Why We Invested in BeMe: Unlocking Access to Culturally Competent Therapy

In 2013, amidst the chaos of a bomb blast in Karachi, mental health specialist Sharmeen Khan and Dr. Talha Rehman met while responding to the crisis. That moment of collective trauma would later evolve into a shared mission: to make mental health care accessible, confidential, and stigma-free across Pakistan and the South Asian diaspora.

Nearly a decade later, that mission became BeMe, a digital mental health platform delivering therapy and counseling to individuals and, increasingly, entire organizations. BeMe blends culturally responsive care with clinical-grade confidentiality. Built on HIPAA-compliant infrastructure, an international gold standard in data protection, BeMe ensures that all user interactions, from personal therapy sessions to corporate mental health data, remain secure. The platform delivers more than infrastructure. It has built trust by offering a safe, locally relevant space for care, helping users navigate barriers of shame, fear, and inaccessibility.

A Critical Problem With Structural Roots

Pakistan faces one of the highest rates of mental illness globally. Yet systemic challenges prevent most individuals from accessing timely, quality care. With a critically low number of trained psychologists and psychiatrists, the country struggles to meet growing mental health needs.

An estimated 90% of individuals who need mental health services never access them due to societal stigma and lack of awareness. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Sharmeen and Talha witnessed a growing crisis: surging mental health challenges and limited, often inaccessible care. The need skyrocketed, but the system remained fragmented, expensive, and shrouded in stigma. “We saw an overwhelming need for culturally relevant, secure mental health support,” shared Sharmeen. “And combined my experience in the mental health sector with Dr. Talha’s operational expertise in the healthcare industry to build BeMe.”

For individuals, the digital therapy platform offers round-the-clock access to certified therapists through a user-friendly platform tailored to the cultural and linguistic context of South Asia and its diaspora. For corporates, mental health services include workshops, group and individual therapy, and mental health awareness sessions aimed at reducing burnout and boosting employee retention and productivity. Today, BeMe supports over 3,000 employees through its corporate services, helping companies provide meaningful wellness benefits in a market where mental health is still often ignored.

Why Village Capital Invested in BeMe

Sharmeen and Talha are not just making care available, they’re making it dignified. BeMe offers culturally responsive care in a region that needs more mental health resources. They’ve built a safe, locally relevant space for care, helping users navigate barriers of shame, fear, and inaccessibility.

Since launching in March 2023, BeMe has onboarded 200 B2C clients and facilitated approximately 750 therapy sessions. Beyond providing a service, they’ve also conducted 14 awareness sessions for employers, highlighting their commitment to education and destigmatization.

Their traction is impressive for an early-stage startup, having secured three initial contracts with leading Pakistani firms, including several established corporations and a Y-Combinator-backed fintech. These companies have adopted BeMe’s pay-as-you-go therapy sessions, workshops, and customized mentorship programs. Two additional banking clients are currently in the contracting pipeline.

Looking Ahead

BeMe joined the Standard Chartered Futuremakers Women in Tech (WiT) program at a pivotal moment in its growth. With mentorship, investment-readiness support, and a powerful peer network, the team sharpened its go-to-market strategy and refined a dual-vertical model: accessible therapy for individuals and tailored mental health solutions for companies.

Now, BeMe is channeling these insights into its next phase of growth. “This funding will enable us to expand our team, focus on marketing and growth, and personalize client and corporate experiences,” notes Sharmeen. “As we grow, we are also deepening our research and development, launching new wellness tools, and scaling marketing to grow our impact. We’re not just building a mental health platform, but bringing change to the region and redefining wellness.”

This marks BeMe’s first round of external funding, a critical inflection point as the team scales its impact and solidifies its position in the region’s mental health landscape.