The Project Incubator
Effective Mental Health is running an 8-week project incubator for builders interested in launching initiatives in the global mental health and scope-sensitive well-being space.
This virtual program is designed for individuals with early-stage ideas, research projects, or startup concepts looking to develop their initiatives and build foundational resources.
- January 25 – March 218 weeks, plus an optional extension for top projects
- Virtualweekly facilitated meetings
- ~10 hours per weekincluding a 2-hour discussion
- Free of chargespots are limited
Want to help promising fellows transform the global mental health landscape? Submit a facilitator interest form!
What you'll get
Weekly synchronous, facilitated meetings to receive feedback and collaboration from your cohort
Connection and support from fellow builders passionate about launching their ideas
A curated learning curriculum centered on foundational deliverables, strategic frameworks, early prototypes
Your idea can be a business, charity, association, research project, or something else, at any stage from ideation to scaling up. If your teammates want to participate with you, tell us in your application.
Program details
- Dates
January 25 – March 21, 2027
After the 8 weeks, selected projects will be invited to join an optional follow-on where they will receive even more personalized mentorship.
- Time commitment
- ~10 hours per week, including a project work, a 2-hour meeting, and reviewing/providing feedback on your cohorts' projects and progress.
- Cost
- Program participation is free of charge.
- Applying
- Applications are opening soon! Spots are limited and acceptance may be competitive.
Applications opening soon!
Some project areas we're excited about
We expect that there will be important "paradigm shifts" and approaches that could unlock radically improved quality and scalability in mental health interventions. Examples, not limits:
Training lay therapists
Scaling proven therapies by training non-specialists to deliver them.
AI-assisted therapies
Including research on AI therapy: sharing what's effective or not and how to monitor it, and recommendations for scaling to people in need.
New substance-based treatments
New treatments that could change what's possible in mental healthcare.
Policy shifts
Including effective ways to present a project so it aligns with governments' mandates and needs.
LMIC mental health
As little as 4% of people with mental illness in low-income countries receive treatment.
Better data collection
Better data on what works, for whom, and at what cost.
MEL support
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning support, which could also help non-EA mental health orgs become more EA.
Helping therapists measure their impact
Resources for therapists to effectively measure their impact (this is not a standard thing even in high-income countries).
FAQ
What's the time commitment?
~10 hours per week, including project work, a 2-hour meeting, and reviewing/providing feedback on your cohorts' projects and progress. Please only apply if you can realistically commit to this for the duration of the program.
Do I need to have an idea already?
It helps to come in with an idea in mind, but you don't have to.
What kinds of projects can apply?
We are open to a wide range of projects, including research, startups, writing, direct interventions, and more. Applicants can be individuals or teams.
Can my team members join?
Yes! If any of your team members want to participate in the incubator with you, share their names and emails in your application.
How much does it cost?
Program participation is free of charge. Spots are limited and acceptance may be competitive.
Have other questions? Ask them in the Q&A thread on our EA Forum post.
Please share this with anyone who might be interested!