For Michael Acton Smith, a better business begins with a calmer mind. As Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Calm, the mental wellness app known for its guided meditations and sleep stories, Smith is proving that emotional clarity and mindfulness are not just personal assets—they’re entrepreneurial essentials. After years of nonstop hustle across multiple startups, he hit a personal low marked by fatigue and stress. It was meditation, not a pivot, a new product, or a strategy deck, that helped him reclaim his energy and focus. Smith credits this practice with changing his brain, his outlook, and ultimately, the future of his business. “Calming the mind is not about switching off,” he said. “It’s a superpower that rewires our brains, changes the way we see the world and helps to unlock our true potential.”
Born in England, Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Birmingham. A serial entrepreneur from the outset, he launched his first company, Firebox, shortly after leaving an investment bank job he quickly realized wasn’t for him. He later founded Mind Candy, where he created Moshi Monsters—a massively successful virtual world for kids that eventually expanded into books, games, toys, and a movie. At Calm, Smith’s role has evolved into steering long-term vision and building a globally resonant brand centered on improving mental health.
Smith envisions Calm as a timeless utility, something as universally essential as sleep or exercise. The company’s deliberate hiring pace, minimalist design philosophy, and celebrity partnerships are all part of a strategy to embed mental wellness into everyday life. But the most meaningful feedback comes from users who’ve used Calm to cope with grief, stress, or sleepless nights. Whether it’s children falling asleep to soothing stories or couples reconnecting over daily meditation, those human stories are the ones that fuel Smith’s commitment to the mission. “If you have a mind,” he says, “you have mental health.”