Dear Cocoa: The Wellness App for Women of Color
Healing shouldn't be lonely. Help us build the in-between.
Project Description
🤎 Our Mission
Dear Cocoa exists for one reason — because healing should never be lonely.
We are building the first AI-powered journaling and wellness community designed specifically for women of color — a safe, culturally intelligent space that fills the gap between therapy sessions, between hard moments, between feeling alone and feeling held.
This is not a generic wellness app with a diversity filter applied. This was built from the inside out — by a Black woman, for women of color, from a real 2am moment of needing something that did not exist and deciding to build it anyway.
💔 The Problem
Women of color are the most underserved demographic in mental healthcare. We face disproportionate rates of chronic stress, trauma, and anxiety — and simultaneously the greatest barriers to accessing consistent, culturally competent support.
Therapy is essential. But therapy is also once a week, if you can afford it, if you can access it, if you can find someone who understands your experience without requiring you to explain yourself from the beginning.
What happens in between?
She cries in the car before walking into work. She processes her pain in the notes app at 2am. She carries everyone else's healing while her own sits untouched. She performs strength because no one ever gave her permission to put it down.
There is no app built for her. Until now.
📊 The Market Opportunity
The mental health app market is currently valued at $8.53 billion and projected to reach $36.44 billion by 2034. Mental health apps represent nearly 59% of the entire wellness app market — and that number is climbing.
Despite this explosive growth not one major platform was built specifically for women of color. The market gap is not just cultural — it is financial. An entirely underserved community of millions of women represents billions in untapped market opportunity.
Dear Cocoa is not entering a crowded market. We are creating our own.
🌸 What Dear Cocoa Is and How It Works
Dear Cocoa is an AI-powered journaling and wellness community built for women of color healing in the in-between. Here is what lives inside:
Cocoa AI — A culturally intelligent AI companion rooted in neuropsychology. She speaks the language of Black and brown women's lived experiences without requiring explanation. She is not a chatbot. She is the sister, the aunt, the friend who already understands. Built on a metacognitive AI framework that uses 85-90% less water than standard generative AI — because healing the community should not cost the planet.
Journal & Mood Tracker — Guided journaling with mood tracking that generates a detailed session summary users can bring directly to their therapist. Dear Cocoa does not replace therapy. It makes therapy more efficient, more focused, and more healing.
The Grounding Space — A dedicated space for nervous system regulation including guided breathing exercises, a free creative canvas, and Cocoabloom — an original interactive game where users build a bouquet of flowers using affirmations. Because healing can also be beautiful.
Period Tracker — Cycle tracking with dedicated perimenopause and menopause modes — because our hormonal health matters too and no one else is tracking it with us in mind.
Community — A safe, moderated space where women of color heal together instead of in isolation. You do not have to explain yourself here. You just come in.
IRL Events — Monthly in-person experiences across Atlanta featuring brand partnerships, wellness activations, and sisterhood. Because some healing has to happen in the same room.
Therapy Integration — Partnered with Grow Therapy to provide seamless access to therapy resources and referrals directly inside the app.
💸 Why We Are Seeking Funding and How We Will Use It
Four months ago Dear Cocoa was an idea born from a 2am moment of needing something that did not exist.
Today we have a complete MVP. A culturally intelligent AI framework. A development contract with a Black women owned tech firm. A partnership with Grow Therapy. A New Year's Eve launch party with a major cultural media brand. A full year event calendar. A July proof of concept pop-up event with Camille Rose Naturals and Black Girl Pilates already confirmed.
The only thing standing between Dear Cocoa and the women waiting for it is funding.
We are raising $14,000 to cover two critical milestones:
$4,000 — Development Deposit This secures our spot with our development team and begins building the app immediately. Without this deposit by May 2026 we lose our January 2027 launch date and delay access to every woman who needs this now.
$10,000 — July 2026 Pop-Up Event Our proof of concept event — the first live Dear Cocoa community activation — partnering with Camille Rose Naturals and Black Girl Pilates. This event generates the real world content, community data, and brand traction that opens every door that comes next — investors, press, additional partnerships, and the women who need this app most.
