How do you get from burnout to founding a startup that deploys AI as a companion for people who struggle with their mental health?
This is the journey that Kuhu Singh embarked on. Remote work and a lack of balance left her burned out. That pushed her to search for meaning beyond chasing happiness.
The result is Amber, a therapy-like AI mental health companion designed to bridge the gap between AI and therapy. And her story is one of resilience and definitely one you’ll want to hear.
Main Takeaways
Kuhu’s story shows how burnout can lead to something meaningful and even beautiful. Her journey is full of transitions and transformations, some expected and others unforeseen. Here are the main plot twists in Kuhu’s story:
Burnout can lead to purpose. When life pushes you to the edge, it can also fuel clarity about what really matters.
Growth means responsibility. Kuhu describes the shift from building for users to realizing people depend on Amber for their mental health. It turned traction into accountability.
Resilience means ignoring the noise. Founders will always face doubters. What counts is treating the criticism as white noise and moving forward.
🎧 Curious to hear how Kuhu made these transitions in her own words? Listen to Episode 117 of Women Disrupting Tech on your favorite podcast app.
Magic Moments
What makes this episode special are the moments where Kuhu speaks with clarity, and where her words sparked my own associations. She shows how therapy is still out of reach for many, how growth shifts into responsibility once people depend on you, and how resilience is built by refusing to listen to the doubters.
Therapy is still a privilege.
Many cannot afford it or face cultural barriers. Amber was created as a bridge for those left out.
Resilience becomes second nature.
“I’ve been told so many times that I’m not going to be able to do this that it does not affect me anymore.”
This quote reminded me of soccer player Memphis Depay, who puts his fingers in his ears after scoring, as if to say: I’m not listening to the haters and doubters.
Her warning to healthcare professionals.
“People are already talking to ChatGPT about their mental health. Do you want them to keep doing that, or work with safer platforms like Amber?”
AI-based tools are here to stay, whether we like it or not. Therapists might as well use the tech to support their patients even better.
💬 Which of these moments struck you most? Share your magic moment in the comments. I’d love to hear what stayed with you.
Practical Tips for Female Founders
Kuhu’s advice is not the usual “move fast and scale” playbook. Her lessons are about building agency as a founder, protecting your energy, and creating space outside of work so burnout does not take over again. These three tips stood out the most.
Learn the basics yourself.
No one wants to back a founder who cannot understand their own tech. Even if you outsource, know how it works.Treat Fundraising as a marathon.
Kuhu highlights that she is not expecting to breeze through her fundraising journey. She knows the stats and that she should take it at her own pace. Even if you ignore the stats about female founders, this is a lesson to take to heart.
Make space outside work.
One hour a day just for yourself, whether it’s running, painting, or reading, can keep burnout from creeping back.
➡️ Who do you know that could use these takeaways? Share this post with them so they don’t have to learn the hard way.
The Quote Of The Episode
“I’ve been told so many times that I’m not going to be able to do this that it doesn’t affect me anymore.” — Kuhu Singh
Notes to Self
Kuhu calls out something that I wasn’t even aware of anymore: That she found it weird that a man hosted this podcast.
I’ve learned to reframe that weirdness. What matters is the stories and the lessons I get to carry with me.
Here’s what I take away from this episode:
Meaning over happiness.
Fulfillment comes from doing something meaningful, not just chasing comfort. That reminder connected me back to Viktor Frankl’s insight that meaning is more powerful than pleasure.
Stop being your own biggest critic.
“You don’t need to be a big critic of yourself. People are going to do that for you. So no need to keep questioning yourself over everything.”
Kuhu’s quote captures the key ingredient of the recipe for Imposter Syndrome. It’s so powerful, the quote is sitting on my screen to remind me to change how I think of myself.
Grateful for the voices.
I feel blessed to speak with people from so many walks of life, each making tech meaningful in their own way.
Closing
What makes Kuhu such a powerful guide is her mix of wisdom and stubbornness. She shows us that resilience is not about having all the answers. It is about asking the right questions, trusting your own path, and building with purpose.
Trust, after all, is at the heart of her work. Whether finding a co-founder, seeking therapy, or turning doubt into determination, it is trust that builds bridges between people and between technology and care.
When you’re curious about how an AI companion like Amber might reshape therapy-like conversations, listen to Episode 117 of Women Disrupting Tech. You can find it here on Substack or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Coming Up on Women Disrupting Tech
We continue season five of Women Disrupting Tech with another episode packed with wisdom from Anouk Vlietman. It’s a totally different conversation from the ones that I’ve had so far, but I’m sure that you’ll like it.
To get you warmed up, here’s Anouk’s answer to the question how we can make inclusion the new normal in tech:
So stay tuned for more extraordinary episodes. And until the next one, as always, Keep Being Awesome!
Dirkjan
