In this interview, we explore the inspirations, challenges, and achievements behind the development of a platform that uses artificial intelligence to improve mental health treatments, while ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive data. The platform is being incubated at the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
We also take a closer look at her next academic step—a master’s degree at Cornell Tech—and offer some advice for those hoping to study abroad.
What inspired you to create Coco, and how do you think your personal experience has influenced its development?
Coco was created in response to growing concerns about mental health, where practices remain stuck in the past without the support of technology.
We aim to strengthen the psychologist-patient relationship through personalized, ongoing therapeutic support provided by our app. We optimize the recovery process and make psychotherapy sessions more effective by connecting all patients with their psychologists.
In developing our product, I drew on my personal experience as a psychotherapy patient, a developer, and an entrepreneur. My experience at Strike, a cybersecurity startup, was essential for handling Coco’s sensitive data, as we place a strong emphasis on data security and app privacy.
When developing a platform that integrates artificial intelligence for analyzing emotions and behavioral patterns, what were the main challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
There is no doubt that the use of artificial intelligence must be handled with great care, especially in the field of mental health. For this reason, we have decided to be strict and careful in its use.
In short, we use AI to summarize patient records and identify patterns in their behavior, providing the psychologist with insights and information that would otherwise be difficult to detect. We understand the importance of the psychologist and consider them irreplaceable, which is why we present the results directly to the psychologist rather than to the patient.
In addition, we’ve added a psychologist to the team who is responsible for providing the necessary context to both the team and our AI so that they can understand the domain and develop the application using the appropriate theoretical framework
Can you share any data or studies that demonstrate Coco’s effectiveness in enhancing cognitive-behavioral therapy? What feedback have you received from psychologists and patients who use the app?
We have received feedback and messages from psychologists, psychological organizations, and even government agencies expressing interest in using Coco to improve processes and achieve better outcomes for people undergoing psychotherapy.
Coco is based on the premise that if professionals have access to more high-quality information, they can prepare and deliver better treatments, thereby improving patient response times and making the most of session time.
Given that your app handles such sensitive data, what measures have you put in place to ensure user privacy and security?
Our team includes developers with experience in cybersecurity and the implementation of health certifications for technology products. This expertise was essential to the development of a secure application.
We have built a security-focused infrastructure that complies with certifications and regulations, such as HIPAA and the Personal Data Protection Act (Law 18331). Among the measures we have implemented are encryption at rest (AES-256), databases on private networks with restricted access, and monitoring of infrastructure activities. We are also in the process of implementing additional security measures, such as two-factor authentication.
As for the master’s degree you’re going to pursue in the United States, how did that opportunity come about, and what is the program about?
After earning my degree in Systems Engineering and studying in Uruguay and Italy, I realized how important it is to understand how the world works at the highest level. To that end, I applied to the world’s top universities for computer science programs. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the Master of Engineering in Computer Science program at Cornell Tech.
Cornell Tech's Master of Science in Engineering in Computer Science program focuses on combining technology, entrepreneurship, and creativity to train highly skilled professionals in computer science and prepare them to tackle today's technological challenges.
What are your expectations for this opportunity?
I think this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One of my core principles is building meaningful relationships, and I’m confident that this opportunity will allow me to meet, connect with, and learn from the world’s top talent.
What advice would you give to other students who want to study abroad? How should they prepare?
Patience, hard work, and confidence. Applying to a top university always takes a lot of time, effort, and money. From analyzing the curriculum to see if it’s a good fit for you, all the way to the point where you create and submit your application forms and videos explaining why you should be chosen.
It's hard to get accepted, which is why you should apply to as many universities as you can, but you should always stay confident that you can get in, and know that you're not as far off as it sometimes seems.
If you know someone who's already gone through the process, they can be a huge help, and if you don't, I'm here to help anyone who needs it.