Czech startup Elin.ai, focused on using AI to protect teenagers and young adults on social media and enhance their digital well-being, has raised €1M in a pre-seed funding round.
€420K of this funding amount came from JSK Investments, led by Czech entrepreneur and investor Simona Kijonkova.
A strategic investment
JSK Investments supports Elin.ai with financial backing and strategic connections to key partners, aiming to accelerate growth and international expansion.
Joining Presto Ventures and BD Partners, who invested earlier in 2024, JSK’s involvement closes the €1M pre-seed funding round.
Elin.ai has already attracted over 2,000 users with strong weekly retention and aims to reach 5,000 active users by year-end. Its MVP version of the app launched in October on Android and iOS.
The startup plans to expand into foreign markets and develop AI models addressing issues like eating disorders, anxiety, and conspiracy theories.
Simona Kijonkova, says, “The mental health of young people is in a state of crisis. Studies show that up to 40 per cent of European teenagers suffer from depression or anxiety linked to the impact of social media, with devastating effects on their psychological wellbeing and development.”
“At the same time, access to therapeutic and psychiatric care is severely limited in many countries, including the Czech Republic. Alarmingly, for the first time in history, the suicide rates are higher among young people than among middle-aged adults, underscoring the urgent need to address this issue.”
“That’s why I see Elin.ai as a vital project. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the platform offers an accessible solution, providing not only immediate and personalised support but also prevention and long-term care – areas we cannot overlook,” adds Kijonkova.
Kijonkova founded Zasilkovna in 2010, growing it into the Packeta Group, a tech and logistics company operating in seven European countries. In 2024, she sold Packeta in a landmark post-Soviet business exit. Through her investment company, JSK, Kijonkova now focuses on supporting socially impactful projects with global market potential.
Capital utilisation
The funds will support the development of Elin.ai’s mobile app, aimed at improving the mental health of Generation Z.
Jan Romportl, CEO and co-founder of Elin.ai, says, “Our mission is to help young people cope with immediate stress and foster long-term positive mental health in the digital media environment.”
“The investment from JSK allows us to expand the app to international markets and enhance our AI models to address a broader range of mental health challenges faced by Gen Z.”
Improving mental health
A McKinsey Health Institute study shows that 20 per cent of Europe’s Gen Z rate their mental health as poor or very poor, while the National Institute of Mental Health reports that 40 per cent of ninth graders face depression and 30 per cent experience anxiety, highlighting the need for mental well-being initiatives.
This is where Elin.ai looks to make a difference.
Elin.ai is a mobile app designed as a “cognitive antivirus” to help young people manage challenges like social media pressures, cyberbullying, and comparison. It analyses device screenshots and offers personalised advice and tools to address anxiety, stress, and negative thoughts.
The company partners with psychiatrists to create AI models that offer 24/7 individualised support for issues like depression, anxiety, loneliness, and eating disorders. The app focuses on prevention, crisis management, and long-term well-being through a chat-based interface.
Professor Jiri Horacek, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Elin.ai, says, “Behind every individual struggling with mental health issues lies a broader societal challenge. People with mental health disorders often experience feelings of helplessness and frustration, which can lead to radicalisation, extremist views, or susceptibility to conspiracy theories.”
“Supporting mental health is key to individual wellbeing and for improving the overall societal climate.”
Brief about JSK Investments
JSK Investments, founded in 2017 by Simona and Jaromír Kijonka, focuses on direct equity investments in Czech and European companies, emphasising growth through entrepreneurial experience. The group prioritises investments with positive societal impact.
JSK’s portfolio includes companies like Alensa, a European retailer of contact lenses, and previously Packeta, a logistics-tech company that achieved international success before its 2024 exit.
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