Tuhoon

Tuhoon is a specialized digital health company targeting the mental wellness market within the Arab world. The Riyadh-based firm was established in June 2021 by co-founders Fares Ghandour, clinical psychologist Dr. Naif Almutawa, and software engineer Aymane Sennoussi. Ghandour's personal mental health journey inspired the venture, revealing a market gap for high-quality, culturally-relevant mental healthcare in local Gulf dialects.

The company's core offering is a mobile application, launched in March 2022, that functions as a self-help toolkit focused on prevalent issues like stress and sleep. This platform delivers a range of audio content specifically in the Khaleeji dialect, which includes guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, hypnotherapy sessions, sleep stories, and instructional programs based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This content is developed and curated by a network of certified psychologists, therapists, and mindfulness coaches from the region to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance.

Tuhoon operates on a subscription-based business model, generating revenue from both individual users and corporate clients. An annual subscription for individual users is priced at approximately $40. For businesses, the company provides a suite of corporate wellness solutions, including employee mental health assessments, workshops, and tailored content recommendations, designed to improve productivity and engagement. The firm is also expanding its service delivery model by venturing into hybrid care, with plans to open physical psychology and counseling clinics that offer both in-person and virtual appointments.

To date, Tuhoon has secured $2.5 million in a seed funding round. This capital was raised through a combination of self-funding, angel investment, and backing from venture capital firms including Wamda and Nuwa Capital. The funds are allocated towards content creation, technology development, and talent acquisition to support its growth and expansion plans, which include establishing a network of clinics primarily in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: mental wellness, Arab world, digital health, mobile application, mental health app, Khaleeji dialect, stress management, sleep improvement, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, guided meditation, corporate wellness, employee assistance, subscription model, hybrid healthcare, venture capital, Riyadh startup, Fares Ghandour, Naif Almutawa, Aymane Sennoussi, telehealth