Online psychological counselling during a pandemic – the winning business idea of Start-up Weekend Moldova 2020

The objective was to create a business in 54 hours, and now they are ready to deliver solutions suitable to the new reality generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Respiro project, which aims to provide free online psychological assistance to Moldovans abroad, is the winner of “Start-up Weekend Moldova 2020”. 

This year’s edition took place online, in a context in which the digitalisation of entrepreneurship becomes a vital trend for post-pandemic survival.

Respiro is a platform that aims to offer free psychological counselling, in an online format, through secure video chats. Thus, the discussions between the psychologist and the client will take place in a secure environment, offering maximum confidentiality. The service offered by Respiro can be accessed in Romanian and Russian and is addressed, in particular, to Moldovans abroad.

Behind the idea of ​​Respiro are 3 young enthusiasts – psychologist Ana Niculaes, developer Alex Vulpea, and marketing specialist Ion Ceban. To implement the project idea, 48 psychologists have expressed their willingness to offer free online consultations, and about 20 people in the diaspora (UK, France, Spain, Italy, Canada) have already shown interest in testing the services. 

This year’s edition of Start-up Weekend Moldova was organised with the support of USAID and the Government of Sweden, within the TEKWILL Project, which contributes to creating opportunities for entrepreneurship development in Moldova, in partnership with Dreamups, Generator Hub and Cawsay Show.

Press release