Innovator Spotlight: myHappymind  

myHappymind, the award-winning children’s mental health and wellbeing programme, recently completed a significant growth investment round with Lloyds Development Capital (LDC). For founder and CEO Laura Earnshaw, the deal marked a major milestone in the company’s ten year journey to scale impact for children and schools across the UK.  

In a recent conversation with Anna King, Commercial Director at the Health Innovation Network South London (HIN), and Aileen Jackson, Head of Mental Health at the HIN, Laura reflected openly on the process of raising capital, what worked well and what other innovators can learn from her experience. 

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A decade in the making 

Founded after Laura left her corporate career, myHappymind is supporting thousands of schools with a whole‑school approach to mental health and wellbeing. But as Laura explained, reaching the next phase of growth – moving from thousands to potentially tens of thousands of schools – required more than just investment. 

“It wasn’t just about money,” she noted. “It was about bringing in different skills, experience and challenge to help us scale sustainably.” 

That realisation prompted myHappymind’s first formal equity raise. 

Running a competitive, values‑led process 

One of the most striking lessons from myHappymind’s fundraise was the discipline of the process. The company went to market in September 2025 and received numerous investment offers in the first round, creating genuine competition. Laura then granted exclusivity to UK-based private equity firm LDC in early December, with a clear and non‑negotiable deadline to complete before Christmas.  

This approach of competitive tension, clear timelines and firm boundaries is something many early‑stage innovators shy away from. Yet, as Laura’s experience shows, it can be critical in achieving the right outcome. 

Equally important was the decision to work with a trusted corporate finance advisor, prioritising someone who understood myHappymind’s mission and growth journey rather than a firm with the biggest deal list. For impact‑driven businesses, alignment in values and judgement with investors often matter more than brand alone. 

More than capital: governance and growth 

The outcome was an investment structure that preserved myHappymind’s independence while strengthening its foundations. LDC took a minority stake, joined the board, and supported the appointment of an experienced chair, who had already scaled organisations through similar growth stages. 

This focus on developing new corporate processes and leadership skills, rather than prioritising commercial growth alone, is a recurring theme for healthcare founders who scale successfully. The investment has enabled the business to professionalise, build out its senior leadership team, and prepare for the next phase without losing sight of its purpose. 

Evidence, impact and system change 

myHappymind’s success is rooted in evidence as much as its ambition. Independent evaluation has shown that schools using the programme experience significantly lower increases in exclusions, suspensions and persistent absence compared with those that do not, at a time when these pressures are high nationally. 

This evidence has enabled myHappymind to become a credible partner to Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools, providing the whole‑school prevention layer that allows specialist staff to focus on higher‑need interventions. It is a clear example of how innovators can complement public services when solutions are designed with the system in mind. 

Lessons for other innovators 

So, what can other founders and innovators take from myHappymind’s journey? 

• Wait until the moment is right. Raising capital is as much about readiness as opportunity. 

• Run a proper process. Competition, clarity and pace matter. 

• Choose partners, not just investors. Skills, values and a strong relationship endure longer than capital. 

• Build the evidence early to unlock trust, adoption and scale. 

As myHappymind looks ahead, its story is a powerful reminder that sustainable growth in impact-driven innovation comes from clear values, collaboration and evidence.  

Learn more about myHappymind by visiting their website and connecting on LinkedIn. 

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