Every single dollar raised goes directly into building something that has never existed before. For women who have never had it.
👑 Who We Are
Miya Walker — Founder & CEO
I am a single mother, a former behavioral therapist, a psychology student with a neuropsychology focus, and the woman who built Dear Cocoa at 2am because I needed it and it did not exist.
I am raising my four year old autistic son, studying the neuropsychological foundations that power this app, and building this company on $996 a month because I believe women of color deserve a safe, intelligent, culturally fluent place to heal — and I was not willing to wait for someone else to build it.
I was Dear Cocoa's first user. That is why I will never stop building it.
Our Development Team — Vivify Solutions A Black women owned tech firm bringing enterprise level mobile and web development experience to Dear Cocoa's build. Their discovery first approach, in house senior engineering team, and commitment to post launch beta testing and maintenance makes them the right partner to bring this vision to life by January 2027.
Our Therapy Partner — Grow Therapy Providing integrated therapy resources and referrals inside the app — ensuring Dear Cocoa is a clinical ally not just a consumer product.
🌺 A Note to Our Backers
If you are reading this you are already part of the Dear Cocoa story.
You found this campaign because something in you recognized the need for it — maybe because you have had your own 2am moment, maybe because you love someone who has, maybe because you have been waiting for a space that finally feels like it was built for you.
Whatever brought you here — thank you.
You are not just funding an app. You are funding the moment a woman opens Dear Cocoa at 2am and realizes for the first time that she is not alone. You are funding the little girl who will grow up watching her mother heal out loud and learn that softness is not weakness. You are funding the therapy session that finally goes deeper because her therapist had a real window into her week. You are funding the event where two strangers become sisters because they finally found a room full of women who understand.
Every dollar you contribute — whether it is $25 or $500 — is a vote that women of color deserve to be centered in their own healing. That their stories are worth protecting. That their data is worth keeping safe. That their peace is worth building technology for.
We see you. We are grateful for you. And when Dear Cocoa launches on January 1st 2027 — you will have been part of making that moment possible from the very beginning.
You are a Dear Cocoa Founding Sister. And we will never forget that.
With love and gratitude — Miya Walker Founder, Dear Cocoa 🤎
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Dear Cocoa?
Dear Cocoa is the first AI-powered journaling and wellness community built specifically for women of color. We fill the gap between therapy sessions — making healing less lonely and therapy more efficient through a culturally intelligent AI companion, guided journaling, mood tracking, a period tracker, an in-app community, and monthly in-person events. We are not a generic wellness app. We were built from lived experience, for a community that has been underserved by every existing solution.
Who built this and why?
Dear Cocoa was founded by Miya Walker — a single mother, former behavioral therapist, and psychology student with a neuropsychology focus. Miya built Dear Cocoa at 2am during a moment of needing something that did not exist. She was postpartum, exhausted, and alone with nowhere to turn that felt safe, culturally fluent, and genuinely built for her. Rather than wait for someone else to build it she created it herself. Every feature, every word, every decision inside Dear Cocoa comes from that moment and from the millions of women who have lived it too.
Is the app built yet?
Yes — we have a complete MVP. The app has been designed, the AI framework has been developed, and we have signed a development contract with Vivify Solutions — a Black women owned tech firm — to bring the full version to life. This campaign funds the development deposit that secures our January 2027 launch date and our July 2026 proof of concept pop-up event.
When does the app launch?
Dear Cocoa launches January 1st 2027 — at midnight, right into the new year, at our New Year's Eve launch party in Atlanta partnering with a major cultural media brand. Founding members will receive early access before the public launch.
What makes Dear Cocoa different from other mental health apps?
Three things set Dear Cocoa completely apart:
First — cultural specificity. Dear Cocoa was built exclusively for women of color. Not adapted for us. Not diversity marketed to us. Built for us from the ground up by a woman who is us.
