Other
Apr 2025Therapist directory / 'ghost network' controversy: Mashable reported that 7 Cups created therapist profiles without consent and defended its directory practices; multiple therapists sought removal of their profiles.
Source7 Cups is an emotional support service that matches up people that…
Company research
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
Updated Jul 29, 2026
Overview
7 Cups is a Palo Alto-based mental health platform that combines free 24/7 peer emotional support from trained volunteer listeners with paid licensed online therapy, self-help content, community forums, and a local provider directory.
Primary product
Free 24/7 anonymous emotional support chat, plus paid licensed online therapy
Founded
2013
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California, United States
Team size
400-500
Work style
Flexible
Industry
Wellness and Fitness Services
Sub-industry
Online mental health support and therapy
Offices
Palo Alto, California, United States
San Jose, California, United States
Nicholasville, Kentucky, United States
Business model
Free peer-to-peer emotional support
Subscription-based licensed therapy
Local provider directory and referrals
Premium provider listings / lead generation
B2B partnerships with organizations
Volunteer/community-led services
Funding
Stage
seed
Total raised
$2.3M
Feb 2018
Jan 2014
Sep 2013
Aug 2013 · Y Combinator
People & investors
Leadership
Founder & CEO
Director of Community Development
Head of Content
Work & culture
Mission-driven, trust-based, and community-oriented. The company describes itself as decentralized, high-accountability, and oriented around urgent problem-solving and helping people with limited access to care. Volunteer services are framed in a gift-economy model.
Work style
Flexible
Compensation
Public compensation for corporate roles is not disclosed. The visible therapist role is part-time 1099 independent contractor work with no punch-clock and no minimum client load; platform access is bundled with referral and visibility features, while the public site does not publish standard employee salary bands.
Benefits
Work from home
Flexible schedule for contractor therapy roles
No minimum number of clients for therapist contractors
Referrals from the online community
Publication opportunities on the blog or forums
Billing, advertising, and referrals to help build a practice
Opportunities to help shape the future of the mental health field
Product & market
Pricing
Free peer support; paid licensed therapy subscription; provider directory/premium listing monetization
Differentiators
- —Large volunteer listener network
- —Anonymous 24/7 peer support
- —Global multilingual community
- —Free entry point before paid therapy
- —Combines peer support, licensed therapy, and local referrals
- —Research-backed outcomes and open research program
- —AI counselor ('Noni') and growth-path self-help content
Technology
React Native
React
Zendesk
reCAPTCHA
Apache HTTP Server
HSTS
AdRoll
Facebook Pixel
Open Graph
TweenMax
Customers
People seeking free emotional support
Teens aged 13-17
Adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, or loneliness
People seeking licensed online therapy
Therapists and clinicians listed in the local support directory
Health plans, health systems, universities, and corporations
Competitors
BetterHelp
Talkspace
Lyra Health
Ginger
Grow Therapy
Meru Health
SonderMind
Scale & contact
Estimated revenue
USD 1M-$10M
Estimated monthly visits
1.3M
Traffic estimate as of Jun 2026
Signals & risks
Other
Apr 2025Behavioral Health Business reported criticism that 7 Cups created therapist profiles without permission and used a local support directory that could mislead consumers.
SourceOther
May 2025Law.com reported a false-advertising lawsuit alleging 7 Cups misappropriated therapist profiles and used deceptive 'send message' buttons.
SourceOther
Apr 2025Public reporting also highlighted safety and trust concerns around 7 Cups' local support directory and AI counseling-related claims.
SourceLatest news
EIN Presswire · Feb 2026
7 Cups announced a partnership with FC Mother to expand maternal mental health support, with the release describing 7 Cups as the world's largest mental health community and citing its global listener network and volunteer model.
Law.com · May 2025
Reported a lawsuit alleging 7 Cups misappropriated therapist profiles and used deceptive messaging in its directory.
Behavioral Health Business · Apr 2025
Reported on backlash over 7 Cups' local support / therapist directory practices and concerns that the company created profiles without permission.
Mashable · Apr 2025
Detailed criticism of 7 Cups' therapist directory, alleged unauthorized profiles, and consumer-protection concerns.
PRUnderground · Sep 2024
Award coverage noting recognition for digital mental health implementation and the company's peer-support model.
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