Our Story

We believe mental health
is for everyone

Toplistener was built on a simple conviction: no one should face their darkest moments alone. We're here to change that — one conversation at a time.

Our Story Meet the Team
🌿
"Healing begins with
being heard"
— Toplistener Founding Principle
342+
Lives touched
4.8
Average rating
from 280+ reviews
Our Story

From a dorm room conversation to a national platform

Toplistener began in 2021 when co-founders Aarav Menon and Dr. Riya Sharma — a tech entrepreneur and a clinical psychologist — had a late-night conversation about how hard it was for young Indians to access good therapy. Too expensive. Too stigmatised. Too difficult to find someone who actually understood you.

They decided to build something different. Not just another booking app, but a platform built around trust — where matching you with the right counsellor was as important as the session itself. Where privacy was non-negotiable. Where pricing was transparent and fair.

Three years later, Toplistener has helped over 342 clients across 6 Indian cities. Our counsellors hold RCI registrations and advanced degrees. Our average session rating is 4.8 stars. And we're just getting started.

Our Values

Built on four unshakeable pillars

Everything we build, every decision we make flows from these core commitments to our clients and counsellors.

Accessibility

Mental health support shouldn't be a luxury. We've structured our pricing so that quality therapy is reachable for working professionals, students, and families across India.

Privacy

Your conversations are encrypted end-to-end. We never share your data with employers, insurers, or third parties. What you share here, stays here — always.

Compassion

We train our counsellors not just in technique but in deep human empathy. Every client deserves to feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for — no exceptions.

Evidence-Based Care

Every therapeutic approach on our platform — CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR — is grounded in peer-reviewed research. We do not offer pseudoscience or wellness fads.

Our Impact

Real numbers, real change

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Clients Helped
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Licensed Counsellors
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Average Rating
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Cities Across India
The Team

People who care, deeply

Our team brings together clinical expertise, technology, and a shared passion for making mental health accessible to all.

AM
Aarav Menon
Co-Founder & CEO

Former product lead at a HealthTech unicorn, Aarav brings operational excellence and a deep personal connection to mental health advocacy. He co-founded Toplistener after supporting a close friend through a mental health crisis.

in 𝕏
RS
Dr. Riya Sharma
Co-Founder & Chief Clinical Officer

RCI-registered clinical psychologist with 11 years of experience in CBT and trauma-focused therapy. Dr. Sharma ensures every clinical decision at Toplistener meets the highest evidence-based standards.

in
KP
Kavita Prasad
Head of Product

Kavita previously designed crisis-response systems for a mental health NGO. At Toplistener, she leads product with a human-centred approach — every feature is tested with real users before shipping.

in
RD
Rahul Desai
Head of Engineering

Rahul built HIPAA-compliant telemedicine infrastructure at a healthcare startup before joining Toplistener. He architects our security, privacy, and scalability foundations.

⌥ in
PN
Priya Nambiar
Head of Counsellor Relations

A licensed counsellor herself, Priya leads our onboarding, training, and quality assurance for counsellors. She designed our unique counsellor mentorship programme.

in
SA
Shreya Agarwal
Head of Marketing & Community

Shreya built one of India's most-followed mental health Instagram communities (180K+) before joining Toplistener. She leads brand, content, and our growing peer-support community.

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Advisory Board

Guided by the best in the field

PG
Prof. Prashant Gupta
NIMHANS, Dept. of Psychiatry

20+ years in neuropsychiatry and community mental health. Advises on clinical protocols, crisis intervention standards, and ethical frameworks.

VC
Dr. Vanita Chandra
TISS School of Social Work

Pioneered community-based mental health programmes across 14 states. Guides our accessibility strategy and underserved-community initiatives.

AK
Ananya Krishnaswamy
HealthTech Investor & Entrepreneur

Founded two HealthTech exits. Advises on growth strategy, fundraising, and building sustainable digital health business models in the Indian market.

Milestones

Our journey so far

2021 · Q3
The Idea

Aarav and Dr. Riya meet at a Bangalore startup event. A late-night conversation about India's mental health crisis sparks the idea for Toplistener.

2022 · Q1
Seed Round & First Hires

₹1.8Cr seed round from angel investors. First 5 counsellors onboarded. Beta launched in Bangalore with 20 pilot clients.

2022 · Q4
100 Clients Milestone

Reached 100 active clients. Expanded to Mumbai and Hyderabad. Introduced specialisations in trauma, grief, and workplace burnout.

2023 · Q2
Pre-Series A & National Expansion

₹6Cr raised. Expanded to Chennai, Delhi, and Pune. Launched group therapy sessions and couples counselling verticals.

2024 · Q1
20 Counsellors, New Tech

Platform rebuilt from the ground up with end-to-end encryption. Launched AI-powered matching algorithm. 200+ clients served.

2025 · Q4
Awards & Recognition

Featured in Forbes India 'Startups to Watch'. Recognised by the Mental Health Foundation of India for community impact. Crossed 300 clients.

2026 · Today
342+ Clients, Growing Strong

28 licensed counsellors. 6 cities. 4.8 star average. Series A fundraise underway. A new chapter begins.

Press & Media

As featured in

Media Enquiries: press@toplistener.com
Join Us

Be part of the mission

Whether you're a mental health professional or someone who believes in our mission, there's a place for you at Toplistener.

Careers at Toplistener

We're hiring engineers, product designers, clinical coordinators, and mental health advocates. Remote-friendly. Mission-driven. Competitive compensation.

Join as a Counsellor

Are you an RCI-registered psychologist or licensed counsellor? Join our growing network, set your own schedule, and expand your practice with Toplistener's tech platform.