Technology that feels. InNovoVR is transforming access to emotional support

Health is not just about physical issues. In this edition of Healthtech of the Week, we take a closer look at Polish startup InNovoVR, which is tackling the growing global mental health crisis. The company presents an innovative approach to first-line emotional support, combining advanced artificial intelligence with clinical psychology. Its flagship product, Virtual Buddy, aligns with the rising trend of using AI in the medtech sector, offering a structured, ethical, and safe solution to a problem that now affects over one billion people worldwide.

InNovoVR wasn’t born by chance. Its founders saw emotional struggles in their immediate surroundings and in their own experiences. Barriers to accessing psychological support—long wait times, high costs, and limited availability of specialists—have become a global challenge, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a 25% increase in anxiety and depression diagnoses.

The company paid particular attention to workplace environments. As many as 37% of European employees suffer from burnout, and one in three experience chronic stress. The situation among adolescents is also alarming, with mental health issues often arising during puberty. Faced with these realities, the startup team set out to create a tool that democratizes access to emotional support, moving beyond the limitations of the traditional mental health care model.

Not just another chatbot

Virtual Buddy is a digital emotional coach that merges AI algorithmic precision with clinical psychological expertise. Built on a nine-step process, the system guides users through a structured path—from identifying problems and related emotions to analyzing needs and developing actionable strategies.

Unlike common chatbots, which often operate through unstructured conversation and generic language models, Virtual Buddy runs within a closed-loop interaction architecture. Each session has a clearly defined beginning and end, minimizing the risk of excessive technological attachment and ensuring user safety, especially critical for those experiencing psychological crises.

– We are fully aware of the responsibility we carry. This is an extremely sensitive area where mistakes can have serious consequences – emphasizes Michał Jędrzejewski, the startup’s CEO. – That’s why every stage of development will be validated and tested based on science, not just promises.

One of the biggest challenges in developing AI-based mental health tools is responsibility. InNovoVR distances itself from unverified solutions that may generate so-called „AI hallucinations.” As the creators stress, seemingly logical but incorrect responses can worsen mental health problems.

The development of Virtual Buddy involved scientific validation, collaboration with psychologists and ethicists, and limiting the system’s scope to supportive rather than therapeutic roles. The AI models used in the app were trained on specialized datasets and passed internal testing aligned with clinical practices. The system also includes ethical safeguards and contextual emotional processing. It not only recognizes words but understands their emotional and situational context, setting it apart from many commercial tools that often lack quality control mechanisms.

AI as a partner in healthcare, not a competitor

The creators of InNovoVR argue that technology not only can but must play a key role in addressing the mental health crisis. The traditional care model, while essential, cannot meet growing societal demands alone due to staff shortages, long wait times, and high costs. In this context, Virtual Buddy acts as “emotional first aid”—available instantly, anonymously, and without stigma, even at times when a therapist is unavailable.

The team sees particular use cases in high-risk professional environments, including healthcare, where studies show that 70% of staff experience severe stress symptoms, and 15% have had suicidal thoughts in the past month. A tool like Virtual Buddy can become a crucial element of systemic support for these workers, increasing accessibility to help without requiring them to overcome barriers of shame or fear of judgment.

First-contact medtech

After completing the testing phase and launching the first product version, InNovoVR is pursuing a dual-track development strategy. On one hand, an improved Virtual Buddy 1.5 is underway, with version 2.0 scheduled for release later this year. On the other hand, the company is preparing a more advanced system designed to support therapeutic processes from a technological standpoint and enter the broader medtech space.

New solutions will be developed in close cooperation with the academic community, ensuring full compliance with ethical and clinical standards. The company also plans to begin international expansion. Thanks to its modular architecture and linguistic adaptability, the system can be localized for new markets within just a month. Following successful visits to Canada and China, the next target is Japan and the launch of a subsidiary outside of Poland.

Technology in the service of humanity

During our Healthtech of the Week editorial meeting, we asked ourselves: Does this mean traditional psychological therapy is becoming obsolete, given AI’s ability to meet mental health challenges? Michał Jędrzejewski’s answer put our doubts to rest.

– We don’t aim to replace therapists – stresses the founder of InNovoVR. – Our goal is to provide access to the first step in the support process for those currently excluded from the traditional system. Technology can be a barrier, but it can also be a bridge. We want it to be the latter.

In a world where mental health issues have become the epidemic of the 21st century, InNovoVR offers a technological response built on a foundation of science, ethics, and empathy. By bringing Polish engineering to the global conversation about the future of mental health care, the startup not only redefines accessibility but also demonstrates that innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility.

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Stay tuned for more in the “Health Tech of the Week” series, where we’ll continue to uncover fascinating stories from the world of medical technologies that are changing the face of healthcare. If you’re working on an innovative project in the field of new technologies and medicine or want to recommend an interesting solution, contact us at: [email protected].