Second — our AI is different. Most mental health apps use generative AI that thinks for you. Dear Cocoa uses a metacognitive reflective model that organizes your own thoughts and returns them to you with psychological clarity. We do not put words in your mouth. We help you find your own. Our framework also uses 85-90% less water than standard generative AI — because healing the community should not cost the planet.
Third — we exist in real life. Monthly IRL events create genuine sisterhood between women who met through the app. You are not just downloading a product. You are entering a community that shows up for you both on screen and in person.
What is the AI companion Cocoa and how does she work?
Cocoa is a culturally intelligent AI companion rooted in neuropsychology and trauma informed care. She speaks the specific language of Black and brown women's lived experiences without requiring explanation. She understands what it means to be strong for everyone else. She understands the 2am feeling. She understands the nervous system, the trauma bond, the postpartum moment, the grief that will not move.
She is not a therapist and she does not pretend to be. She is the in-between — the safe, always available presence that holds space until the next therapy appointment, the next conversation, the next moment of clarity. For escalated emotional moments she integrates Claude AI — one of the most safety conscious AI systems available — to ensure every interaction is handled with care.
Will my data be safe?
Absolutely. Data privacy is not a feature at Dear Cocoa — it is a foundation. We do not sell user data to third parties. Ever. Women of color are already navigating a world that has historically exploited their information, their labor, and their stories. Dear Cocoa will never be another institution that does that. Your healing stays yours.
Does Dear Cocoa replace therapy?
No — and this is intentional. Dear Cocoa is a clinical ally not a clinical replacement. Our journal and mood tracking features generate detailed session summaries users can bring directly to their therapist — making professional sessions more focused, more efficient, and more healing. We are partnered with Grow Therapy to provide integrated therapy resources and referrals inside the app. We make therapy better. We do not replace it.
What are the IRL events and how do I access them?
Dear Cocoa hosts monthly in-person events in Atlanta featuring brand partnerships, wellness activations, cultural experiences, and sisterhood. Events are accessible exclusively through the app — Pro subscribers RSVP for free, and non-subscribers can purchase tickets at $25. Events are intentionally intimate — under 50 attendees — creating real connection rather than a crowd. Our 2027 calendar includes a vision board launch party, a Galentines bouquet making experience, a sip and paint, an Autism Awareness Month aquarium event, a Juneteenth mansion cookout, a Spelman college campus takeover, and more. National expansion begins in 2028.
What is the Founding Member reward and when will I receive it?
Founding Member rewards are delivered as follows:
- Digital thank you notes — within 48 hours of your contribution
- Personal voice notes from Miya — within one week of your contribution
- Early app access — 2-4 weeks before the January 1st 2027 public launch
- Lifetime Pro Access — activated at launch and valid for the life of the app
- Event access — redeemable at any Dear Cocoa event beginning January 2027
- One on one call with Miya — scheduled within 60 days of campaign close for Co-Conspirator tier
What happens if you do not reach your funding goal?
We are using Hinter Fund's flexible funding model — which means every dollar raised comes directly to Dear Cocoa regardless of whether we hit our goal. No contribution is wasted. If we raise $500 it goes toward the deposit. If we raise $5,000 it goes toward the deposit and the event. If we raise $50,000 it accelerates every milestone on our roadmap. Every dollar moves Dear Cocoa forward.
What if the app is delayed beyond January 2027?
We are committed to our January 2027 launch date and have structured our entire development timeline, event calendar, and partnership agreements around it. Our development partner Vivify Solutions has confirmed January 2027 is achievable with a May 2026 start date. In the unlikely event of a delay all Founding Member rewards remain valid and all backers will be notified immediately with a transparent update on the new timeline.
How can I support Dear Cocoa beyond contributing to the campaign?
Share this campaign with every woman in your life who has ever had a 2am moment. Share it with every person who believes women of color deserve to be centered in wellness technology. Share it with investors, brand partners, therapists, and community builders who want to be part of something that matters.
You can also follow Dear Cocoa's journey on LinkedIn where our founder Miya Walker shares behind the scenes content, psychology insights, and the real unfiltered story of building something from nothing.
