Startup Stories: Using Simulations to Improve Real-World Connection
A conversation with Master of Advanced Management student Sophie Gao ’26, founder of Woola, the company behind an AI-powered mental training game designed to hone communication skills by simulating challenging situations.
In this series, we talk to student and alumni entrepreneurs about how they are making an impact with their startups.
What’s the problem you’re trying to solve or the gap you’re trying to fill?
Woola addresses the gap between emotional insight and real-world behavior.
Many people understand their emotional patterns extremely well. They can explain why they react a certain way, and they know what healthier communication would look like. But when faced with a tense conversation, a power dynamic, or emotional vulnerability, knowledge alone is not enough.
Existing solutions are valuable but often passive. Therapy can be transformative, yet it is not always accessible enough for ongoing skill rehearsal. Wellness apps tend to focus on reflection or tracking rather than application. There is very little infrastructure for practicing emotional skills in realistic conditions before they matter in real life.
Woola fills this gap by treating emotional and communication skills as trainable skills rather than abstract concepts. Instead of offering advice or tracking moods, Woola creates a safe, non-clinical space where users can rehearse realistic scenarios, make decisions, see consequences, and learn through experience. The goal is to help people move from “I know what I should do” to “I can actually do it,” in everyday life and at scale.
What was the moment when you had the idea for this startup?
The idea for Woola came from a simple but unsettling observation: people often know exactly what they need to change emotionally, yet still repeat the same patterns when it matters most.
Around me were highly driven students and professionals who could clearly articulate their communication challenges, but froze or reacted instinctively in real conversations. Therapy and self-help created insight, but there was no place to practice applying it the way we practice interviews, presentations, and negotiations.
That realization sparked a simple question: what if emotional and communication skills could be trained through simulation? That question became the foundation of Woola.
What’s the biggest milestone your startup has hit so far?
The most significant milestone has been transforming Woola from an idea into a high-fidelity minimum viable product that real users are actively testing.
Through rapid iteration, the product evolved from early conceptual prototypes into immersive simulation environments powered by multi-agent AI. User testing confirmed something important: people are not just curious about emotional insight, but also want a place to practice it. Many early testers requested additional scenarios and longer simulations, validating that the need is both real and unmet.
Completing Tsai CITY’s Launch Pad marked a turning point. It pushed me to clarify the user segment, the behavioral mechanism, and the technical architecture behind the vision. During this period, I met Darren Li ’26, one of my MAM classmates. He deeply resonated with the mission and brought complementary technical expertise that accelerated product development. What began as a personal project evolved into a shared venture with a strong technical foundation and a growing user base.
What was the most important resource Yale SOM contributed to your startup?
Yale SOM’s most important contribution to Woola was an ecosystem that enabled disciplined experimentation across technology, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. Programs like the Launch Pad created the space to rapidly test, discard, and refine multiple versions of the product, while exposure to healthcare-focused initiatives ensured that Woola’s approach to mental well-being remained ethically grounded and socially responsible.
Equally impactful was the academic and community environment. Courses spanning large language models, software development, healthcare leadership, and entrepreneurship shaped how Woola balances technical ambition with human-centered design. Workshops, student organizations, and interdisciplinary conversations provided constant feedback and challenge. Rather than offering a single resource, Yale SOM provided a system, one that allowed Woola to mature thoughtfully into a venture moving toward execution with purpose.
