We recently connected with Ivan Tchatchouwo and have shared our conversation below.

Ivan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The story behind our mission is deeply personal. I remember being in my dorm room after dislocating my patella for the third time, feeling utterly lost and depending on drinking to numb my thoughts. For almost three months, I struggled without knowing how to express my emotions because I had never seen it done before. My world, which revolved around basketball, came to a sudden halt.

It was during this challenging period that I met Dr. Diaz, a licensed psychologist, who helped me navigate through the darkness. His guidance was transformative and showed me the power of mental health support. This experience made me realize the critical need for accessible mental health resources for athletes.

The Zone’s mission to amplify wellness staff members and provide scalable and efficient mental health support to athletes and staff comes from this personal journey. I almost went down the wrong path, and now I am dedicated to ensuring that others have the support they need to thrive, both mentally and physically.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those who may not know me, I’m Ivan Tchatchouwo, CEO of The Zone. My journey into mental health advocacy began after a personal struggle as an athlete. Following my third patella dislocation, I found myself in a dark place, relying on alcohol to cope until I received life-changing help from Dr. Diaz, a licensed psychologist. This experience inspired me to ensure all athletes have access to the mental health support they need.

The Zone’s vision is to revolutionize mental health in sports by providing health tech software, resources, and tools tailored for professional teams, colleges, and high schools. Our mission is to address sports organizations’ unique mental health challenges and create supportive environments.

What sets us apart is our deep understanding of sports culture and the specific needs of athletes and staff. I’m particularly proud of our two biggest outcomes: tripling access to support for our partner organizations and significantly improving the moods of female athletes after just 15 in-app uses.

To potential clients and followers: The Zone is committed to supporting you. We prioritize mental health as much as physical health, striving to eliminate stigma and help your organization excel both on and off the field.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Wow, this question is impactful because it highlights the resilience needed to be a founder. My journey began after an injury sparked my interest in sports medicine, leading me to earn a master’s degree in applied physiology from Columbia University’s Teachers College. During this time, I worked at a fitness facility as the director of wellness.

The clients there were more than just customers; they were my friends and family round who first believed in me. I built long-term friendships, and when I shared my ideas with them, they were eager to help. I raised $285k from these clients, which allowed us to build our first product and secure our initial customers. Their investment and introductions were crucial, teaching me the importance of excelling wherever you are because you never know who’s watching.

Without their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. This experience reinforced the value of community and the power of believing in your vision.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We have built trust in the market by sharing stories that resonate with our audience and drawing from our personal journeys. All three co-founders have deep experience in both sports and mental health, which allows us to be genuine and relatable. This authenticity is our secret sauce, enabling us to leverage our relationships and personal experiences to tackle this problem effectively.

I believe in the saying, “grow through what you go through,” and this philosophy guides us internally. It has empowered us to address the significant mental health challenges we face today. The market increasingly values mission-driven companies that are authentic, and we are well-positioned because our mission is rooted in personal experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.itsthezone.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsthezone/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thezonesports/?viewAsMember=true
• Twitter: https://x.com/itsTheZone?mx=2
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9DhcStRpAzpIaIp5Jh8fAQ