Takalam

Takalam is a culturally rooted mental wellbeing platform built for the Middle East and Arab-speaking world. Founded in Abu Dhabi's Hub71 in 2021 by Khawla Hammad and Inas after personal experiences navigating mental health without culturally relevant support, Takalam connects users with licensed, vetted therapists matched by language and cultural context. The platform offers individual therapy via video, audio, and instant messaging with optional anonymity; Aila, a 24/7 AI wellbeing companion for between-session support; guided meditations curated for the region's culture; corporate employee wellbeing programs; white-labelled clinical integrations for hospitals and healthcare facilities; and CSR/impact programs to scale access to underserved communities. Privacy is foundational — all conversations are encrypted and user-controlled.