South African startup Eden AI has launched BlossomCare, a confidential, AI-powered mental health companion aimed at vulnerable women across Africa, particularly sex workers and pregnant teenagers.
The platform, developed in collaboration with the Blossom Girls Outreach Foundation (BGOF), offers round-the-clock support via WhatsApp in English, Yoruba and Pidgin.
It provides emotional assistance, referrals to psychologists, peer groups and legal aid, as well as escalation to in-person care when needed.
“In Africa, vulnerable women face stigma and inadequate mental health resources. While 86 percent of women own mobile phones, few digital services are built with their needs in mind.
BlossomCare fills this gap by combining AI, multilingual support, and community outreach to ensure access, privacy, and dignity in care,” said Eden AI founder Oluwabamigbe Oni.
From Consulting to Care Innovation
Founded in 2021 as an AI consultancy, Eden AI initially provided services in data science, machine learning, conversational AI, and computer vision.
However, the company quickly evolved into a platform delivering health-focused solutions tailored to African realities.
“From collaborations focused on AI-powered maternal health tools to developing mental health support platforms for vulnerable women, Eden AI has continually taken on projects that blend innovation with social good,” Oni noted.
Addressing Africa’s Mental Health Gaps
Mental health remains one of Africa’s most neglected health challenges, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that nearly 116 million people on the continent live with mental health conditions, while fewer than one in four receive adequate care.
In addition, cultural stigma often prevents women from seeking help. By embedding its services into WhatsApp, a platform widely used across Africa, BlossomCare lowers the barrier to entry for support.
“What makes BlossomCare unique is its privacy-first approach. Women can seek help discreetly without fear of exposure or judgment,” said BGOF director Funke Adeyemi.
A Growing AI-for-Impact Ecosystem
Eden AI’s latest product underscores a wider shift in Africa’s tech ecosystem, where AI startups are moving beyond profit-driven models to address pressing social and healthcare needs.
Strategic partnerships and grant funding are fueling this momentum, positioning Eden AI as one of the continent’s rising players in the AI-for-impact sector.
With BlossomCare, the startup signals its commitment to bridging the gap between technology and human dignity, giving marginalized women a digital companion that is both accessible and stigma-free.
The Blossom Girls Outreach Foundation
Founded in Nigeria, the Blossom Girls Outreach Foundation (BGOF) is an award-winning non-profit dedicated to supporting and empowering sex workers and other marginalized women across Africa.
The organization focuses on healthcare access, legal advocacy, and social reintegration, often providing safe spaces and skills development programs for women facing stigma.
Its collaboration with Eden AI on BlossomCare reflects BGOF’s mission to merge grassroots outreach with innovative technology, ensuring that vulnerable women have both community support and confidential digital tools to safeguard their mental health.
Why It Matters
The partnership between Eden AI and the Blossom Girls Outreach Foundation (BGOF) is significant because it tackles what experts call Africa’s “silent battles”, the hidden mental health struggles worsened by stigma and lack of care.
With over 116 million Africans living with mental health conditions, yet fewer than one in four receiving treatment (WHO), vulnerable women such as sex workers and pregnant teens often endure their pain in silence due to fear of judgment or violence.
Experts argue that this neglect undermines not only individual wellbeing but also community resilience and economic productivity, as untreated mental health challenges contribute to billions in lost output annually.
By blending AI-powered, confidential support with BGOF’s trusted grassroots outreach, the initiative offers women a safe entry point into care.
“Mental health challenges don’t make the headlines in Africa, yet they erode productivity, wellbeing, and even community stability,” said BGOF director Funke Adeyemi, noting that trust is key to healing.
Similarly, Eden AI founder Oluwabamigbe Oni stressed that technology must serve dignity: “Healing begins when people feel safe enough to speak, even if it’s to an AI companion at first.”
This collaboration demonstrates how tech-driven privacy and community trust can converge to address Africa’s invisible crises of depression, trauma, and stigma.
