From High School Dropout to Mental Health CEO: One Young Entrepreneur’s Journey to Helping Millions
Theodoric Chew, a 28-year-old entrepreneur, has built a multi-million dollar mental health startup, Intellect, that’s impacting lives across 12 countries. But Chew’s story isn’t just about success—it’s about personal struggle turned into a mission to help others. Plagued by panic attacks and an anxiety disorder since his teenage years, Chew’s own experience fueled his desire to address the underserved mental health needs in Asia.
Key Takeaways:
- Personal struggle fuels entrepreneurial success: Chew’s own struggles with mental health inspired him to found Intellect, a "hyperlocal" mental health care platform.
- Breaking down stigma: Intellect tackles the stigma surrounding mental health in Asia, offering a range of services from self-care programs to clinician consultations and in-person clinics.
- A global leader in mental health care: Intellect aims to be the "global leader in hyperlocal mental health care," expanding beyond Asia to reach a wider audience.
- Building a company, not just an app: Intellect emphasizes a holistic approach to mental health, transcending the typical app-based model to offer comprehensive support.
From Dropout to Startup Founder
Chew didn’t follow the traditional path to success. At 16, he dropped out of Raffles Institution, a prestigious school in Singapore, to pursue his own ventures. He was already experimenting with internet businesses, from drop-shipping to ad arbitrage, demonstrating a keen entrepreneurial spirit.
"Looking long term, I really didn’t see myself going the path of… being a top student, going to a top university, or being a top lawyer or doctor," Chew explained. "For me, it’s by actually working in startups rather than, you know, the theory of it."
Chew’s early ventures led to successes, culminating in the creation and subsequent sale of Existgreat, a self-help content platform featuring interviews with figures like Gary Vaynerchuk. This early success provided invaluable experience, fueling his drive to continue building.
Driven by a Personal Mission
Chew’s journey took a personal turn when a panic attack at age 16 led to a diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This experience resonated with a growing awareness of the mental health crisis in Asia.
The World Health Organization reports that nearly one billion people globally live with mental health conditions, with a significant portion residing in Southeast Asia. Further, Aon research highlights the prevalence of mental health risk for workers in the region, indicating a vast need for accessible and comprehensive support.
"For me, a few things were starting to piece together," Chew said. "It’s not news that Asia has one of the highest mental health crisis rates, but stigma is super strong."
He observed that many Asians, due to cultural factors, are hesitant to discuss their mental health openly. This, combined with a lack of maturity in the mental health-care market, created a perfect storm of need and limited resources.
Chew saw a parallel in his own friends’ struggles with mental health, motivating him to address the gap. "There was ‘quite practically very little to no innovation happening in the mental health space in Asia’ at that time," he added. "Not a lot has been done, but the issues are very real. So, that gave us a very good starting point: how do we address this issue of helping people to get started?"
This was the dawn of Intellect.
Overcoming Challenges
Chew acknowledges the early days of Intellect required a "bit of delusion," but it was balanced by his "naive ambition" and a profound self-awareness. He identified his strengths and weaknesses, leading him to build a strong team, outsourcing specific skills to seasoned professionals.
"As a founder, particularly a young founder, you need to be very aware of where you’re not good at, rather than where you’re good at, and be open minded to learn," he said. "Our entire executive team is much more experienced and senior than I am."
This approach, coupled with his innate desire to build and experiment, has been crucial to Intellect’s success. But Chew emphasizes the importance of embracing challenges.
"I think [expecting] that to be part of the journey is also a very important thing," he said. "It never gets super straightforward or easy for anyone, so there’s always that inertia to overcome."
Shaping the Future of Mental Health Care
Intellect has served over 3 million people since its founding in 2019. Chew’s ambitions are even larger; he envisions Intellect as a global leader in hyperlocal mental health care, expanding beyond Asia to reach a wider audience.
"The journey has been very exciting and rewarding… I didn’t even expect how quickly we could actually serve a very glaring need," he said.
Chew acknowledges the challenges of balancing work and mental health as a founder, emphasizing the importance of compartmentalization and "parking work at work." He prioritizes his own personal downtime to maintain a healthy balance and ensure long-term sustainability.
Theodoric Chew’s story is a testament to the power of personal experience driving entrepreneurial passion. By turning his own struggles into a mission to help others, he has built a company addressing a critical need in the mental health space. Intellect’s journey is a reminder that innovation often springs from the desire to create positive change in the world, stemming from authentic and deeply personal experiences.
