Ideaz

The Problem

Many students struggle to find meaningful connections that can help them academically, professionally, and personally. Introverted students or those new to college often feel isolated, unsure how to approach peers, seniors, faculty, or industry mentors. Existing clubs, college forums, and networking events are limited—they often require active participation, focus only on a single institution, or emphasize career placement over holistic growth. As a result, many students miss out on guidance, collaboration, and support that could improve their learning and confidence.

Solution

Mentoroa is a safe, inclusive, and interest-based networking platform where students from different colleges can connect with peers, seniors, faculty, and industry experts. Students can join small interest-based groups (“Pods”), participate in one-on-one mentorship, or attend webinars and Q&A sessions with professionals. The platform features privacy controls, anonymous posting, and step-by-step engagement for introverted students. An interest-matching algorithm pairs students with others who share hobbies, academic interests, or career goals, ensuring meaningful connections instead of random networking.

Market Gap / Uniqueness

Existing platforms either focus only on career networking, work within a single college, or require public participation that can intimidate introverted students. Mentoroa fills this gap by combining:

Cross-college peer connections

Faculty and industry mentorship

Interest-based small pods

Privacy and gradual engagement options

This creates a safe environment for introverts and students from diverse backgrounds to connect meaningfully.

Beneficiaries

Students: Peer support, academic guidance, career advice, emotional encouragement.

Introverts: Low-pressure engagement and confidence-building.

Faculty & Mentors: Opportunities to guide students and share expertise.

Colleges: Increased student engagement and cross-campus collaboration.

Why This Matters to Me

I have seen talented students hesitate to ask for help, losing valuable opportunities due to social or psychological barriers. Mentoroa ensures that every student, regardless of personality or background, can access mentorship, build relationships, and grow academically and personally.

Technical Details 

Interest-matching algorithm for Pods and mentors.

Privacy controls and anonymous posting.

Multi-language support for cross-region connections.

Stepwise engagement: browse → post anonymously → group → one-on-one mentorship.

Problem:  

Mental health is one of the most critical yet overlooked challenges today, especially among students and working professionals.Many individuals suffer from anxiety, depression, or stress but hesitate to seek professional help because of fear of judgment, high costs, or lack of awareness about available resources.Moreover, most existing solutions either focus solely on professional therapy (which is expensive and limited) or simple mood tracking apps that don’t offer guidance or interaction.As a result, people are left feeling isolated, with no easy way to practice self-awareness or track mental well-being.

Solution – MindCare:

MindCare is a mobile application that combines peer-to-peer mental health support with a guided mindfulness and wellness journal

• Users can anonymously share their feelings or challenges and receive constructive, empathetic comments from trained peer counselors or the community.

• The app allows scheduling of one-on-one video calls with trained peers, providing a safe and judgment-free space for real-time emotional support.

• Alongside this, a simple Mood Tracker and Wellness Journal lets users log daily emotions using emojis and short notes.

• Based on their inputs, MindCare suggests personalized mindfulness exercises, breathing techniques, positive affirmations, and small daily habits to improve mental well-being.

• Weekly reports help users visualize mood patterns, understand triggers, and track progress.

 Who Benefits:

• Students and professionals struggling with stress or anxiety.

• Individuals wanting to practice self-care in a safe, affordable way.

• The community, by promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma.

This problem matters to me because mental well-being is key to personal growth, and access to simple, affordable support can improve millions of lives. 

Why This Matters to Me:

I have personally seen my friends struggle silently with anxiety, stress, and depression, especially during exam periods or personal challenges.Some of them felt overwhelmed but didn’t know where to turn or were too afraid to ask for help.I also faced moments when I felt stressed and wished there was an easy way to talk or track how I was feeling.That’s why I came up with this idea to provide a simple, safe space where people can express themselves, get peer support, and develop small habits for mental well-being.I don’t want anyone to stay stuck in silence like I’ve seen so many do.