As a child, I remember the fear and anxiety that filled my mind and body every time I was away from home or going to school. The feeling of stepping out from the comfort of home and into the world was overwhelming, and now, I’m experiencing the same with my young daughter. It’s a quiet struggle that so many kids go through alone, as their  anxiety often go unnoticed or unexpressed. The difficulty of putting complex emotions into words leaves parents, teachers, and caregivers in the dark about how to best support them.

When I was young, my comfort came from a stuffed pillow my grandmother made for me, it was a friend that I “created” that I trusted and loved, and it somehow made things feel safer. Today, my daughter and many other children turn to their stuffed buddies for comfort, though they too can only provide so much. Seeing this, we realized every child should have access to care, comfort, and understanding from a trusted companion whenever they need it.

This led us to create Erly, a children’s AI mental wellness platform that combines AI and empathetic design, transforming a child’s favorite stuffed friend into a digtal, engaging, and responsive companion. Erly enables children to bring their beloved buddies to life digitally, allowing for meaningful, two-way interactions. It helps children build emotional intelligence, social skills, and self-confidence in a safe and nurturing environment, providing them with care, comfort, and companionship through the stuffed buddies they already love.

Our team of experts in AI, product development, and child psychology has designed Erly to be both a technological advancement for childhood mental wellness, and a heartfelt companion. With lifelike conversations and expressive interactions, Erly creates a safe space where kids can feel supported and heard, allowing them to live anxiety-free lives full of adventure and happiness.