Company Overview

Spicy Minds creates life-changing wellbeing apps inspired by lived experience of neurodiversity, special educational needs and mental health challenges. We support people, and those around them, going through difficult times with innovative solutions that matter when you need them most.

Our applications include Hazel, your autism and ADHD parenting coach that provides screening tests and personalised strategies for home and school.

What makes us different is our highly personalised approach that speaks to your unique situation. Our apps meet accessibility standards, maintain robust safety and privacy systems, and provide meaningful support with genuine empathy. We combine evidence-based strategies with natural, compassionate conversations to build positive mental skills and deeper emotional awareness.

Why choose Spicy Minds? Because your wellbeing matters to us, and we're here to support you through life's challenges with tools that truly understand your journey.

  • Hazel is Spicy Minds' autism and ADHD parenting coach that helps families discover more about their child's difficulties through comprehensive screening tests, then provides personalised practical strategies for supporting children both at home and school without waiting years for formal assessment.

    • Over 71,000 children across the UK currently waiting for NHS autism assessments

    • Waiting lists growing by 65% annually

    • Around 7,000 children waiting in Bristol alone

    • 24% of ADHD patients wait 1-2 years for assessment

  • Our mission is to bridge the gap between need and access in mental health support, ensuring no family has to navigate neurodiversity alone or wait years for understanding. We believe everyone deserves immediate, compassionate guidance tailored to their circumstances, delivered through technology that remembers, learns, and grows with you.

Press Images

  • Ben Cosh, CEO

    Chief Executive Officer of Spicy Minds, a Bristol-based mental health technology company providing AI-powered autism and ADHD support through accessible digital platforms.

    Ben Cosh leads Spicy Minds Ltd in delivering immediate autism and ADHD support without waitlists through innovative AI applications. Under his leadership, the company has developed Hazel, an AI-powered autism and ADHD parenting coach that helps families discover more about their child's difficulties including emotional dysregulation, school avoidance, and communication or sensory issues

  • Heather Macdonald, Head of Communications

    Head of Communications at Spicy Minds, overseeing public relations and stakeholder engagement for the AI-powered autism and ADHD parenting platform.

    Heather Macdonald manages communications strategy for Spicy Minds, helping to build awareness of accessible autism and ADHD support solutions. She coordinates outreach efforts to connect with families, healthcare organizations, and partners who share the company's mission of providing judgment-free parenting guidance through Hazel, the AI coaching platform.

  • Joe Collingworth, UX Lead

    Joe Collingworth, User Experience Lead at Spicy Minds, designing intuitive interfaces for Hazel, the AI-powered autism and ADHD parenting coach that supports families navigating neurodivergent challenges.

    Joe Collingworth leads user experience design for Hazel, Spicy Minds' autism and ADHD parenting platform, ensuring accessibility and usability for diverse families. His work focuses on creating compassionate, easy-to-navigate interfaces that help parents access screening tests and personalized guidance for children with emotional dysregulation, school avoidance, and sensory processing difficulties.

  • George McCann, Tech Lead

    George McCann, Technical Lead at Spicy Minds, developing secure AI infrastructure for Hazel, the autism and ADHD parenting coach that provides immediate support to families.

    George McCann oversees technical development of Hazel, Spicy Minds' AI-powered parenting platform, ensuring robust privacy systems and accessibility standards. His work maintains the technical foundation that enables safe, private delivery of personalized autism and ADHD guidance through conversational AI technology designed specifically for neurodivergent families.

  • Beth Shedden, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

    Beth Shedden, Designated Safeguarding Lead at Spicy Minds, ensuring child protection protocols across Hazel, the AI-powered autism and ADHD parenting platform serving neurodivergent families.

    Beth Shedden serves as Designated Safeguarding Lead for Spicy Minds, implementing comprehensive protection measures for users of Hazel, the company's autism and ADHD parenting application. She ensures robust safeguarding policies are in place as the platform provides guidance to families seeking help with children experiencing emotional dysregulation, school avoidance, and communication challenges.

  • Pippa Gascon Crossley, Clinical Safety Officer (CSO)

    Pippa Gascon Crossley, Clinical Safety Officer at Spicy Minds, overseeing clinical governance and safety protocols for Hazel, the AI-powered autism and ADHD parenting coach.

    Pippa Gascon Crossley ensures clinical safety and governance standards across Hazel, Spicy Minds' autism and ADHD parenting platform. As Clinical Safety Officer, she maintains evidence-based approaches and safety protocols for the AI application, which provides personalized parenting guidance and screening tools based on scientific research and clinical best practices for neurodivergent children.

Press Coverage

  • UK HealthTech Company, Spicy Minds Launches AI-Powered Autism Support App

    Hazel AI is an innovative app designed to support individuals with autism by providing personalized assistance through advanced artificial intelligence. The app offers tailored communication tools, daily routine management, and emotional support features that adapt to each user’s unique needs. By leveraging AI technology, Hazel AI not only enhances communication but also fosters greater independence and confidence among its users.

    For more detailed insights, you can visit the full article here: https://techresearchonline.com/news/hazel-ai-autism-support-app/

    Tech Research Online

  • AI app supports families navigating ADHD and autism

    Hazel is a Bristol-developed AI application that "give carers who suspect their children are neurodivergent, 'a better picture of what's going on' whilst waiting for a diagnosis." The platform offers "a series of tests where AI then interpreted the results and compiled personalised strategies for things such as school or holidays." With thousands awaiting NHS assessments, parent Nicola Bennett praised the concept, stating it would provide "guidances on how to plan your day and work with sensory needs."

    For more detailed insights, you visit the full article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj450qrp979o

    BBC News

  • Bristol families needed to help with new app for navigating autism and ADHD

    Hazel is a digital platform by Bristol company Spicy Minds that "offers immediate and personalised strategies to parents or carers of children who have neurodivergent traits but are struggling to get the support they need." The service "starts with a series of tests that explore a wide range of traits" and "uses AI to interpret the results and give parents and carers a better understanding of what is going on for their child." With over 71,000 children across the UK waiting for NHS autism assessments, CEO Ben Cosh emphasised that "Parents shouldn't have to wait years to understand their child's needs and get practical support."

    For more detailed insights, you can visit the full article here: https://bristolparent.co.uk/bristol-families-needed-to-help-with-new-app-for-navigating-autism-and-adhd/

    Bristol Parent

Hazel Early Release

2025

Early access release of Hazel, the autism and ADHD parenting coach app, launched with limited Bristol families beta program

Releases

Spicy Minds launched the early access release of Hazel on April 29, 2025, marking the company's first major product debut. The autism and ADHD parenting coach app was designed to "offer immediate help to parents or carers of children who have neurodivergent traits but are struggling to get the support they need." The launch began with a limited program seeking "20 Bristol families who are navigating the autism and ADHD journey and would like free, premium access to Hazel in exchange for their feedback." The app became "available to download on Play Store and App Store" following its early access phase. CEO Ben Cosh stated that "while Hazel does not provide a diagnosis, it does give parents a much better picture of what is going on and, crucially, provides strategies that work, reducing family stress and improving day-to-day difficulties while they navigate the long wait for NHS services.

Company Founded

2023

Spicy Minds Ltd incorporated, founded by Ben Cosh following his family's experience with neurodivergent support challenges starting in 2016.