Imagine a company that started by producing content on social media and ended up becoming a reference in online therapy in Brazil. It sounds like fiction, but this is the real story of Eurekka.
Founded in 2016 by three psychologists, Eurekka revolutionized the mental health market by simplifying access to therapies and making psychology more practical and closer to people.
In this article, we will dive into the fascinating success story of Eurekka. We will see how it all began, the main milestones of its trajectory, and the innovations that made it a leader in its sector.
We will talk about the use of technology, the franchise model, expertise in artificial intelligence, and bold plans for the future. You will discover how Eurekka is transforming the way we care for the mind!
So join us on this journey through the history and differentiators of a healthtech that is much more than just an online therapy company. Eurekka is an inspiration for all who dream of making a positive impact on people’s lives.
Origin and initial idea of Eurekka
Eurekka was born in 2016 from the desire of three newly graduated psychologists to make psychology more practical and accessible to the general public.
Julio Frota, Luiz Rodrigues, and Henrique Santos de Souza met at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and shared the vision that the psychology taught in universities was too theoretical and distant from people’s realities.
They saw the opportunity to use the internet and social media to disseminate psychological techniques in a simple and uncomplicated way. They started by producing explanatory content in text, image, and video.
The goal was to teach the lay public how to deal with issues such as anxiety crises, depression, relationship problems, among other everyday dilemmas that could be supported with psychological tools.
The idea worked so well that some of the first published content quickly went viral. It became clear to the founding partners that they had found a latent need from the public for practical and understandable psychology.
This was the starting point for what would become a revolution in the field, led by Eurekka.
One of the main strategies of Eurekka that boosted its initial growth was the constant production of content about psychology in a simple and accessible language.
The healthtech heavily invested in attractive formats on social media, including short videos on YouTube, infographics on Instagram, and explanatory texts on Facebook.
Among the successful content are videos about signs of depression and anxiety, infographics on suicide prevention, and texts simplifying concepts like mindfulness and emotional intelligence.
This strategy allowed Eurekka to create a cohesive digital community, formed by more than 900,000 followers interested in practical psychology. Engagement was so high that the company achieved 70 million views in a short time.
By simplifying access to relevant information about mental health, the healthtech positioned itself as a reference on the topic. This opened the doors for the creation of a complete online psychological care platform.
Transformation into an online therapy platform
With a large engaged digital community, Eurekka decided to take the next step: transform into an online therapy platform, allowing people not only to consume content but also to receive psychological treatment.
The first service launched was virtual consultations with carefully selected psychologists. Then came psychiatrists, other health specialists, nutritionists, and personal trainers.
Currently, Eurekka has a wide range of professionals who provide online care via video call. There are 8 medical specialties and various categories of therapists with different experiences and values.
In addition to individual consultations, users can opt for complete online therapy programs, with frequent follow-up over months to resolve emotional and behavioral issues.
Another differentiator is the possibility of purchasing care packages, in a subscription model. In this way, Eurekka has established itself as a kind of “Netflix of therapy,” democratizing access to mind care.
Franchise model for national expansion
To scale its geographic reach, Eurekka implemented a franchise model aimed at psychologists across Brazil.
In the system, the professional becomes an “Eurekka therapist” in their own office, receiving training, supervision, and software from the company, in addition to patient referrals through the platform.
Currently, there are about 60 Eurekka franchisees distributed throughout the country. The plan is to reach 200 units, enabling the care of more than 5,000 patients per week in an online therapy regime.
The franchises are classified into levels (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced), according to the psychologist’s previous experience and the time of partnership with Eurekka. This allows offering services in various price ranges.
This innovative model was essential to bring Eurekka’s mental health care to all corners of Brazil, benefiting thousands of people with quality therapy.
Differentials of Eurekka’s service
In addition to the online platform and the franchise system, other strengths of Eurekka are in the specialized care it offers.
The company has a multidisciplinary team from the main health areas, enabling integrated diagnoses and treatments for a wide range of emotional and psychological problems.