Every share puts Dear Cocoa in front of someone who needs it. And that is the whole point.
I am a brand, investor, or media partner interested in working with Dear Cocoa. How do I get in touch?
We would love to connect. Please reach out directly to our founder at [email protected] or follow us on all socials at DearCocoa.App. We are actively building partnerships with beauty, wellness, and lifestyle brands for our IRL events and are open to investor conversations post launch. If Dear Cocoa's mission resonates with your brand's values we want to hear from you.
One last thing — from Miya:
If you made it to the bottom of this FAQ you are already someone who cares deeply about what we are building. That means you are already part of this community whether you contribute $15 or $500 or simply share this page with one person who needs it.
Dear Cocoa was built for the woman who has been everything for everyone else and has never had a space that was just hers. Help us give her that space.
Thank you for being here. It means more than you know.
— Miya 🤎
Just Because I Care
For the woman who believes in the vision and wants to be part of the beginning.
- Your name listed on the Dear Cocoa website as a Founding Supporter
- A personal digital thank you note from Miya
Every seed matters. Thank you for planting yours.
Our most popular tier — and the one closest to Miya's heart.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa ($12.99/month value — pays for itself in 4 months)
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- Your name on the Dear Cocoa website as a Founding Sister
- Personal digital thank you note from Miya
You believed before there was anything to download. That means everything.
For the woman who is all in.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- One free ticket to any Dear Cocoa event in 2027 (a $25 value per event — 12 events to choose from)
- Your name on the Dear Cocoa website as a Founding Sister
- Personal digital thank you note from Miya
You are not just supporting the app. You are coming to the table.
For the woman who wants to go all in on something that matters.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- Unlimited free event access for all of 2027 — every single Dear Cocoa event, all year
- Early access to the app before public launch
- A personal voice note from Miya thanking you by name for making this possible
- Your name on the Dear Cocoa website as a Champion
You are the reason this exists. We will never forget it.
For the rare person who sees the full vision and wants to be woven into the fabric of it.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- Unlimited free event access for all of 2027 AND 2028
- Early access to the app before public launch
- A 30 minute one on one call with Miya — strategy, healing, business, whatever you need
- Your name in the app credits as someone who helped build Dear Cocoa from the ground up
- A personal voice note from Miya
- Co-Conspirator recognition on the Dear Cocoa website forever
You did not just fund an app. You co-signed a movement.
Rewards
Just Because I Care
For the woman who believes in the vision and wants to be part of the beginning.
- Your name listed on the Dear Cocoa website as a Founding Supporter
- A personal digital thank you note from Miya
Every seed matters. Thank you for planting yours.
Our most popular tier — and the one closest to Miya's heart.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa ($12.99/month value — pays for itself in 4 months)
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- Your name on the Dear Cocoa website as a Founding Sister
- Personal digital thank you note from Miya
You believed before there was anything to download. That means everything.
For the woman who is all in.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- One free ticket to any Dear Cocoa event in 2027 (a $25 value per event — 12 events to choose from)
- Your name on the Dear Cocoa website as a Founding Sister
- Personal digital thank you note from Miya
You are not just supporting the app. You are coming to the table.
For the woman who wants to go all in on something that matters.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- Unlimited free event access for all of 2027 — every single Dear Cocoa event, all year
- Early access to the app before public launch
- A personal voice note from Miya thanking you by name for making this possible
- Your name on the Dear Cocoa website as a Champion
You are the reason this exists. We will never forget it.
For the rare person who sees the full vision and wants to be woven into the fabric of it.
- Lifetime Pro Access to Dear Cocoa
- Founding Sister recognition permanently inside the app
- Unlimited free event access for all of 2027 AND 2028
- Early access to the app before public launch
- A 30 minute one on one call with Miya — strategy, healing, business, whatever you need
- Your name in the app credits as someone who helped build Dear Cocoa from the ground up
- A personal voice note from Miya
- Co-Conspirator recognition on the Dear Cocoa website forever
You did not just fund an app. You co-signed a movement.