Prince Harry gets first non-Royal job at swanky Silicon Valley mental health firm

Prince Harry has landed a new job in business as an executive at a billion pound tech company.

Silicon Valley startup, BetterUp which runs an app for life coaching and improving mental health, announced their royal recruit on Tuesday.

Once Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed, the Duke of Sussex will use his role as Chief Impact Officer to attend meetings and special company events, Daily Mail reports.

Following talks with BetterUp in Autumn, Harry says he has been using the company’s app since January.

The prince told the Wall Street Journal : “I intend to help create impact in people’s lives. Proactive coaching provides endless possibilities for personal development, increased awareness, and an all-round better life.

“This is about acknowledging that it isn’t so much what is wrong with us, but more about what has happened to us over the course of life.

“Often because of societal barriers, financial difficulty, or stigma, too many people aren’t able to focus on their mental health until they’re forced to. I want us to move away from the idea that you have to feel broken before reaching out for help.”

Since leaving behind the responsibilities of senior royals for a new family life in California last year, Harry and wife Meghan Markle have wasted no time in securing income.

The couple have already signed with Netflix and Spotify with Archewell Audio in exclusive deals estimated to be worth at least £725,000.

BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux said in a statement published on the firm’s website: “Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex is a humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist.

“As co-founder of Archewell, he is focused on driving systemic change across all communities through non-profit work as well as creative activations.

“The mission across Archewell—which currently includes Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, and Archewell Audio—is united behind the deeply held belief that compassion is the defining cultural force of the 21st century.

“Prince Harry has dedicated his life’s work to advancing causes that he is passionate about.

“He is the Founder of The Invictus Games, a platform for wounded, injured and sick service personnel to use sport as part of their rehabilitation, as well as Travalyst, a non-profit entity comprised of several of the largest online travel agencies in the world.

“Additionally, he co-founded Sentebale with his dear friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, in memory of their mothers’ charitable work in combating the HIV crisis, and serves as President of African Parks, a non-governmental organization focused on protecting Africa’s ecosystems in partnership with local communities and governments.”

While the royal will not run a team of his own, he has the platform to contribute to discussions on product strategy, charitable partnerships and mental health.

Mr Robichaux, described the role as “meaningful and meaty”.