About you
Hello changemaker. We’re so happy you found us.
Investment process
From sourcing to scaling, we back changemakers driving real impact. Our process is designed to identify and support those advancing inner health and embedding inclusion, equity, diversity, and belonging into their work.
Here’s what to expect when applying for funding:
1
Application
We identify high-potential solutions through applications and targeted outreach. Our process captures key details to match your organization with the right funding type — equity, grants, or hybrid.
2
Alignment
We assess mission alignment, thematic fit, geographic scope, impact potential, and scalability. A clear growth plan and execution capacity are essential for moving forward.
3
Introduction
If your application progresses, we’ll meet to understand your mission, team, and role within the broader ecosystem. This helps determine whether we’re a strong fit for partnership.
4
Due diligence
We conduct an in-depth review of your impact, scalability, accessibility, and sustainability. This includes reference calls and data analysis. To prepare, be ready to share key insights, metrics, and references.
5
Investment committee
Our committee evaluates alignment and readiness in a two-step process. If approved after an initial review, organizations move to deeper due diligence before a final investment decision.
6
Contracting & closing
Once approved, we formalize the partnership through tailored agreements and impact goals — setting the foundation for meaningful collaboration.
7
Portfolio management
As a portfolio organization, you’ll join a network of changemakers. We provide strategic guidance, connections, and bi-annual gatherings. To support leadership well-being, we also offer an inner health stipend for founders and CEOs. Together, we scale impact and prepare for key milestones.
8
Follow-on or exit
As your organization grows or transitions, we continue to support your impact journey. For those scaling, we explore follow-on funding and strategic guidance. If an exit occurs, we stay connected, ensuring ongoing collaboration and knowledge-sharing within our network.
Equity
Are you using business as a force for good, creating measurable impact while driving revenue? Our rolling equity program supports solutions with proof of concept, a strong growth potential and roadmap to scale, and a clear focus on improving inner health, with a focus on emerging adults. If this aligns with your mission, we’d love to connect.
Grant
Do you have a bold vision to transform the inner health of emerging adults? Our annual open call provides unrestricted, multi-year grant funding to help innovative solutions take root and flourish. Whether applications are open or not, we encourage you to reach out and connect with us.
Collaboration
Are you making strides in inner health? Enthusiastic and excited to dive into the complexities and solutions of the social crisis? Great! We live and breathe collaboration. By uniting across disciplines, sectors, and geographies, our collective impact knows no limits. Together we achieve more than ever before.
Our collaborators
Alone we move stones. Together we move mountains.
Inner health requires a holistic system working together. That’s why we actively collaborate with changemakers, investors, grant-givers, academics, public officials, and community builders. All working together to create lasting impact.
By seeding into an ecosystem of change, we go farther and faster than we would alone.
-
“We are deeply grateful and proud to be part of such a bold, values-driven community, and we look forward to building the next chapter together with The Inner Foundation”
–
Adriana Preda
Executive Board Member
Read more: The Social IncubatorEmpowering young people transitioning out of institutionalised care to build independent, resilient lives through personalized support, mental health care, and skills for the future.
Type of investment
-
“There are a lot of funds you meet that discuss the importance of making an impact in the mental health space – there are few that mean it in the way the Inner Foundation does.”
–
Matthew Stefanko
Co-founder, MANUAL
Read more: RELEASEUShattering stigma and expanding access to care, RELEASEU strengthens campus-based and digital support systems so emerging adult men can seek help, connect, and truly thrive.
Type of investment
-
“Building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem takes long-term commitment—and collective effort. Our partnership with The Inner Foundation is a testament of that shared vision.”
–
Deqa Abukar
Co-founder
Read more: BLING CapitalVenture fund backing underrepresented founders—combining strong commercial potential with inclusive innovation to unlock overlooked talent through grassroots ecosystem experience.
Type of investment
-
“As donors, The Inner Foundation offers us tremendous trust. We are equals working towards the same end goal.”
–
Sean Mayberry
Founder & CEO
Read more: StrongMindsDelivering scalable, community-led group therapy, training clients and health workers to expand access and integrate mental health into broader development programs.
Type of investment
-
“We feel incredibly lucky to call The Inner Foundation investors, partners, and friends on this journey. They’re as interested in our challenges as successes, wisely guiding us when we ask for it.”
–
Tiffany Boswell
Co-founder, Meela
Read more: MeelaResearch-backed platform matching you with the best-fit therapist for your unique needs, preferences, and goals—ensuring effective, personalized care and therapeutic match.
