Dell InnovateFest 2025 uses AI to address mental health issues
The inter-tertiary school competition promotes AI skills and innovation
[SINGAPORE] MindEase is a cloud-native, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet-of-Things-powered solution created with one goal in mind – to improve the mental wellness of caregivers.
It comprises a smartwatch for persons with intellectual disabilities (PWIDs), a digital companion, and a web application for caregivers.
The smartwatch contains sensors including accelerometers, heart-rate sensors, microphones and a camera. These enable caregivers to understand the PWID’s current environment better and video call them if necessary via the web application. They can also use the app to set up safe zones and trigger alerts.
19-year-old Jeffrey Lee, who created MindEase along with four other Ngee Ann Polytechnic students, said: “We know that caring for PWIDs can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with stress and burnout. MindEase addresses this by giving caregivers reassurance, balance and peace of mind.”
The main feature of MindEase is Fuku, a digital companion embedded within the smartwatch that helps PWIDs regulate their emotions via self-calming exercises, build confidence through games and conversation, and explore designated safety zones. It uses conversational AI and adaptive prompts to coach PWIDs.
“By empowering PWIDs to be more independent, MindEase directly reduces the constant supervision burden on caregivers, giving them the space to recharge and maintain their own mental well-being,” Lee added.
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Ryan Sim, solutions architect, AI engineering at Dell Technologies, mentored the team and said the sensors can detect when a PWID is having an episode of frustration and help them calm down.
“This allows for the resolution of smaller issues before troubling the caregiver to be physically present to calm down the PWID, relieving some of the caregiver stress and helping to minimise disruptions,” he noted.
Tech for good
The team behind MindEase was announced as the winner of the polytechnic track at Dell InnovateFest 2025 on Monday (Sep 29), and they will receive S$10,000 and mentorship from industry experts. Dell InnovateFest is an inter-tertiary school competition launched by the Dell Technologies APJ AI Innovation Hub to promote AI skills and innovation.
Ng Nam Guan, general manager and head, global smart cities and APJ AI Innovation Hub, Dell Technologies, said: “With Dell InnovateFest, we want to create a platform where aspiring young technologists from various Institutes of Higher Learning… could come together to develop innovative technology solutions addressing meaningful social challenges.”
This year’s edition focuses on mental health challenges of teenagers and caregivers of PWIDs and is in partnership with Minds and the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH). Fifty-five finalists from 10 educational institutions in Singapore participated.
Kelvin Koh, chief executive of Minds, acknowledged the vital role tech can play in this landscape. “From assistive communication tools to AI-driven mood tracking and personalised content delivery, technology can help PWIDs feel heard and understood.”
Lending a (virtual) hand
Despite progress in how mental health is perceived, challenges remain.
Ngo Lee Yian, executive director of SAMH, said: “Stigma still remains a key challenge, particularly around seeking help, which may deter individuals from reaching out when they need support most… More education and awareness are needed to foster empathy and support.”
Tech can help to address these issues – not by replacing human care, but enabling and complementing services to make them more scalable and timely.
She added: “The projects propose interactive ways to engage youth with the aim to identify early signs of distress among young people through their daily digital interactions, and also provide gentle nudges towards professional help when needed and connection with the community.”
For example, 24-year-old Tay Jeung Hong and five students from the Singapore Institute of Technology (University of Glasgow Singapore) developed Someone, a mental wellness app for teens.
“In real life, a teen feeling isolated or overwhelmed can use the app to understand their emotions through a private journal, find practical advice, and connect with peers in a safe community, ensuring they get the right support at the right time,” Tay said.
He noticed that traditional support is not always accessible, and teens often refrain from speaking up due to a fear of being judged. The app uses agent-based AI architecture to provide users with a personalised experience, with AI agents operating in the background instead of a simple chatbot.
Tay added: “(The agents) can detect emotional patterns in journal entries to suggest helpful resources or notice when a user might need a crisis helpline – all without being intrusive.”
Both Lee and Tay aim to develop their solutions further, and are keen to work with community partners.
Dell’s Ng also hopes the participants can move forward with their projects.
“We hope that Dell InnovateFest encourages students to think beyond just building solutions to consider the broader implications of technology for accessibility, inclusion and ethical responsibility,” he said.
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