Fund Me, KC: Mind Star App ‘needed in my darkest moments,’ says founder, survivor of depression

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses. This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs — like Kristin Rulon with her Mind Star Health campaign — to share their crowdfunding stories to gain a little help from their supporters.

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Kristin Rulon, Mind Star Health

Who are you?

Kristin Rulon, founder and CEO of Mind Star Health. I’m a mental health advocate, self-care specialist, writer and speaker. I believe in the power of vulnerability and resiliency.

What is Mind Star?

Mind Star is my company Mind Star Health’s app. Mind Star is an app that gamifies self-care and rewards users for taking care of themselves with free or discounted products from businesses.

Users will also be able to connect with healthcare professionals easier through the a healthcare marketplace. On our Help page, health professionals can list their services, including what insurances they accept, for a small monthly fee. While the app’s development has been our focus, we are more than just an app. Our company’s mission is to advocate self-care education and awareness for all minds because all minds deserve to shine.

What’s your ‘why’?

I’m a survivor of severe postpartum depression and anxiety. Before that experience, I was more than happy having a job as a magazine editor, raising our kids, spending time with family and friends, and traveling when possible.

During my season of having a serious mental health condition, I decided to use my journalistic brain to heal myself. I began studying the mind from various viewpoints. I became obsessed with emotional health and self-care.

Mind Star is the app I needed in my darkest moments.

We all need encouragement and guidance at times. Many people want to take care of themselves but don’t honestly know who they are or what they enjoy. Self-care is just as much about self-discovery as it is about self-love. It’s not your mental health, It’s not my mental health. It’s our mental health. And when we start taking ownership of that, which I believe we can, that’s how we change and save lives.

Mind Star essentially is hope.

How much do you hope to raise with the crowdfunding campaign?

$25,000

What do you plan to use the funds for?

Finish complying with Apple’s recent changes for iOS apps, and launch.

Click here to check out the Mind Star App campaign.

How are you differentiating your campaign?

We offer some unique rewards. Our feature reward is a course I create called “Self-Care 101.” The information in this course would typically be hundreds of dollars and we are giving it to contributors for $10. Why? Because mental health education shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.

In the course, I go over the self-care wheel which lists the different types of self-care, self-care tips and insights, and we take a look at some of the myths around self-care (i.e. self-care is for the wealthy, only for women and selfish) and how to approach these myths so you can thrive professionally and personally. We are also offering group and private coaching with me!

I’m excited to offer these rewards along with resume design and proofreading.

Is there anything quirky with your campaign?

Well, you have to be quirky to go from being a magazine editor to a self-care specialist and app developer. Our Self-Care 101 course I’d say is pretty unique because of the amount of information and insight available in the hour-long course. There’s nothing salesy about it. Just straight facts and insights for an hour, and from what I’m told, it’s an hour well spent.

What’s some advice you have to others launching a crowdfunding campaign?

Don’t be afraid to ask! Be confident and authentic in your message. The right people will see it. Don’t worry about coming off salesy, do what feels right to you and it will all flow.

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If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com

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This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn