Slingshot AI

Market position

Slingshot positions Ash as the first AI designed specifically for mental health and itself as building the first foundation model for psychology, contrasting its approach with earlier single-modality systems and with general-purpose AI assistants [0][2][4]. Coverage places it in a digital mental health chatbot market that includes Wysa, which raised $20 million in a 2022 Series B and just under $30 million in total, and Woebot, which raised over $123 million but wound down its flagship chatbot app at the end of June 2025 [5]. Reporting notes public trust as a hurdle, citing KFF survey findings that only 29% of the public trusts AI chatbots for health information [5][7].

The company differentiates on breadth of therapeutic training data rather than a single modality such as CBT, on an interaction model that questions and challenges users instead of complying with instructions like a general assistant, and on explicit design goals of increasing user autonomy, competence and relatedness rather than fostering dependence [0][2][5]. Press coverage characterizes Ash as questioning like a therapist and as a different type of system from ChatGPT [2].

Technology

Slingshot trains large language models it calls a foundation model for psychology, drawing on what it describes as a diverse behavioral health dataset covering multiple therapeutic traditions (CBT, DBT, ACT, gestalt, psychodynamic, motivational interviewing) so the model can vary technique by individual, value system and cultural norms rather than applying one modality universally [0][5]. Ash is delivered as a voice and text chatbot with cross-session memory, pattern recognition and insight generation [5]. Design principles stated by the company include supporting self-determination — autonomy, competence and relatedness — and behaving unlike a compliant assistant, including challenging users when appropriate [0].

Go-to-market

The company ran an extended private beta of its models before general availability, with 25,000 testers cited on its website and about 50,000 reported at launch, including a substantial number of therapists [0][2][4]. It launched Ash directly to consumers in July 2025, free at launch, supported by podcast appearances by the founders and clinical lead and by press coverage in trade and general outlets [2][4][5]. In parallel, Slingshot has solicited partnerships with mental health clinics and provider organizations that could deploy its models with their communities [3].

Individuals seeking mental health support, particularly those with subclinical concerns such as stress, sadness, loneliness, relationship difficulties, life transitions and health habits, as well as people on therapist waiting lists and, potentially, people in crisis [3][7]. The company also targets mental health provider organizations and clinics as partners [3].

Geography

Headquartered in New York City with a second office in London; the company recruits for roles in both cities [2][5]. One directory lists an Albany, NY headquarters, which conflicts with the company's own and press descriptions [6].

History

Slingshot AI publicly announced itself on May 30, 2024 as an AI mental health research lab training a foundation model for psychology, and invited mental health clinics to partner on deploying its models [3]. In August 2024 it was reported to have raised a $30 million round led by Andreessen Horowitz at a valuation above $100 million, followed by an undisclosed 'fast-follow' round from Menlo Ventures at a $220 million valuation [7]. Founders and staff appeared on podcasts through 2024 and 2025, including Machine Learning Street Talk (August 2024), a Felicis podcast (February 2025), a16z's Raising Health (March 2025) and an episode featuring clinical lead Dr. Derrick Hull (March 2025) [2]. On July 21-22, 2025, the company launched Ash publicly and disclosed a Series A extension of more than $50 million led by Radical Ventures and Forerunner Ventures, bringing total funding to $93 million [2][4][5].

Risks & controversies

Trade coverage situates Slingshot in a category with mixed outcomes and open questions: Woebot wound down its flagship chatbot app despite raising more than $123 million, clinicians have raised doubts about chatbots' ability to handle acute episodes and protect user data, and survey data cited indicates only about 29% of Americans trust AI chatbots for accurate health information [5][7]. Sources also disagree on basic company facts such as founding year, headquarters and total funding, with one directory reporting $83.0 million across two rounds versus $93 million reported by press and the company [4][5][6].