The Journey of Youmi
The Journey
of Youmi
Our story
Hi I'm Louis,
The idea for Youmi came from my own lived experience of mental health struggles, and the experiences of the people around me whilst I was unwell. Like too many of us, I have struggled with my mental health for much of my adult life.
Over time, especially in recent years, it became clear I wasn’t the only one carrying a hefty burden. So were my mum, my dad and the people close to me, who, for reasons I’m still figuring out, care about me. They didn’t know what to say or do to support me. Some projected their own feelings, whilst others pulled away, fearful of getting it wrong.
Awareness and comprehension around mental ill-health is growing, but there’s still far too little for the team around them. The people who are there day in, day out have the opportunity and motivation to help, just not the capability. As I set out to see who might agree, I was lucky enough to meet Georgie...
Hi, I’m Georgie
With a career dedicated to mental health research and intervention design, I have spent years exploring what helps people recover and thrive. But I've also been there myself. Both as someone who has struggled, and as someone who has supported others. I have experienced firsthand how much pressure sits on the shoulders of the person who’s unwell, and how different things could be if the people around us felt better equipped, informed, and supported too.
When Louis shared his idea with me, it really resonated. Together, we imagine a world where everyone, not just the person struggling, has a safe space to turn to. Combining Louis' background in product management with mine in mental health research, along with a shared passion to help others, we set out to create Youmi. Because, simply, effective support matters.
The faces behind Youmi
Meet the team that’s been working behind the scenes on creating Youmi
Louis is an experienced strategist with a career in brand, marketing, and product management at both Sky and Warner Bros. With a deep personal experience of mental ill-health & ADHD, he brings the clarity, breadth, and leadership needed to build a team capable of delivering something genuinely impactful.
Psychology researcher turned social entrepreneur, Georgie brings academic rigour and personal experience to Youmi. She is passionate about bridging the gap between science and real-world change. With a PhD in psychology and a deep commitment to equity and ethics, she’s helping shape Youmi into a safe, science-backed platform that truly supports those who support others.
MD of his own innovation house, Megaslice, and leading our technical delivery. Justin has deep expertise in AI and full-stack development, and is focused on ensuring our platform is scalable, safe, and personalised from the start.
Helps guide the company’s long-term direction through his role as NED and chairs our fabulous Advisory Board. Patrick has a career in Brand Strategy & Marketing across various industries and regions on both the client and agency side, and brings a wealth of valuable experience as we build & grow.
Leads on financial planning, modelling and commercial oversight, giving us the clarity and control required; driving our readiness for investment.
Joining in early 2026… to shape our strategic focus and product design – using her experience as a psychotherapist and author of 'You Are Not Alone In This', to help us build what supporters really need. Sophie also founded BALANCE magazine, which she ran for six years, bringing mental wellbeing to the masses.
Advises on operational structure and leads on overall delivery, helping us stay lean, focused, and execution-ready. Alex's experience is proving invaluable to the team as we constantly re-prioritise and try to thrive in the chaos.
Jonny is an award-winning mental health campaigner, author, and founder of the charity Beyond, with years of experience amplifying and advocating for the importance of lived experience across the UK and beyond. Through his work, he speaks with supporters every day and knows firsthand how transformative the right tools could be for those trying to help someone they care about.
Sharp commercial insight from years in equity investment, as a former investment manager at asset managers including Allianz Global Investors and Lombard Odier. Her deep expertise in go-to-market strategy for mission-led ventures is helping shape a focused, scalable model built for real-world traction.
Alfie brings a strong track record in growing tech companies from early stage through scale-up, leveraging expertise in M&A, capital raises, and strategic & operational financial.
Brings global experience scaling health and wellbeing ventures. That advice is shaping our US fundraising strategy and international growth.
A background in healthcare litigation, within a career spent navigating high-risk and heavily regulated environments, provides a vital perspective. That highly valuable skillset is essential to build the right foundations in a sensitive, high-trust space.
We are lucky to be supported by a range of clinical and academic advisors
We can’t do this without you
At Youmi, we believe the best solutions are built with the people who need them most. We’re looking to connect with anyone who’s ever supported someone through a difficult time, or who’s been supported themselves.
Your stories, insights, and experiences can help us create an app that truly works for the people who use it. We’re also looking to partner with universities, organisations, and others who share our mission to transform how we care for one another.
And if you’re interested in supporting our journey through funding or investment, we’d love to connect. If this resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s build something meaningful, together.
We’re driving systems change in mental health. Shifting our focus to
a culture of shared care, where everyone has the support they need
Our values
Putting supporters front and centre with a new perspective
on mental health
