AI & ZKP-Based Mental Healthcare Platform - BridgingSpace

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Edet Ekpenyong

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Olawale Famoriyo

Clement Mendie

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

8

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

BridgingSpace proposes the development of a mental healthcare platform powered by the Cardano blockchain, AI and ZKPs for affected individuals in Africa.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All project outputs, including the platform's codebase, AI algorithms, and support tools, will not be released under open source licenses for the time being but this may change in the future.

[METADATA] SDG rating

The project aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

BridgingSpace will offer a range of features and services to support the mental health and well-being of individuals including:

• Personalized Support: Users will have access to personalized mental health assessments, resources, and support services tailored to their specific needs and challenges.

• Confidentiality and Privacy: The platform will leverage ZKPs to ensure user privacy and confidentiality, allowing individuals to seek help without fear of stigma or judgment.

• AI-Powered Insights: AI algorithms will analyze user data and provide insights into mental health trends and patterns, enabling proactive intervention and support.

• Community Support Groups: Users can join virtual support groups and communities to connect with peers, share experiences, and receive mutual support in a safe and understanding environment.

• Crisis Intervention: The platform will offer crisis intervention services, including access to trained counselors and mental health professionals, to provide immediate support during times of acute distress.

• Consensual Geo-Positioning Data: This will specifically function as community peer-to-peer advice, real support group therapy, experience sharing, and access to location-based resources, such as clinical psychiatrists, mental health resources, and other mental health services.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

BridgingSpace will have a positive impact on the wider Cardano community in several ways:

• Improved Well-being: By providing accessible and personalized mental health support, the platform will contribute to the overall well-being and resilience of affected individuals.

• Enhanced Productivity: Addressing mental health challenges and promoting self-care will help individuals maintain optimal productivity and performance in their roles.

• Affordable & Increased access to care: BridgingSpace therapy.ai when compared to traditional therapy providers, will provide affordable and seamless access for people to access mental health care, regardless of their income or location. 

• Reduced stigma: Stigma-related occurrences associated with mental health problems will be reduced by providing anonymity and making it more acceptable to seek help online. 

• Personalized care: Through NLP, ML, and RS, our platform can be used to personalize therapy to each individual's needs, thus leading to better outcomes. 

• Improved efficiency: AI technology will enhance the access-level efficiency of therapy platforms for therapy on the platform. 

• Sustainable Growth: By investing in the mental health and well-being of individuals, we will cultivate a sustainable and thriving community that can weather challenges and drive long-term growth and innovation.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Capability to Deliver with Trust and Accountability: BridgingSpace is committed to delivering the project with the highest levels of trust, accountability, and professionalism. Our team comprises experienced mental health professionals, blockchain developers, AI specialists, and community advocates with a proven track record of delivering successful projects within the Cardano ecosystem. We will prioritize user privacy, data security, and ethical considerations throughout the development and deployment process, ensuring that the platform meets the highest standards of confidentiality and trust.

Approach Validation: To validate the feasibility of our approach, we will conduct thorough research, engage with mental health experts and stakeholders within the Cardano community, and leverage pilot projects and prototypes to test and iterate on our solutions. Additionally, we will solicit feedback from users and stakeholders throughout the development process, incorporating their input to ensure that the platform effectively addresses their needs and concerns.

Furthermore, our prior submission, titled "Researching Zero-Knowledge Proofs in Blockchain Ecosystems for Enhanced Voting Transparency in Catalyst Voting Process: A Potential Application," secured funding and ranked third among proposals in fund 11, highlighting the community's strong interest in Zero-Knowledge Proofs within the Cardano Catalyst ecosystem. To date, we have not only met our objectives but have also surpassed expectations with our research methodology. You will find our project links and progress updates below:

https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/11/catalyst-systems-improvements-discovery/researching-zero-knowledge-proofs-in-blockchain-ecosystems-for-enhanced-voting-transparency-in-catalyst-voting-process-a-potential-application

https://www.lidonation.com/en/proposals/researching-zero-knowledge-proofs-in-blockchain-ecosystems-for-enhanced-voting-transparency-in-catalyst-voting-process-a-potential-application-f11

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Platform Development

A: Development of the core platform infrastructure, including blockchain integration, AI algorithms, and user interface.

B: The platform is functional, secure, and user-friendly, meeting specified design and technical requirements.

C: Codebase, documentation, and user interface are reviewed and approved by project stakeholders.

Milestone 2: Personalized Support Features

A: Implementation of personalized mental health assessments, resources, and support services.

B: Users can access personalized support based on their individual needs and challenges, with accurate and relevant recommendations.

C: Personalization features are tested and validated by mental health professionals and users for accuracy and effectiveness.