Type of investment
-
“Partnering with The Inner Foundation strengthens our mission to provide holistic care for women, expanding reach and deepening long-term impact on emotional and physical well-being.”
–
Lydia Graflund
CEO, EsterCare
Read more: EsterCareDelivering integrated women’s healthcare through digital, in-person, and preventive services—supporting well-being with accessible, high-quality care tailored to women’s daily needs.
Type of investment
-
“The Inner Foundation team has been there for me in every moment, high and low, with compassion, expertise, and infinite support. They have become much more than just LPs, and I am deeply grateful”
–
Maya Horgan Famodu
Partner & Founder
Read more: Ingressive CapitalEarly-stage venture fund investing in African tech startups—providing capital, mentorship, and global networks to help diverse founders scale market-relevant businesses.
Type of investment
-
“The Inner Foundation’s commitment to creating positive impact aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are confident that their partnership will significantly enhance our vision.”
–
Helene Lassem Nørlem
Co-CEO & Co-founder
Read more: TiimoAdaptive, neuroinclusive planning platform with visual scheduling and focus tools—supporting executive function and reducing daily stress for neurodivergent individuals.
Type of investment
-
“Through The Inner Foundation, we have found an investor who shares the same belief system as us, and who continues to push us forward when we most need it.”
–
Hermine Bonde Jahren
Co-founder & CEO
Read more: BraiveAI-driven platform delivering personalized mental health care by combining advanced technology with proven methods tailored to each person’s unique symptoms, context, and needs.
Type of investment
-
“We are beyond grateful for the support from the Inner Foundation, which allows us to significantly strengthen our work with establishing our work in Ukraine.”
–
Trine Hammershøy
Director
Read more: headspace DenmarkEstablishing safe, accessible youth spaces in Ukraine, offering early, stigma-free mental health support for adolescents and emerging adults.
Type of investment
-
“Partnering with The Inner Foundation marks an exciting new chapter—opening doors to invaluable resources, meaningful collaboration opportunities, and greater impact.”
–
Ivan Dimov
Founder & Chairman
Read more: Single Step FoundationSupporting LGBTQ+ emerging adults in Bulgaria with free, inclusive mental health care, career guidance, and safe community spaces that build resilience, visibility, and lasting opportunity.
Type of investment
-
“The support from The Inner Foundation is a turning point for our organization. It empowers us to strengthen a model that places dignity, empathy, and accessibility at the core of support.”
–
Razvan Popa
Founder & President
Read more: Centrul Social de PsihoterapieDelivering free, high-quality mental health care through Romania’s first social psychotherapy clinics and a growing digiphysical network—making support accessible to all.
Type of investment
-
The Inner Foundation’s generosity has directly protected more children, and we are deeply grateful to have them among our partners.
–
Mary L. Pulido
Executive Director
Read more: World Childhood Foundation USAWorking to end abuse and exploitation by strengthening support systems that protect vulnerable children and promote their resilience and long-term well-being.
Type of investment
-
“The Inner Foundation’s support has meant a lot to us, as we feel that we are part of a larger ecosystem and have access to an international network of people who want to do social good.”
–
Cem Celepli Atci
Co-founder & CEO
Read more: AllbryA digital platform transforming student health care by offering secure communication, data-driven insights, and accessible counseling services tailored to students’ needs.
Type of investment
-
“Being part of The Inner Foundation community has been eye-opening. They genuinely support founders—through values-driven engagement, convenings, and meaningful backing.”
–
Danish Munir
Partner & Co-founder
Read more: GreyMatter CapitalVenture fund backing early-stage founders with tech solutions to transform mental health—reimagining care delivery through targeted support and deep sector expertise.
Type of investment
We support…
..these incredible changemakers.
Their work in the world is making real inroads in the world of inner health. We are invested in their urgent missions.
-
-
Read more: The Social Incubator
Empowering young people transitioning out of institutionalised care to build independent, resilient lives through personalized support, mental health care, and skills for the future.
Type of investment
-
Read more: RELEASEU
Shattering stigma and expanding access to care, RELEASEU strengthens campus-based and digital support systems so emerging adult men can seek help, connect, and truly thrive.
Type of investment
-
Read more: BLING Capital
Venture fund backing underrepresented founders—combining strong commercial potential with inclusive innovation to unlock overlooked talent through grassroots ecosystem experience.
