Founder Laura Earnshaw says ‘this partnership with LDC marks an exciting new chapter for us’
A King’s Award-winning business says it will grow its mental health support work for young people across the UK and globally after securing new investment. Cheshire-based myHappymind was founded by Laura Earnshaw in 2017 to provide preventative mental health support to children and young people, and now works with more than 1,900 schools across the UK.
The company has been recognised as a B Corp and last year won a King’s Award for Enterprise. Now it has secured a minority investment from LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, to grow further in the UK and beyond.
myHappymind aims to help schools provide preventative mental health support at a time when there are long waiting lists for specialist NHS mental health support. Its programmes for schools aim to help “create a culture of positive mental wellbeing” and to help young people to build their resilience and to understand and regulate their emotions.
The company reaches hundreds of thousands of children and their families. It plans to use its LDC investment to expand into more schools in the UK and abroad, as well as to develop its product range.
Laura Earnshaw, CEO and founder of myHappymind, said: “I founded myHappymind with a clear vision: to make positive mental wellbeing education part of everyday school life. Our team has since created programmes that are transforming outcomes for children and families, showing that prevention in schools is both possible and powerful.
“This partnership with LDC marks an exciting new chapter for us. The LDC team share our vision and bring the sector experience and network we need to help us expand our reach. Their support will be invaluable as we continue to grow and make a difference to young people’s mental health.”
The investment was led by LDC’s North West team, including investment director Grant Goodwin, investment manager Alex Kirkby and head of the North West Dale Alderson.
Mr Alderson, head of the North West and partner at LDC, added: “We’ve been tracking the success of myHappymind for some time. So, when the opportunity arose to back Laura we knew we had to act quickly, completing the investment within three weeks of being chosen by Laura as her preferred partner.”
Grant Goodwin, investment director at LDC, added: “Laura has built an exceptional business with real social purpose at its heart. The impact myHappymind is having on children’s mental health outcomes is remarkable. We’re excited to work with Laura and her team to help them fulfil their ambitious growth plans and support even more young people.”
LDC has invested in other edtech businesses including numeracy and literacy assistive technology specialist Texthelp (now known as Everway) and VR-based learning technology company Avantis. It says that over the past decade it has invested more than £755m into technology firms, with a combined enterprise value of £2bn
LDC was advised by Alvarez & Marsal (M&A advisory), Hill Dickinson (legals), Mansfield Advisors (commercial) and Cortus (financial). myHappymind was advised by JMW Solicitors (legal), Finex Advisory, and Silverpeak Capital (M&A advisory).
