Problem

Koko addresses the youth mental-health crisis, particularly the gap between widespread distress and limited access to help. Young people face school stress, social pressure, and other challenges, while many do not seek support because they do not know where to go or are afraid to ask. The access problem is substantial: CDC data cited in the research shows that only 20% of adolescents reported receiving mental-health therapy, while 20% reported unmet mental-health-care needs.

The killer use case is a young person expressing distress on a social or other online platform and needing immediate, low-friction support rather than waiting for a conventional appointment. Koko is designed to meet that person in context, including when content may indicate elevated risk, and connect them with peer support, self-help resources, or crisis services.

Product / Service

Koko is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, evidence-based digital mental-health support on platforms young people already use. Its model combines peer-to-peer encouragement with evidence-based tools and single-session interventions. Users can access support through platform integrations, advertising or direct targeting, and some services directly through Getsupport.org; Koko also works with partner organizations such as schools.

AI supports the delivery model rather than replacing the support system: Koko uses AI and an adaptive keyword engine to identify high-risk content, moderate conversations, and guide users toward services suited to their needs. The benefit is scalable, immediate support with no paywall at the point of use, while the organization's research base includes more than eight peer-reviewed publications and three randomized controlled trials. Koko reports that 88% of users find its service helpful, alongside improvements in hopefulness, body image, and suicidal ideation measures.

Market

Koko competes in digital mental health, youth mental-health support, and peer-support services, with a differentiated platform-embedded and nonprofit distribution model. Its closest adjacent alternatives include services such as 7 Cups, which offers free mental-health community support alongside professional therapy and emotional support. Koko's distinction is its emphasis on reaching young people inside existing social and digital environments, using peer support and evidence-based interventions rather than relying primarily on a standalone therapy app.

Koko has meaningful operating traction rather than being pre-revenue in the ordinary sense. Its official site says it has reached more than 6 million users, and it reports partnerships with major digital platforms, including historical integrations with Tumblr and Pinterest. More recently, Koko's interventions became available to Closegap partner schools for the 2025–26 school year. A nonprofit profile for Koko Ai Inc. reports $1.57 million in revenue, 96.8% of it from contributions in the reported fiscal year, indicating a donation- and grant-supported nonprofit model rather than established commercial subscription revenue.