The reality of people’s increasing sense of loneliness is undeniable, and the truth that AI can fill the void of loneliness is equally undeniable. An increasing number of startups are leveraging AI to tap into the loneliness economy, with Manifest being one of them. Manifest has caught the attention of several venture capitals, including a16z Speedrun and Florida Funders, raising $3.4 million (about NT$110 million) in its seed round and attracting over 16 million uses.
Although services that use AI to fill the spiritual void of loneliness seem largely similar, Manifest has still managed to secure endorsements from well-known venture capitals. What makes them special?
Targeting Generation Z! Instant interaction meets emotional needs
“If Generation Z is already addicted to their phones, then healthcare needs to be on the phone as well.”
According to Amy Wu, the founder of Manifest, a report by the McKinsey Health Institute indicates that when Generation Z faces mental health issues, they usually do not seek help from conventional mental health clinics but instead turn to social media or various digital tools for emotional advice. This reflects that once AI tools can respond instantly, they can quickly gain favor with Generation Z as their digital spiritual mentors.
The founding concept of Manifest stems from Amy Wu’s personal experience. He admits that whether it was being admitted to Stanford University’s Department of Management Science and Engineering or securing an internship opportunity in Silicon Valley, these seemingly glamorous processes were not as smooth as they appeared on the surface. He cites examples such as the first breakup, facing a fallout with friends, and encountering companies that he found to be highly stressful, all of which made it difficult for him to manage his emotions, leading to constant anxiety and self-doubt.
After observing his friends, Amy Wu realized that peers facing significant events also felt lost and helpless. Although there were physical psychological clinics available, they lacked immediacy and were not easy to apply. Therefore, Amy Wu decided to integrate AI technology into mental health applications, creating a portable “emotional toolbox” that could fit in a pocket.
Based on CBT: Gamified guidance encourages users to think positively
Most of the currently most-used mental health apps have relatively simple functions and positioning. For instance, Happify uses tasks created by psychologists and scientists that last 5 to 10 minutes, such as meditation tasks, to help users achieve calmness and happiness. BetterHelp, which is conversation-oriented, initially engages in brief dialogue with users before finding a matching counseling psychologist for them.
Manifest’s AI technology is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focusing on changing negative thought patterns to help users manage emotions. For example, if one does not place in a drawing contest, feelings of inferiority and self-deprecation may arise. Manifest’s AI would remind users to consider the experience gained from the contest or to appreciate the charm in their work, rather than solely chasing after awards.
The design principle of Manifest is based on gamification, offering units for emotional management such as “breakup healing” and “overcoming fear.”
For instance, in the “overcoming fear” unit, users can choose a challenge and then explain their fear either through voice or text. The AI analyzes the fear and provides empathetic support, encouraging users to face their fears together. Besides psychological discomfort, Manifest also checks if users are experiencing physical symptoms like stiffness and pain, inviting them to ponder the intentions behind their fears. At the end of the unit, a personalized “overcoming fear” sticky note is created, including organized solutions and positive encouragement.
The “overcoming fear” unit provides AI empathetic support after users describe their fears. AI analyzes psychological and physical reactions and generates a personalized sticky note offering positive encouragement and solutions.
Image / Manifest app
“I have depression, and when I feel lonely, it brings immense comfort,” says user sbollito. Having tried many similar apps with very low expectations for Manifest, he shared that one could speak without worrying about feelings and content because the CBT-based AI always listens and provides emotional support.
Anonymous user twitchywitchygirll shares that due to frequent anxiety, they might need Manifest’s units up to five times a day. They believe that breaking down emotions can alleviate the overwhelming feeling of anxiety, and the positive encouragement at the end of the units also has a soothing effect.
Manifest’s AI technology is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focusing on adjusting negative thinking patterns to help users effectively manage emotions.
Image / Manifest app
With AI’s learning and optimization mechanisms, as users interact more with Manifest, the AI gradually learns and understands users’ emotional patterns, optimizing responses, and further satisfying users’ needs for emotional venting.
Funding injection! Planning to launch professional matching services
Manifest was launched this summer, and up to now, users have accumulated up to 15.8 million interactions on the app. With such significant demand, Manifest has successfully captured the attention of several venture capitals, including a16z Speedrun and Florida Funders, raising $3.4 million (about NT$110 million) in its seed round.
“We don’t expect an app to solve all emotional problems, but we hope to help them understand and digest emotions gradually through guided small interactions,” explains Amy Wu. He also says that Manifest will push three major plans in the future, namely “Inspiring Optimal State,” offering customized rewards to encourage users to continue managing their emotions; “Emotional Insights,” allowing AI to analyze emotions further and provide recommendations that meet users’ needs; and “Building a Dream Team,” helping users match with professional counseling psychologists, moving beyond reliance on AI alone.
References:
TechCrunch, PR Newswire, Yahoo Finance, Manifest, CNBC
