From Burnout to AI Founder with Kuhu Singh | Show notes episode 117 – Women Disrupting Tech

How do you get from burnout to founding a startup that deploys AI as a companion for people who struggle with their mental health?

This is the journey that Kuhu Singh embarked on. Remote work and a lack of balance left her burned out. That pushed her to search for meaning beyond chasing happiness. The result is Amber, a therapy-like AI mental health companion designed to bridge the gap between AI and therapy.

Kuhu’s story is one of resilience and definitely one you’ll want to hear.

3 Lessons From This Conversation

Kuhu’s story shows how burnout can lead to something meaningful and even beautiful. Her journey is full of transitions and transformations, some expected and others unforeseen. Here are the main plot twists in Kuhu’s story:

Burnout can lead to purpose. When life pushes you to the edge, it can also fuel clarity about what really matters.
Growth means responsibility. Kuhu describes the shift from building for users to realizing people depend on Amber for their mental health. It turned traction into accountability.
Resilience means ignoring the noise. Founders will always face doubters. What counts is treating the criticism as white noise and moving forward.

🎧 Curious to hear how Kuhu made these transitions in her own words? Listen to Episode 117 of Women Disrupting Tech on your favorite podcast app. Then scroll down for practical tips and my reflections.

An important note on using AI for mental health purposes

One important note: conversations with AI can be helpful, but they are not the same as therapy. AI tools do not have the same confidentiality protections as therapy, and it is easy to lean on them more than is healthy. Use them as support, not as a substitute. What matters most is that you find the help and connection you need.

If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a licensed professional or a trusted support line

Meaningful moments and timestamps

02:45 From Burnout to Founder: Kuhu’s Journey
05:05 The Importance of Accessibility in Mental Health
07:32 Therapists vs. Friends: Understanding Emotional Support
11:32 Lessons from Burnout: Finding Balance in Life
14:39 Marketing Skills: Leveraging Past Experience
16:59 Navigating Technical Challenges as a Non-Technical Founder
22:09 The Search for a Technical Co-Founder
26:09 Introducing Amber: The AI Mental Health Companion
28:00 Cultural Sensitivity in Mental Health Solutions
30:15 Bridging the Gap: Amber as a Supplement to Therapy
32:44 The Role of AI in Mental Health Conversations
35:10 Ensuring Safety and Privacy in Mental Health Apps
39:05 Growing User Base: The Responsibility of a Founder
42:09 Preventing Burnout: Strategies for Founders
46:24 Fundraising Challenges: The Reality for Female Founders
52:44 Future Aspirations for Amber
56:09 Advice for Aspiring Female Founders
59:03 Creating Allyship in Tech

Magic Moments In The Episode

What makes this episode special are the moments where Kuhu speaks with clarity, and where her words sparked my own associations. She shows how therapy is still out of reach for many, how growth shifts into responsibility once people depend on you, and how resilience is built by refusing to listen to the doubters.

Therapy is still a privilege.

Many cannot afford it or face cultural barriers. Amber was created as a bridge for those left out.

Resilience becomes second nature.

“I’ve been told so many times that I’m not going to be able to do this that it does not affect me anymore.”

This quote reminded me of soccer player Memphis Depay, who puts his fingers in his ears after scoring, as if to say: I’m not listening to the haters and doubters.

Her warning to healthcare professionals.

“People are already talking to ChatGPT about their mental health. Do you want them to keep doing that, or work with safer platforms like Amber?”

AI-based tools are here to stay, whether we like it or not. Therapists might as well use the tech to support their patients even better.

💬 Which of these moments struck you most? Share your magic moment in the comments. I’d love to hear what stayed with you.

Practical Tips for Female Startup Founders

Kuhu’s advice is not the usual “move fast and scale” playbook. Her lessons are about building agency as a founder, protecting your energy, and creating space outside of work so burnout does not take over again. These three tips stood out the most.

Learn the basics yourself.

No one wants to back a founder who cannot understand their own tech. Even if you outsource, know how it works.

Treat Fundraising as a marathon.

Kuhu highlights that she is not expecting to breeze through her fundraising journey. She knows the stats and that she should take it at her own pace. Even if you ignore the stats about female founders, this is a lesson to take to heart.

Make space outside work.

One hour a day just for yourself, whether it’s running, painting, or reading, can keep burnout from creeping back.

For more examples, listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and hear how Kuhu applies these lessons in her own life as a founder.

And if you know someone who should hear these tips, share the episode with them.

