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MEET THE FOUNDER
The Origins
I’m just a guy who needed the reminder too.
CHECK IN BRO didn’t start as a company; it started as a moment. A moment when I realized how much I needed someone to CHECK IN on me, and how much of a difference it made when they did. I’ve dealt with my own mental health struggles, personally, with family, and at work. I’ve had days where everything felt heavy and nights where I didn’t want to talk to anyone. But every once in a while, a friend would text, call, or just say, “Hey bro, you good?” And that made all the difference.
Before this movement, I was like a lot of guys. I knew about men’s mental health, but I didn’t talk about it. I didn’t post, like, or tag any of the amazing organizations doing the work. Not because I didn’t care, but because it never felt natural or easy. If I wasn’t personally in a crisis, or someone close to me wasn’t, why would I dive deeper into it? That mindset is exactly what I wanted to change.
This movement isn’t just for guys like me who are in it; it’s for everyone. Because even if you’re not struggling, your bro might be. And maybe you’re the one person who could change their entire day with a quick CHECK IN.
I created CHECK IN BRO to be that easy, accessible reminder. No pressure. No preaching. Just something real that anyone can do. It’s not therapy. It’s not a hotline. It’s a conversation starter. It’s a tool. It’s a bridge. Because the truth is, mental health, like addiction or any long-term battle, isn’t something that just goes away. But support, connection, and a reminder that someone cares, that can make a difference.
The moment I shared this idea with a friend and saw how hard it hit him, I knew I was all in.
My hope is that CHECK IN BRO becomes the thing that prompts the text you wouldn’t have sent otherwise. The coffee you didn’t realize you needed. The talk that shifts everything. And if that’s all it ever becomes? That’s still enough.
Let’s normalize the CHECK IN.
Let’s keep each other here.
-CURTIS BENTZEL | FOUNDER