Egypt-based healthtech startup Shezlong has expanded its operations to South Africa under the brand name Upright. The startup is the first and largest psychotherapy platform in the MENA region.
Founded in 2014 by Ahmed Abu ElHaz, and Mohammad ElShami, Shezlong offers a platform that connects users with licensed therapists through video calls.
According to the company, there is a mental health crisis in South Africa that it feels it can address by providing the necessary help needed. Shezlong chose South Africa specifically as a lot of research called attention to its need for mental healthcare services and more specifically, e-mental healthcare.
Psychotherapy and counselling have emerged as powerful tools in addressing mental health challenges, offering individuals a safe space to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. With rising global awareness, more people are beginning to understand that seeking support is not a sign of weakness but a step toward personal empowerment. While traditional therapy remains vital, many are now turning to blended approaches that combine talk therapy with body-based modalities for more holistic healing.
The Energetics Institute is one such organization that embraces this integrated method, helping individuals confront trauma not just mentally, but physically and emotionally too. Based in Perth, the Institute offers a unique fusion of psychotherapy, counselling. This method acknowledges that trauma and emotional stress are stored in the body, and through targeted interventions, individuals can release long-held tension and restore balance. It’s a modern take on an age-old need—healing that speaks to both mind and body.
Expanding to South Africa would help reach marginalized populations who are underserved by the health system and are suffering from various mental health issues that are significantly affecting their quality of life.
The people of South Africa are exposed to various incidents that affect their mental health significantly such as a high rate of gender-based violence, lack of adequate care during pregnancy and unemployment, among many other factors.
Shezlong constructed a dedicated website and application with the brand identity of Upright. This is just a stepping stone to its larger goal, which is to make mental healthcare available and accessible to each person on this planet as everyone deserves to have the best quality of life possible.
Shezlong believes in its mission, and surely, it will achieve it one day. it truly believes in the necessity of mental healthcare, which is why they are starting with the most underserved population and countries.
Mohamed Alaa the CEO of Shezlong said, “We are proceeding according to a clear strategy and a firm vision towards expansion and growth. We are aiming to make mental wellness a daily routine for every individual in Africa to help build resilient communities, hence, induce a positive impact on the welfare of the society through innovative, accessible and easy-to-use technologies.”
