The transatlantic duo who took meditation mainstream
alm epitomises the transatlantic ambition and sense of purpose we love at Giant. Two British founders who moved to California with a bold mission to take mental wellbeing mainstream.
In terms of scale, Calm arguably does more than any institution globally to advance mental health. It is the number one app to help you sleep more, stress less and live mindfully, with over 180 million downloads and 3 million 5-star reviews. It features engaging, delightful content and resources from experts and loved celebrities.
Michael Acton Smith and Alex Tew had been building and tinkering since the earliest days of the UK’s emerging tech scene. Alex was famous on the internet for building the Million Dollar Homepage. Michael’s video game Moshi Monsters attracted an audience of 90 million.
“I love the philosophy behind Giant. I love the fact that you're investing, but making a difference in the world. I think it's very important, and very powerful.”
A chance encounter
By 2014 Michael had reached entrepreneurial burnout breaking point: forever tired and suffering from headaches. A chance meeting on a boat with Alex led Michael to a balm for himself and eventually millions more around the world - meditation. Learning to meditate had a profound impact on Michael’s life. He became passionate about spreading this simple but valuable skill around the world through Calm.
The two built the first Calm app on a shoestring budget. As America’s mental health crisis deepened, Calm was the right solution at the right time. 8 million people downloaded the app without any formal marketing; word of mouth virality drove astonishing product-led growth.
Pandemic uncertainty
The global pandemic spiked another surge in users, as anxious users trapped at home turned to Calm in a time of deep uncertainty. By now the team had built an enduring brand - the Nike of the mind - with deeply engaged ambassadors such as LeBron James, an HBO series and iconic moments of calm on CNN’s election coverage.
Like so many of the best startups, Calm’s story is one of resilience and constant reinvention. To build a truly sustainable business, Michael and Alex concluded that a direct to consumer offering was necessary but insufficient. With extraordinary speed, and the transformative acquisition of Ripple Health, they launched Calm Health.
Downloads, and 3M 5-star reviews
Calm Health is an evidence-based mental health platform. Just a few years after launch it is available to more than 39 million people and 100,000 organisations through health plans, providers and employers. It’s designed to expand access to mental health and sleep support, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes.
As investors alongside Lightspeed, Insight, Goldman Sachs and TPG, Giant could not be prouder of the impact Calm continues to have on mental health. It was no surprise to see the team recognised as one of TIME’s 100 most influential companies.