Kuhu’s Quote to Remember

Picture of Kuhu Singh, founder of Amber, with a quote from episode 117 of Women Disrupting Tech, titled ‘How Burnout Fueled Kuhu Singh to Build a Bridge Between AI and Therapy with Amber’

“I’ve been told so many times that I’m not going to be able to do this, that it doesn’t affect me anymore.”

Kuhu Singh, Founder of Amber.

Moments That Changed How I Think

Kuhu calls out something that I wasn’t even aware of anymore. That she found it weird that this podcast was hosted by a man. I’ve learned to reframe that weirdness. What matters is the stories and the lessons I get to carry with me.

Here’s what I take away from this episode:

Meaning over happiness.

Fulfillment comes from doing something meaningful, not just chasing comfort. That reminder connected me back to Viktor Frankl’s insight that meaning is more powerful than pleasure.

Stop being your own biggest critic.

“You don’t need to be a big critic of yourself. People are going to do that for you. So no need to keep questioning yourself over everything.”

Kuhu’s quote captures the key ingredient of the recipe for Imposter Syndrome. It’s so powerful, the quote is sitting on my screen to remind me to change how I think of myself.

Grateful for the voices.

I feel blessed to speak with people from so many walks of life, each making tech meaningful in their own way.

Know someone who would benefit from these notes, too? Share the episode with them using the buttons below.

A Question for You 🤔

Would you talk to AI about your mental health struggles in between sessions with a licensed therapist?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments or message me directly. I’d love to hear your take.

Coming Up On Women Disrupting Tech

We continue season five of Women Disrupting Tech with another episode packed with wisdom from Anouk Vlietman. It’s a totally different conversation from the ones that I’ve had so far, but I’m sure that you’ll like it.

To get you warmed up, here’s Anouk’s answer to the question how we can make inclusion the new normal in tech:

Click to listen to Anouk’s view on inclusion.

So stay tuned for this and much more on Women Disrupting Tech.

And, as always, Keep Being Awesome!

Listen to Episode 118 on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube

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About Kuhu Singh

Kuhu Singh is the founder of Amber, an AI mental health companion built to make therapy-like support accessible and culturally sensitive. Her journey started in marketing at Optimizely, where she learned that building something is only one step in the process—you have to put it out into the world. Burnout led her to seek a deeper purpose. Expresso was her first company. And out of that experience, she built Amber with renewed clarity and purpose.

You can connect with Kuhu on LinkedIn.

About Amber

Amber is a therapy-like AI companion designed to bridge the gap between AI and traditional therapy. Inspired by Kuhu Singh’s own experience with burnout, Amber offers a space to talk when therapy is out of reach—whether because of cost, access, or stigma.

You can try Amber out for yourself by visiting the website. Not ready yet? You can follow Amber on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Events that Women Disrupting Tech Must-Attend

You’d think that there are no events in the summer. Well, I’ve found some cool ones. Below is one event you definitely want to check out. For a full overview of all events, including links to buy tickets, please check the events page.

Founders Beach Series | Edition 3: Tech & Soul

Date: 11 September 2025
Location: Mango’s Beach Bar, Zandvoort
Time: 15:00 – 22:00 hours
Tickets: On Luma

Diverse Leaders in Tech Events

If you like being in the know about what is happening in the DEI space, Diverse Leaders in Tech is the place to be.

Every last Thursday of the month, they have monthly in-person meetups for tech people, HR leaders and supporters of diversity to exchange insights, tackle challenges, and take action. It’s a vibrant, safe space where diversity is celebrated.

You can find their events on the website. Joining your first event is free.

Women’s Health In The Workplace

Date: 1 October 2025
Location: Equals, Amsterdam
Time: 12:00 – 27:00 hours
Tickets: on Eventbrite

Closing

What makes Kuhu such a powerful guide is her mix of wisdom and stubbornness. She shows us that resilience is not about having all the answers. It is about asking the right questions, trusting your own path, and building with purpose.

Trust, after all, is at the heart of her work. Whether finding a co-founder, seeking therapy, or turning doubt into determination, it is trust that builds bridges between people and between technology and care.

When you’re curious about how an AI companion like Amber might reshape therapy-like conversations, listen to Episode 117 of Women Disrupting Tech by hitting play above or listening on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

From Burnout to AI Founder with Kuhu Singh | Show notes episode 117

3 Lessons From This Conversation

An important note on using AI for mental health purposes

Meaningful moments and timestamps