovators because it operates in one of Being's priority countries, focuses on the same 10-24 age band, and pursues prevention and early intervention.
- BasicNeeds: International development organization focused on mental health and epilepsy in LMICs across Africa and Asia. Comparable to Being because it implements community-based mental health programs in several of the same priority countries and shares the prevention-and-ecosystem-building orientation.
- StrongMinds: Non-profit scaling low-cost, evidence-based mental health interventions (particularly group interpersonal psychotherapy) for women and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Directly comparable to Being's portfolio companies because it delivers youth-relevant mental health interventions in LMICs with measurable outcomes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Being Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceBeing Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Being Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Being Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Being Initiative 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 Being Initiative
What does Being Initiative do?
Being Initiative is a non-profit funding and program delivery initiative that awards grants to youth-led organizations developing mental health innovations in 12 priority low- and middle-income countries. It operates three funding streams (Proof-of-Concept, Transition to Scale at $300,000-$1,500,000 CAD per innovation, and Ecosystem Catalyst) and supplements grants with technical assistance through Orygen Global's Learning and Support Network, which runs six regional hubs.
Is Being Initiative a public or private company?
Being Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Being Initiative founded?
Being Initiative was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Being Initiative based?
Being Initiative is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Being Initiative make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Funding.
Who are Being Initiative's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Movember Foundation, Wellcome Trust and Grand Challenges Canada. Direct peers are Fondation Botnar, United for Global Mental Health, Orygen and Science for Africa Foundation. Emerging players are Sangath, BasicNeeds and StrongMinds.
Does Being Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Being Initiative.
What industry is Being Initiative in?
Being Initiative's product category is Global Mental Health Grant Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.