This 28-year-old secured $20 million for his mental health startup. His top advice? "Be a little delusional."

Despite suffering from panic attacks and an anxiety disorder, Theodoric Chew has never let it hinder him. Instead, it has motivated him to assist others who are also grappling with these issues.

He is a 28-year-old CEO and co-founder of Intellect, a mental health startup that has raised over $20 million.

Chew stated to CNBC Make It that they are more than just an app and a distress helpline.

He stated that Intellect is a comprehensive mental health-care system designed to address any level of risk and need.

The Singaporean CEO stated that the situation could range from being as severe and urgent as a crisis call requiring immediate assistance on the ground to being as minor as seeking to improve self-assurance.

Since its establishment in 2019, Intellect has been providing a range of services, including mental health screening tools, self-care programs, and consultations with clinicians, as well as in-person clinics. The company has over 200 employees across 12 countries and has served over 3 million people as of 2024.

High school dropout

During his teenage years, Chew tried out different internet businesses, including drop-shipping and ad arbitrage.

During my secondary school years (ages 12 to 16), I began working on my own projects, said Chew, a graduate of Raffles Institution, a renowned school in Singapore.

At age 16, Chew decided to drop out of high school.

He stated that in the long run, he didn't envision himself taking the path of becoming a top student, attending a top university, or becoming a top lawyer or doctor.

I believe that the best way to understand how to build things is by actually working in startups rather than just the theory of it.

After dropping out, Chew was fortunate enough to catch a few "lucky breaks," he stated.

At 20 years old, he had already founded and successfully exited his first startup, Existgreat, a self-help content platform that included interviews with Gary Vaynerchuk.

After acquiring more experience, Chew worked at several startups.

Inspired by his own journey

When I was 16, I experienced my first panic attack, as Chew shared in recounting his own journey with mental health.

He added, "That's when I realized something seemed a bit wrong."

Chew eventually sought therapy and was later diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

The Singapore-native discovered a significant issue: although mental health problems are common in Asia, the region lacks adequate resources to address them.

The WHO South-East Asia Region is home to approximately 260 million people with mental health conditions, according to research by the World Health Organization.

A report by Aon and Telus Health states that approximately 82% of workers in Asia have a "medium to high" risk for developing mental health issues.

""Asia has one of the highest mental health crisis rates, and stigma is a significant issue," said Chew."

Asians tend to be less open about sharing their feelings when it comes to mental health, according to Chew.

While a lot of investment and innovation goes into secondary, primary, and tertiary care, the mental health-care market lacks maturity, according to Chew.

Chew recognized that his friends were grappling with their own mental health concerns and felt overwhelmed by the lack of resources.

At that time, there was little to no innovation in the mental health space in Asia, he stated.

"Chew stated that not much progress has been made, but the problems are genuine. This provided a good starting point for addressing the issue of assisting individuals in starting."

And so, Intellect was born.

Expect challenges

In the early stages of founding a company, a founder must be somewhat delusional, according to Chew. Although he acknowledges that he is not the smartest or most capable, he is confident in his ambition, which has served him well.

Chew has been aware of his strengths and weaknesses throughout his journey, and as a result, he outsources certain skills and jobs to employees.

"Be mindful of your weaknesses as a young founder and be open to learning, rather than focusing on your strengths," he advised. "Our executive team has more experience and seniority than you do."

Chew's success has been due to three factors: a natural curiosity for constructing things, a determination to test out new concepts, and anticipating obstacles.

Chew stated that "it is never straightforward or easy for anyone, so there is always inertia to overcome." He added that "expecting that to be part of the journey is also important."

Shaping the face of mental health in Asia

Chew aims to expand Intellect beyond Asia and become the "global leader in hyperlocal mental health care," he stated.

"The journey has been both thrilling and fulfilling... I was not anticipating how swiftly we could address a pressing need."

He stated that he manages his anxiety and stress as a startup founder by controlling his emotions and stress, and by compartmentalizing.

"Parking work at work sometimes is really required," he said.

"I believe it is crucial for me to have my own personal time in space to maintain my functionality for the long term."

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