Type of investment
-
Read more: StrongMinds
Delivering scalable, community-led group therapy, training clients and health workers to expand access and integrate mental health into broader development programs.
Type of investment
-
Read more: Meela
Research-backed platform matching you with the best-fit therapist for your unique needs, preferences, and goals—ensuring effective, personalized care and therapeutic match.
Type of investment
The inside scoop
What types of funding does The Inner Foundation offer?
We use a flexible financial toolkit to support impact-driven organizations, tailoring our funding structure based on need. This includes:
- Equity
- Grants
- Blended capital approaches
- Limited partnerships in funds
How do you decide what type of funding to offer?
Our approach is driven by impact rather than organizational structure. We work closely with each organization to determine the best financial mechanism — investment, grant funding, or hybrid models — to accelerate their growth and long-term sustainability.
How do I know if I should apply for equity, a grant, or a collaboration?
Equity investment: When you are running a mission-driven business, generating revenue, and looking for strategic investment to scale.
Grant investment: When you are a social entrepreneur with a bold vision to transform inner health and need unrestricted, multi-year grant funding.
Collaboration: When you are actively working in the field of inner health and looking to exchange knowledge, explore co-funding opportunities, or build strategic partnerships and joint initiatives.
How long does the application process take?
Timelines vary by funding type:
- Grant funding through our annual Open Call takes several months, ensuring a thorough review and meaningful support.
- Equity investments and other flexible funding mechanisms are reviewed on a rolling basis, typically taking 2–6 months.
We balance efficiency with a patient capital approach, supporting long-term impact while ensuring thoughtful decision-making.
What happens if my application is not accepted?
We receive many strong applications and, while we can’t fund everyone, we’re committed to building a more connected ecosystem for inner health.
Our investment decisions are guided by clear criteria: we support solutions that focus on inner health—particularly mental wellbeing among emerging adults (ages 18–30)—across Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America. We look for teams with a deep understanding of the problem, a clear roadmap to scale, early indicators of impact, and models grounded in evidence or lived experience.
If your work aligns with our mission but isn’t selected this time, we’d still love to stay connected. Join our mailing list to hear about future open calls, community events, and opportunities to engage. We often revisit past applications as new possibilities arise.
Do you offer follow-on funding?
Yes. We recognize that impact takes time, and our approach reflects a patient capital mindset — balancing long-term commitment with measurable progress.
For organizations demonstrating continued impact, strategic growth, and alignment with our mission, we offer follow-on funding through additional investments, grants, or blended capital. Our goal is to ensure that high-potential solutions have the time and resources needed to scale sustainably while maintaining their core mission.
What kind of support do portfolio organizations receive?
Beyond funding, we provide:
- Strategic guidance to navigate scaling and impact growth
- A network of changemakers for peer learning and collaboration
- Bi-annual gatherings to deepen connections
- An inner health stipend to support leadership well-being
In the limelight
-
Apocalypse or optimism? The AI Doc asks what’s really at stake
Read more: Apocalypse or optimism? The AI Doc asks what’s really at stake“The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” is now available on Netflix. The Inner Foundation is proud to have supported the Center for Humane Technology (CHT), which contributed expert perspective…
-
Replik i SvD: Många unga har ingen kö att stå i
Read more: Replik i SvD: Många unga har ingen kö att stå iDen som mår för dåligt för att klara sig själv, men inte tillräckligt dåligt för psykiatrin, står idag utan självklar kontakt. Hårdast drabbas den som saknar nätverk eller resurser, skriver Annika Sten…
-
What a new national health report tells us about emerging adults in Sweden
Read more: What a new national health report tells us about emerging adults in SwedenThis week, Myndigheten för vård- och omsorgsanalys, the Swedish government agency tasked with independently evaluating the country’s healthcare system, published its latest national follow-up “Nationell uppföljning av hälso- och sjukvården 2026”. The…
-
A new chapter for our investment team
Read more: A new chapter for our investment teamAfter nearly two years with The Inner Foundation, Zakaria Hersi is embarking on a new chapter, continuing his work to find and build solutions that improve mental health and wellbeing. As our…
-
What if research travelled faster?
Read more: What if research travelled faster?Research on emerging adulthood is growing. But knowledge alone does not create change. At EARA 2026 in Utrecht, The Inner Foundation, Center for Social Sustainability (CSS), Karolinska Institute (KI), and the Royal…
-
Our support of Single Step Foundation
Read more: Our support of Single Step FoundationEmpowering LGBTQI+ youth through community and psychological support.
