1SpecialPlace

Founded by Pratiksha Gupta , 1SpecialPlace is India’s first fully integrated teletherapy platform. When Pratiksha moved cities after 20 years of clinical practice, her patients were left without support—there were no qualified therapists nearby. That moment sparked an idea: what if therapy could travel with you? Today, 1SpecialPlace brings speech therapy, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, and special education directly into homes across 80+ countries, proving that geography should never be a barrier to life-changing care.

What are they building?

1SpecialPlace is a teletherapy ecosystem that delivers professional therapy services online for children, adults, and seniors with communication, learning, and special needs.

Whether it’s a child who’s delayed in speech, an adult recovering from a stroke, or a senior needing mental health support, 1SpecialPlace makes expert care accessible—no matter where you live.

The why?

Pratiksha Gupta Wins SABLA NARI Award 2023

Pratiksha Gupta spent 20 years as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist in Delhi, building deep relationships with the families she served. But when personal circumstances required her to move to another city, reality hit hard: her patients had nowhere to go. There were no qualified therapists available. Unqualified practitioners were filling the gaps, and families were left struggling.

One story stayed with her. An Indian Air Force family stationed in a remote area discovered their child wasn’t talking on time. The nearest place for a diagnosis? 100 miles away. For young children, timing is everything—early intervention can change the trajectory of their entire life. But geography was holding them back.

That’s when Pratiksha knew: therapy couldn’t be limited by location. Armed with two decades of clinical expertise and a deep understanding of what families truly need, she built 1SpecialPlace—bringing the clinic directly into people’s homes through technology.

Over 11 years, the platform has supported more than 40,000 families across India and the global Indian diaspora. Parents have told her through tears: “Finally, I have something I can rely on.” Therapists working as moms from home say the remote model gave them financial independence they couldn’t find elsewhere.

For Pratiksha, it’s simple: everyone deserves access to quality care, no matter where they live.

SEED Inclusivity Program Journey

Before SEED Inclusivity, Pratiksha had participated in other accelerators—but they were too generic. This program was different. It was specific to disability-focused startups, which meant every session, every mentor, and every tool was actually relevant.

The biggest shift? Learning to approach growth scientifically . With guidance from her mentor Krista, Pratiksha and her team started using structured sprints and SMART goals to test hypotheses. They set out to expand into B2B partnerships with schools in Delhi NCR—identifying children early and providing therapy services directly through educational institutions.

The SIGMA platform became their planning companion. Using its AI tools to brainstorm, validate ideas, and document progress saved hours of work. As Pratiksha puts it: “It’s like having a friend who gives you five more ideas when you’re only thinking in one direction.”

Most importantly, the program gave 1SpecialPlace a boost in credibility and visibility. Referrals increased. The brand grew. And during the program, they achieved their highest number of therapy sessions and payments to date.

Recent Achievements

Supported 40,000+ families across India and 80+ countries globally

Delivered 80,000+ therapy sessions with measurable clinical outcomes

Achieved highest monthly revenue during SEED Inclusivity program

Expanded team to 40 full-time employees including therapists and support staff

Launched B2B expansion strategy targeting schools in Delhi NCR

Hired Strategic Director of Partnerships to lead institutional growth

Fully self-sustained and profitable after 11 years of operations

Recognized with awards for innovation in accessible healthcare

“When I moved cities after 20 years of practice, my patients had nowhere to turn. One parent came up and almost broke in tears saying, ‘Finally, I have something I can rely on.’ That’s when I knew—geography should never be a barrier to life-changing therapy.”

— Pratiksha Gupta, Founder & CEO