Who We Are
We are a team of computer scientists and clinical psychologists from Duke University passionate about mental health
Dr. Kibby McMahon
(Chief Executive Officer)
Dr. Kibby McMahon is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of KulaMind. She completed her BA at Columbia University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Duke University. She is an expert in treating loved ones and caregivers of people with mental health issues. To support loved ones, she hosts a podcast called “A Little Help For Our Friends,” publishes in the media, and provides coaching sessions. From her own family struggles with mental health and treating clients with cognitive behavioral therapy, she sees first-hand how many people need to feel seen and supported.
Find Kibby on LinkedIn
Sida Zhu
(Chief Technology Officer)
Sida Zhu is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of KulaMind. He was previously an AI researcher at the General Robotics Lab at Duke University where he built an AI and human collaboration platform. He completed his Bachelors of science at Syracuse University and his Masters of Science at Duke University. He comes from a culture where mental health is greatly stigmatized. When the pandemic hit, his own mental health struggles inspired him to create novel solutions at KulaMind for pressing mental health problems.
Find Sida on LinkedIn.
Jan Appel
(Product Designer)
Jan Appel is a Product Designer at KulaMind, specializing in crafting designs that prioritize positive user experiences. Jan has worked on a wide range of projects, focusing on UI/UX design to enhance user satisfaction and engagement. He earned his MFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in 2020 and previously taught various design and art history courses at several post-secondary institutions. Jan’s personal relationship with mental health fuels his passion for developing solutions to support others in their mental health journeys.
Find Jan on LinkedIn.