Milestone 3: Community Engagement Tools

A: Development of virtual support groups, forums, and community engagement features.

B: Users can join and participate in virtual support groups and communities, fostering connection and mutual support.

C: Community engagement features are tested and validated for usability, accessibility, and effectiveness in promoting community bonds.

Milestone 4: Crisis Intervention Services

A: Integration of crisis intervention services, including access to trained counselors and mental health professionals.

B: Users can access immediate support and intervention during times of acute distress or crisis.

C: Crisis intervention services are tested and validated for responsiveness, effectiveness, and user satisfaction.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

EDET EKPENYONG

Edet Ekpenyong(Biomedical Scientist, Public Health Expert, Tech-Preneur, ForbesBLK Member, and a Quantic EMBA grad) is the Founder and CEO of BridgingSpace Technologies Limited, an Ambassador of the Institute of Economics and Peace, Sydney, Australia, and a Fellow of President Obama's Signature Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). He has a wealth of experience in managing diverse projects across different themes, having served in a variety of roles, including Co-Director, Manager, and Consultant, in both community-based and international organizations. He is a visionary, design-thinker, and global think tank. Edet also has extensive training in Leadership and Management in Health, Global Mental Health, Project Management in Global Health, and Governance and Human Resources for Health.

Through BridgingSpace, Edet has achieved landslide success; becoming a semi-finalist in several multi-national incubator and accelerator programs, including Mass Challenge (Boston), Bridge to Mass Challenge (Nigeria), VC4A Mentor Driven Capital, Social Innovators Program and Awards by LEAP Africa, Africa vs Virus Challenge, MIT Challenge, Alibaba GET Challenge, and Ignite Africa challenge. BridgingSpace was selected as one of the 30 Most Inspiring Digital Innovations of 2020 by Spindle, the innovation platform of Partos, represented Nigeria (NITDA) in the GITEX Future Stars Showcase at Dubai World Trade Center in 2021 and the TotalEnergies StartUpper 2022. Edet is a highly accomplished and experienced leader in the fields of global health and technology and has been consistently recognized for his innovative work by top organizations around the world.

CLEMENT MENDIE

As the Chief product designer for BridgingSpace therapy.ai, Clement has a proven track record across diverse tech industries, encompassing B2B and B2C products. Leveraging years of expertise and leading the creation of innovative solutions that cater to user needs while driving business growth. Actively mentors by sharing insights as an entrepreneurial coach on air, empowering others to navigate the dynamic world of technology. With a work ethic that reflects a commitment to excellence, both in crafting exceptional products and mentoring aspiring tech entrepreneurs.

OLAWALE FAMORIYO

Olawale is the Founder and CEO of Kcreave, an on-demand food delivery network for chefs, where I have honed my skills in WordPress, WooCommerce Elementor, and Marketing to build and grow the company. Also served as the Co-Founder and CTO of Cheda Gaming, a web platform for hosting, streaming, and earning from online tournaments for gamers. He hasexpertise in React.js, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and UI/UX. I'm also serving as the CMO/CTO of BridgingSpace, an online platform for mental health services. I have a strong background in B2C Marketing, Product Development, Content Marketing, and Marketing Strategy. Olawale has led several other ventures including pVisz, a branding, and marketing agency, and Birthe, an event management company. He diversified into front-end development, UI/UX, business strategy, marketing, writing, and advertising and authored a book, Identifying Your Business Models that helped startup founders pivot into a sustainable model that scales.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Cost Breakdown:

• Platform Development: ₳50,000
• Personalized Support Features: ₳40,000
• Community Engagement Tools: ₳35,000
• Crisis Intervention Services: ₳25,000

Grand Total: : ₳150,000

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

• Cost-effectiveness: The project offers a cost-effective solution for mental healthcare in Africa by leveraging AI and zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, minimizing the need for expensive traditional therapy sessions.

• Scale: With its AI-driven approach, the platform can reach a large number of users simultaneously, maximizing the impact for the investment made.

• Accessibility: By being based on Cardano, the platform can potentially reach underserved populations in Africa who may not have access to traditional mental healthcare services, thus providing value for money by addressing a significant need.

• Scalability: The project's use of Cardano's blockchain technology ensures scalability, meaning the platform can grow and adapt to increasing demand without significant additional costs.

• Efficiency: By automating certain aspects of mental healthcare through AI, the platform reduces the need for human intervention, making the process more efficient and cost-effective in the long run.

• Long-term benefits: Investing in mental healthcare now can lead to long-term benefits for individuals, communities, and economies by addressing mental health issues early and preventing more costly interventions later on.

• Innovation: The project represents an innovative approach to mental healthcare in Africa, utilizing cutting-edge technology like AI and ZKP to provide value for money by offering a unique solution to a pressing societal issue.