What began as a pitch at the University of Washington’s Sacia Digital Health Innovation Workshop has grown into an award-winning digital health platform aimed at revolutionizing mental wellness.
Last fall, Vincent Da, a second-year Master of Health Administration (MHA) student and budding entrepreneur stood before a room of local industry leaders and venture capital (VC) health tech experts, presenting an idea that had been in development for months—a digital app integrating nature therapy to support mental well-being. The experience proved to be more than just an opportunity to pitch.
“The feedback I received that day was invaluable,” Da recalled. “These experts didn’t just validate the idea; they challenged me to refine and expand it.”
Encouraged by the insights gained, the concept was submitted to Trinity University’s PRISm competition, a prestigious event fostering innovation in health and digital technology. But the journey didn’t stop there. Recognizing the need for collaboration, Da teamed up with Tanmay Soni Khilnani, a like-minded colleague who shared a passion for leveraging technology to improve mental health outcomes. Together, they co-founded Sereni-Tree, a digital health platform designed to make nature therapy accessible through technology.
Their motivation stemmed from a growing concern over rising stress levels among young adults and widening disparities in mental health access. “Stress and mental health challenges affect everyone, but not equally,” Da explained. “We wanted to build something that not only acknowledges this reality but also provides an inclusive and impactful solution.”
Sereni-Tree was designed to bridge the gap between nature’s healing benefits and the convenience of digital tools, offering evidence-based strategies to promote resilience and balance in a fast-paced world.
The platform’s innovative approach resonated with judges at the PRISm competition. Sereni-Tree won the “Transforming Healthcare and Wellness” category and secured second place overall—a recognition that underscored the platform’s potential impact.
“The experience was both exhilarating and humbling,” the founders shared. “This is just the beginning of our journey to make mental wellness more accessible for all.”
With their success at PRISm, the Sereni-Tree team is now looking ahead, exploring ways to expand their platform and bring digital nature therapy to those who need it most.