A 22-year-old who quit his first job after just six months has built a children’s wellbeing business inspired by his brother’s struggles with ADHD – and says screen-free play is the key to helping kids manage big emotions.
Liam Murphy co-founded Stix Mindfulness five years ago alongside his father, John Murphy, after a conversation about his brother’s experience with ADHD medication sparked the idea for an alternative approach.
“My brothers experience with ADHD growing up was what inspired me, plus my experience practicing mindfulness as an adult and thinking why we weren’t taught these skills as children,” the now 27-year-old told Founder Insights.
“I believed my brothers experience with ADHD would have been easier to manage with mindfulness.”
The London-based start-up helps children build emotional regulation, focus and resilience through interactive handheld remotes that guide kids through evidence-based mindfulness and movement activities.
A companion app rewards children for regular practice and provides parents and educators with insights into emotional growth.
With one in five children now experiencing mental health challenges, Liam says families are searching for practical ways to help children manage emotions and build healthy habits.
But launching straight out of university came with its own challenges.
“Overcoming imposter syndrome as a 22-year-old founder in a room full of experienced founders was tough,” Liam said.
“Whilst I have always been confident in the concept and the need for it, it took me a while to build the confidence behind myself.”
Stix found its first customers through a mix of social media marketing, email campaigns and word of mouth,
For schools, the breakthrough came through trade shows and education conferences, where teachers and SENCOs could try Stix hands-on.
After pivoting between schools and parents as the primary customer, momentum started building during Black Friday 2024, following a refinement of the brand’s marketing messaging.
But the journey hasn’t been without obstacles.
“Raising funding seems to go on forever,” Liam said.
“We’ve built a great product that is gaining strong traction, but many investors are put off because we’re hardware-first.”
Despite the fundraising challenges, Liam says the most meaningful milestone has been the testimonials from families.
“Individual testimonials and reviews from children/parents are the most meaningful. We have one child who has played Stix every day for the past year,” he said.
Running the business has changed him personally too.
“I’ve become more confident in myself,” he said.
And while money remains a challenge, Liam says the biggest reward goes beyond the bottom line.
“Ownership. I love all aspects of the business, and I love jumping from marketing to product to finance to growth, etc.”
His biggest source of support? His co-founder and father, John.
Looking ahead, Liam’s north star is simple but ambitious.
“Supporting as many children as possible,” he said.
The goal is to establish Stix as a leading family wellbeing brand, with mainstream media visibility and a reputation for helping families tackle emotional regulation in an increasingly screen-dominated world.
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