UBYou

When Jack Hellmer describes the first version of his company’s student wellness app, he calls it “a hand up, not a handout.” The phrase sums up both his philosophy and his product. UBYou is built to help students manage anxiety, stress, and isolation, the pressures of modern college life, without stigma or judgment. “We put wellness tools right in a student’s pocket,” he said. “They can use it anytime, anywhere, without having to explain what they’re going through.” 

What began as a small student project at Florida Gulf Coast University has become a multi-state initiative serving students across sixteen states. UBYou’s partnerships with universities and Greek Life chapters give college students an accessible path to mindfulness, mental health resources, and academic support. “We’re making the conversation about mental health normal,” Hellmer said. “That’s how change starts.” 

Hellmer’s story began during the summer after his freshman year at FGCU, when a series of personal losses and stresses left him struggling with anxiety. “I didn’t know what was happening to me,” he said. “I thought anxiety meant being nervous before a presentation. But this was different, this was physical. I couldn’t turn my mind off.” 

He withdrew from friends and tried to handle it on his own until a conversation with his mother shifted everything. “She noticed something was off and said, ‘You don’t seem like yourself,’” he recalled. “That was the moment I opened up.” 

Through counseling and self-education, he discovered practical ways to manage anxiety, including meditation, exercise, breathing routines, and better nutrition. When he returned to school, he realized how many of his classmates were quietly struggling with the same issues. “When I told my friends what I’d gone through, one of them said, ‘I feel like this all the time,’” he said. “That hit me. I wasn’t alone, and neither were they.” 

In that realization, UBYou began to take shape. 

Hellmer’s entrepreneurship coursework at FGCU gave him the framework to turn empathy into design. He entered the university’s Runway Program to pitch the first version of UBYou, which aimed to give students mental health tools and access to campus and community resources in one place. “I didn’t make it past the first round,” he said. “That was hard because my connection to this idea was personal. But failure didn’t stop me, it gave me direction.” 

He refined his concept, focusing on simplicity and accessibility. “Students don’t want another app that feels like a burden,” he said. “They need something intuitive and immediate, something that fits into how they already live.” 

His next pitch earned partial equity-free funding, and with guidance from faculty, students, and community mentors, he launched the first live campus version of UBYou. 

“By our second year, we had full participation from FGCU,” he said. “Now we’re working with universities across the country to expand access.” 

UBYou’s growth strategy is built on connection rather than scale. The company’s partnerships with Greek Life organizations extend its reach to more than a dozen states. “Men’s mental health is still hard to talk about,” Hellmer said. “We’re meeting students where they are and showing them that it’s okay to take care of themselves.” 

Every feature in the app serves that goal. From guided meditations and stress-reduction tools to local resource directories and even a campus map for new students, UBYou supports both mental and practical wellbeing. “One student told me they used the app on their first day of classes just to find their building,” he said. “Something that simple helped reduce their stress. That’s the point, we help in the moments that matter.” 

Hellmer’s involvement with the Florida SBDC at FGCU began, as he puts it, “by chance.” While meeting with former FGCU president Dr. Mike Martin on campus, he was introduced to SBDC consultant Tim Hall, who quickly recognized the potential behind UBYou. 

“Tim said, ‘You’ve got something here,’ and from that moment forward, we started working together,” Hellmer said. “Through Tim and Marc at the SBDC, I found mentors who understand both the business side and the human side of entrepreneurship.” 

Together, Tim Hall and Marc Farron have provided more than one hundred hours of direct consulting to UBYou, guiding Hellmer through every stage of the company’s growth. “That’s the kind of time and commitment you rarely get from anyone outside your own business,” he said. “They’ve been there through strategy sessions, investor meetings, and even product updates. When I look back, their mentorship is what kept UBYou moving forward.” 

With their help, Hellmer developed UBYou’s strategic growth plan and investment structure. “The SBDC helped me define our ideal market, identify scalable models, and balance resources,” he said. “They guided me through how to move from an idea to a full-fledged business.” 

The consultants also provided critical feedback on investment proposals, operational strategy, and long-term planning. “They helped me think like a CEO,” Hellmer said. “When you’re leading a startup, you’re often alone in your decision-making. The SBDC gave me experienced people to talk to, people who challenge you but also believe in what you’re building.” 

That mentorship has continued to shape his company’s direction. “Every major step UBYou has taken has been better because of the SBDC,” he said. “They helped me stay grounded while thinking big.” 

In 2025, Hellmer was nominated for the Emerging Business of the Year Award at the Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards, a recognition that marked how far UBYou had come. “It’s humbling,” he said. “This started as a personal struggle, and now it’s a growing company helping others navigate their own.” 

He credits his mentors, his team, and his university community for the momentum that UBYou has built. “None of this happened in isolation,” he said. “The SBDC, the FGCU faculty, and my early supporters gave me the foundation to keep going. Every meeting, every conversation, helped bring this to life.” 

Hellmer’s plans for UBYou go well beyond college campuses. He envisions versions of the app for high schools, student-athletes, and eventually workplace wellness programs. “Mental health isn’t just a college issue, it’s a human issue,” he said. “We all need better tools to manage stress and stay connected.” 

The next phase of development includes peer-to-peer accountability features and customizable wellness programs designed for different institutions. “It’s about helping people take care of themselves and each other,” he said. “When we do that, we build stronger communities.” 

UBYou remains anchored in the belief that small actions can have large ripple effects. For Hellmer, every new user represents anothesr chance to make someone’s day a little lighter. “If we can help one person breathe easier, study better, or feel seen, that’s success,” he said.