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#4 - Can AI Be the Therapist for 1 Billion People? | Hannes Klöpper
In this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, host Dominic James is joined by Hannes Klöpper to explore the urgent need for scalable, accessible mental health solutions. With over one billion people worldwide affected by mental health disorders and a critical shortage of trained professionals, the demand for innovation has never been more pressing.
Digital and AI-powered mental health tools are stepping in to fill the gap, offering personalized support and expanding care beyond traditional clinical settings. Hannes shares how HelloBetter is pioneering digital therapeutics (DTx) for a broad range of conditions, backed by rigorous clinical evidence and available by prescription in Germany.
Together, they unpack the promise and complexity of digital mental health, from AI-driven communication tools to blended care models and the evolving regulatory landscape. This episode offers a timely look at how technology is transforming mental health care and empowering individuals to take control of their well-being.
Key Topics Covered
- A billion people seeking help for mental health and the decline of therapists
- Effective, scalable and affordable digital mental health solutions
- Demystifying digital therapeutics for mental health
- Therapists vs digital tools: complementary or competitive?
- The German DIGA model for digital health reimbursement
- Why care follows reimbursement: unlocking access through policy
- AI support for relationship building and communication
- Blended care: the future of digital and AI-enabled therapy
- The European AI Act and its implications for mental health innovation
About Hannes
Chief Executive Officer. HelloBetter
Hannes Klöpper is the CEO and Co-founder of HelloBetter, a company transforming mental health care through clinically validated digital therapeutics. With over 30 randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals, HelloBetter’s programs are available by prescription in Germany and are setting a new standard for accessible, evidence-based mental health support. Hannes is a leading voice in the digital health space, advocating for innovation that is both scalable and deeply human.
About Dom
Dominic brings two decades of experience as a former Global Health Innovation Leader. He is on the Advisory Board of Health Start-ups, a stealth co-founder, start-up mentor, and speaker. He holds a BSc in Mathematics & Computing and an MSc In Management Science. Dominic has lived and worked globally and is now based in London, UK.
Links
- Hannes’ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanneskloepper/
- HelloBetter website - https://hellobetter.de/
- WHO article - 1 Billion - https://www.who.int/news/item/02-09-2025-over-a-billion-people-living-with-mental-health-conditions-services-require-urgent-scale-up
- Harvard Business Review use of AI report - http://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025
- New England Journal of Medicine AI chatbot for therapy - https://ai.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/AIoa2400802
- Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.future-centric.com/health-in-hyperdrive
- @DomJamesHiH - TikTok / X / Insta / YouTube
- Produced by https://www.explosivebrands.com/
View all episodes
By Dominic JamesIn this episode of Health in Hyperdrive, host Dominic James is joined by Hannes Klöpper to explore the urgent need for scalable, accessible mental health solutions. With over one billion people worldwide affected by mental health disorders and a critical shortage of trained professionals, the demand for innovation has never been more pressing.
Digital and AI-powered mental health tools are stepping in to fill the gap, offering personalized support and expanding care beyond traditional clinical settings. Hannes shares how HelloBetter is pioneering digital therapeutics (DTx) for a broad range of conditions, backed by rigorous clinical evidence and available by prescription in Germany.
Together, they unpack the promise and complexity of digital mental health, from AI-driven communication tools to blended care models and the evolving regulatory landscape. This episode offers a timely look at how technology is transforming mental health care and empowering individuals to take control of their well-being.
Key Topics Covered
- A billion people seeking help for mental health and the decline of therapists
- Effective, scalable and affordable digital mental health solutions
- Demystifying digital therapeutics for mental health
- Therapists vs digital tools: complementary or competitive?
- The German DIGA model for digital health reimbursement
- Why care follows reimbursement: unlocking access through policy
- AI support for relationship building and communication
- Blended care: the future of digital and AI-enabled therapy
- The European AI Act and its implications for mental health innovation
About Hannes
Chief Executive Officer. HelloBetter
Hannes Klöpper is the CEO and Co-founder of HelloBetter, a company transforming mental health care through clinically validated digital therapeutics. With over 30 randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals, HelloBetter’s programs are available by prescription in Germany and are setting a new standard for accessible, evidence-based mental health support. Hannes is a leading voice in the digital health space, advocating for innovation that is both scalable and deeply human.
About Dom
Dominic brings two decades of experience as a former Global Health Innovation Leader. He is on the Advisory Board of Health Start-ups, a stealth co-founder, start-up mentor, and speaker. He holds a BSc in Mathematics & Computing and an MSc In Management Science. Dominic has lived and worked globally and is now based in London, UK.
Links
- Hannes’ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanneskloepper/
- HelloBetter website - https://hellobetter.de/
- WHO article - 1 Billion - https://www.who.int/news/item/02-09-2025-over-a-billion-people-living-with-mental-health-conditions-services-require-urgent-scale-up
- Harvard Business Review use of AI report - http://hbr.org/2025/04/how-people-are-really-using-gen-ai-in-2025
- New England Journal of Medicine AI chatbot for therapy - https://ai.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/AIoa2400802
- Health in Hyperdrive website - https://www.future-centric.com/health-in-hyperdrive
- @DomJamesHiH - TikTok / X / Insta / YouTube
- Produced by https://www.explosivebrands.com/