Another important differential is the expertise in using techniques based on proven scientific evidence, such as CBT, DBT, and mindfulness. This ensures the effectiveness of the work performed.
Added to this is the use of innovative technologies during sessions, such as virtual reality for treating phobias and exposure to anxiety-inducing stimuli.
Finally, Eurekka stands out for its commitment to the continuous training of its team. Constant training and supervision are offered to therapists, aiming to maintain excellence standards in care.
These are some of the factors that have positioned the company as a leader in mental health care in the online therapy segment in Brazil.
Use of artificial intelligence to enhance the service
Unlike other healthtechs, Eurekka has strongly invested in the use of artificial intelligence since its foundation to enhance and personalize care.
The company was a pioneer in creating a chatbot on Facebook capable of providing basic emotional support and referring users in crisis to services like CVV.
Currently, Eurekka is migrating this technology into its app, allowing even more advanced conversations closer to the human experience.
Moreover, AI is applied in the backend of the platform, optimizing the matching between patients and the most suitable professionals based on each one’s profile and demand.
There are also projects under development to use machine learning for early detection of psychological problems and to assist therapists’ decision-making.
This pioneering use of AI is positioning Eurekka at the forefront of innovation in digital mental health.
Focus on corporate well-being
Although it is best known for direct consumer service, Eurekka is also expanding its operations in the corporate segment, focusing on corporate well-being.
The healthtech offers personalized services to help companies take care of the mental health and quality of life of their employees.
The portfolio includes lectures, workshops, mental health diagnostics for teams, the construction of relaxation spaces, online consultations for employees, and personal and professional development tracks.
This line of action is strategic, as stress levels and psychological problems are increasing in corporate environments. By supporting companies in this theme, Eurekka expands its impact on society.
Once again, we are facing a startup that identified a latent market demand and knew how to use its expertise to meet it with excellence.
Prospects and future plans of the company
After achieving a prominent position in the online therapy segment, what are Eurekka’s next steps?
The company has ambitious expansion plans for the coming years, focusing on increasing access to its services.
An important front is to increase the number of franchises in metropolitan regions of Brazil, further decentralizing care.
Another strategic goal is to develop new digital products in the mental health area, such as online courses, apps, and on-demand content.
Eurekka also intends to establish itself as a reference in terms of data generation and research in mental health, producing valuable insights for patients and professionals.
These initiatives show that the company will not stop here. We will continue to observe this digital transformation case that has already improved the lives of thousands of people and still promises to revolutionize much more.
Conclusion
In this article, we were able to understand how Eurekka revolutionized the world of online therapy with innovative strategies and a focus on positive social impact.
Besides digital therapy, the company has contributed to disseminating the ethical and scientific use of clinical hypnosis. Its partnership with the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis (SBH) has been essential to integrate this important tool into mental health care.
When performed by properly qualified professionals, hypnosis enhances psychological treatments, bringing proven benefits to various conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
Therefore, by combining the advantages of online therapy with cutting-edge scientific hypnosis techniques, Eurekka is bringing more safety, convenience, and efficiency to mind care.
Are you interested in learning scientific hypnosis to apply professionally? To enhance your results in your current profession or even have a new profession? Check out the evidence-based hypnosis training and postgraduate courses from the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis through the link: https://www.hipnose.com.br/cursos/
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Eurekka come about?
Eurekka was founded in 2016 by three psychologists with the aim of simplifying access to psychology knowledge through online educational content.
What is Eurekka’s differential?
Eurekka’s great differential is producing high-quality psychology content, but in a simple and engaging language, bringing the topic closer to the general public.
How did Eurekka become a reference in online therapy?
By creating a digital community interested in mental health, Eurekka naturally took the step of also offering online therapy, with carefully selected professionals.
How does Eurekka manage to serve patients all over Brazil?
Through a franchise model, which allows psychologists to become Eurekka therapists in their own cities, with the brand’s support.
What are the company’s future growth plans?
The plans include increasing the number of franchises, launching new digital products, and consolidating as a reference in research and data on mental health.
