Shaping the global tech shift in mental health. Interview with DŌBRA, a Lithuanian venture studio

A Vilnius-based digital mental health venture studio DŌBRA has recently completed over 60,000 sessions across its startups. The company helps develop innovative solutions like Bear Room, Magic Mirror, and Food for Mood to address mental wellbeing needs in underserved healthcare markets.

The impact of the company is timely, as stress becomes a more and more common issue due to geopolitical and economic situations around the world. AIN talked to DŌBRA’s team to learn more details about the way it operates, its mission, and future plans.

Explain to our readers how DŌBRA venture builder operates?

The core idea behind DŌBRA studio is to create startups that are properly cooked and ready for the VC market. We center all our efforts and processes on this goal.

• First, we put a lot of focus on validating ideas. Before launching the studio and first bunch, we did a large-scale research, analyzing media, patents, venture deals, and more to pinpoint the right theme (but we call it an issue). While some might think focusing on mental wellbeing is obvious, we believe in making decisions based on solid data. It’s essential for us to fully understand the domain and market to ensure our projects are both in demand and economically sustainable.
• Second, DŌBRA’s core-team acts as a seasoned co-founder with day-to-day operations, as well as handling things like hiring, legal, marketing, finding advisors, and etc. Such an approach allows the startup teams to focus only on the product. We share resources like designers and developers across projects, which cuts our burn rate by nearly half compared to traditional startups. This model lowers risks and helps prevent burnout, as team members don’t need to worry about things outside their core roles.
• Third, we take a data-driven approach. We use data analytics to decide on the studio’s issues and the focus of each bunch. Right now, we’re applying data in two main areas: using synthetic data where it’s effective (like auto generating scenarios and collecting data from real users online) and analyzing trends in app stores, mental health investments, and more.
• Fourth, we work iteratively. We quickly prototype ideas, validate them, and use data to grow the most promising ones. This approach lets us manage resources efficiently and keeps us focused on key metrics like user retention, engagement, and product impact. It also helps our projects adapt to user needs right from the start.

Flexibility is also a big part of our model. If a project isn’t meeting key metrics, we pause or fully stop it as part of our process. Instead of disbanding teams, we relocate them to other projects, making sure we keep their skills and domain experience within the studio. This way, we make the most of our human resources and keep expertise within our ecosystem.

What are your main criteria for selecting a good founder with a promising solution?

We look for relevant track records, enthusiasm and ability to handle issues that have not been handled before. For example, the product owner of Magic Mirror has launched around 30 tech solutions, including ones in health and mental wellness, in both the U.S. and EU markets. Bear Room’s product owner has led projects with 7+ developer teams (100+ employees) and has run her own mental health startup. We’re incredibly proud of our product owners and their dedication to driving our ventures forward.

DŌBRA focuses on the underserved mental health market. Why did you decide to focus your venture builder on this sector?

We’re not interested in short-term trends or superficial products. Mental health offers a real chance to make a lasting positive impact, so we chose it after careful research. There’s high demand for mental wellbeing solutions, with nearly 6,500 funding rounds recorded recently, showing the sector’s resilience and potential for growth. 

The mental health market is huge and still expanding (TAM > 100B$, CAGR 15,4%), driven by rising awareness and the need for accessible mental health services worldwide. Investors see this as a great time to invest in companies addressing unmet needs, especially with the sector evolving through AI, personalized care, and integrated platforms.

Can you tell us about specific challenges you’ve encountered in this market, particularly in the CEE region?

In the CEE region, stigma around mental health is certainly a challenge, but it’s only part of the picture. Financial barriers and the lower prioritization of mental health compared to physical health create additional obstacles. Economic conditions often mean that people have less disposable income to spend on mental health services. 

In many cases, governments and employers place more emphasis on immediate physical health concerns, and mental health care takes a back seat. This limited prioritization is evident in both public policies and corporate wellness programs, where mental health initiatives are less common than in Western Europe​

Because of this, overall demand for mental health solutions in the CEE region is lower, driven by both financial constraints and the perception that mental health is not as urgent.

To address these challenges, we focus on designing accessible, user-friendly products that align with the cultural nuances of the region.

By creating solutions that meet people where they are, we aim to gradually shift perceptions and encourage broader engagement with mental health tools, despite the current lower prioritization and financial barriers.​

Based on your portfolio and experience, how do DŌBRA’s solutions address these challenges differently from existing mental health tools?

Our approach allows us to quickly iterate and deliver tailored, impactful solutions. For instance, Bear Room tackles work-related stress, which affects a large percentage of EU workers. Unlike other apps focused on long-term prevention, Bear Room offers scientifically backed instant relief techniques that help users regain calm quickly. Food for Mood addresses anxiety and depression among young professionals with simple, nutrition-based strategies. We found that only 21% of those with mental health issues understand the gut-brain connection, so Food for Mood provides accessible dietary shifts that help manage mood and mental clarity. Magic Mirror, designed for busy female managers, addresses cognitive overload and isolation. With decision fatigue on the rise, Magic Mirror uses AI and science-based profiling to help users reduce stress and improve their well-being.

What kind of partnerships are you exploring with retailers, enterprises, and organizations to scale your impact, especially in the CEE region?

We’re actively exploring partnerships that align with each app’s unique focus. For example, Food for Mood has huge potential for collaboration with health food and supplement retailers, allowing users to make mental wellbeing part of their daily routine through targeted product recommendations. 

For Bear Room and Magic Mirror, we’re pursuing corporate well-being and wellness partnerships that could help companies support their employees’ well-being and boost productivity. Additionally, collaboration with educational institutions could offer an opportunity for Bear Room and Food for Mood to help students manage stress and understand the link between diet and mental well-being. 

Looking ahead, are there any new areas of healthcare DŌBRA plans to explore in future projects?

We have several projects in our Pipeline from adjacent markets. This allows us to expand our topics and reuse our accumulated expertise. For example, very soon we will launch a beta-testing product to support parents of teenagers. This is a large underserved audience. Also we’re interested in exploring age-specific well-being. It could include age-targeted sleep interventions, which impact mental health across all life stages, and lifestyle solutions for preventing chronic diseases that benefit older adults. By broadening our scope to include these interconnected areas, we aim to make a bigger impact on overall well-being and address the diverse health needs of people across all ages.