Company Overview



Company: Calm
Website: [https://www.calm.com](https://www.calm.com)
Founded: May 4, 2012
Founders: Michael Acton Smith and Alex Tew
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
Number of Employees (2022): 310
Valuation (2019): $1 billion
Total Funding: $219 million over 7 rounds
Revenue (2017): $22 million
Annual Revenue Run Rate (2017): $75 million
Products: Meditation app, Sleep Stories, nature documentary series, health and meditation videos
Awards: Apple's "App of the Year" (2017)
Additional Achievements: Ranked by Inc. as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America (2018)

Key Products and Services



Main App Features


  • Meditation: Daily meditation, multi-day programs, guided and unguided sessions, breathing exercises.

  • Sleep Stories: Narrated stories designed to aid sleep featuring narrators such as LeBron James, Stephen Fry, Lucy Liu, and Idris Elba.

  • Calm Health: Launched in October 2022, focusing on mental health programs for anxiety, depression, and other physical conditions in collaboration with traditional healthcare providers.


Other Products


  • Books: Published titles such as "Calm: Calm the Mind. Change the World."

  • Soundscapes and Ambient Albums: Including Alanis Morissette’s album "The Storm Before the Calm."

  • Nature Documentary: Produced for HBO Max.

  • Daily Mindfulness Messages: Hosted by Jay Shetty.


Notable Collaborations and Content


  • Partnerships with high-profile individuals including Harry Styles, Matthew McConaughey, and ASMR content creator Emma "WhispersRed" Smith.

  • Featuring archival recordings and ambient music.


Acquisition and Expansion


  • Ripple Health Group: Acquired in February 2022 to build out Calm Health.

  • Expansion Plans: Offering clinical mental health services, integrating advanced technology for personalized user experiences.


Recent Events


  • Layoffs (August 2022): Reduced workforce by 20%, affecting approximately 90 of 400 employees.

  • Subscribers (2022): Reached four million paid subscribers.


Executive Team and Leadership



David Ko


  • Role: CEO since July 21, 2022

  • Background: Extensive leadership and experience, recognized as a Top 50 Digital Health Leader.

  • Posts: Engages actively on LinkedIn discussing company milestones, partnerships, and personal reflections on leadership.


Michael Acton Smith


  • Role: Co-Founder & Co-Executive Chairman

  • Background: Formerly involved with Mind Candy, creator of Moshi Monsters.

  • LinkedIn Presence: Shares updates on Calm’s expansions and creative direction.


Alex Tew


  • Role: Co-Founder & Co-Executive Chairman

  • Background: Known for creating the Million Dollar Homepage.

  • LinkedIn Activity: Provides insights into company growth and product innovations.


Sarah Mann


  • Role: Head of People Operations, joined in 2020

  • Experience: Over 13 years in People Operations, actively contributes to Calm’s HR strategies and mental health trends.


Contact Information






Competitor Profiling for Calm



Key Competitors



Headspace


  • Platform: iOS, Android

  • Price: USD $70 per year (individual), USD $100 per year (family)

  • Features:

  • Guided and unguided meditation sessions, courses on anxiety, patience, self-esteem, and grief.

  • Music for focusing, bedtime stories, intention-driven workout videos.

  • Extensive sleep and movement sections.

  • Strengths:

  • Well-organized and user-friendly interface.

  • Comprehensive courses covering a broad range of meditation needs.

  • Weaknesses:

  • Juvenile animation style.

  • Limited background music or soundscapes.


Spring Health


  • Founded: 2016

  • Valuation: USD $2 billion

  • Notable Services: Personalized mental health solutions for employers and health plans, precision mental healthcare through data-driven treatment plans, pay-for-performance model, first Electronic Health Record system (Compass).

  • Technological Integrations: Machine learning and advanced technologies.

  • Mission: Eliminate every barrier to mental healthcare.

  • Strengths:

  • Evidence-based and data-driven solutions.

  • Comprehensive global reach.

  • Weaknesses:

  • Focus on employers and health plans rather than individual consumers.


Meditopia


  • Founded: 2017

  • Platform: iOS, Android, Web

  • Features: Meditation sessions, sleep meditations, soundscapes, relaxation music, personalized emotional health assessments, 1-on-1 support, offline mode for premium users.

  • Strengths:

  • Global focus, catering to non-English speaking markets.

  • High user satisfaction (4.9/5 rating).

  • Weaknesses:

  • Limited content updates.


Journey


  • Founded: 2015

  • Platform: iOS, Android, Web

  • Primary Focus: Proactive mental health solutions for employee wellbeing.

  • Features: Live group learning sessions, peer support, custom mental health programs.

  • Strengths:

  • Community and proactive group learning.

  • Tailored programs for companies.

  • Weaknesses:

  • Primarily B2B focused.

  • Smaller library.


Insight Timer


  • Platform: iOS, Android, Web

  • Price: Freemium model with optional premium features.

  • Features: Largest free library of guided meditations, music, talks, real-time community engagement, group meditations, customization with timers and specific sounds.

  • Strengths:

  • Free access to extensive content.

  • Strong community sense.

  • Over 100,000 meditations.

  • Weaknesses:

  • Interface can be overwhelming.

  • Less structured content for beginners.