In his early twenties, midway through a university degree in Sports Science, Andy Puddicombe made an unexpected decision: travel to the Himalayas to study meditation instead.

The 10-Year Monk Journey

"It was the beginning of a ten-year journey which took him around the world, culminating with ordination as a Tibetan Buddhist monk in Northern India."

Andy's unconventional path included training at Moscow State Circus and completing a degree in Circus Arts - all while drawing up early plans for what would become Headspace.

Meeting Rich Pierson

Andy met Richard Pierson, a stressed-out advertising executive looking for calm. Rich became Andy's first meditation student, and the two quickly realized others needed this too.

They started teaching meditation in person, running events across London for 2-3 years before launching the first Headspace app.

The App That Changed Everything

• 70+ million downloads
• Available in 190+ countries
• Over 20 peer-reviewed scientific studies
• Featured on Netflix, BBC, and TED
• Valued at over $3 billion

The New York Times called Andy "doing for meditation what Jamie Oliver has done for food."

What Made It Work

Andy's authentic background as a monk gave Headspace credibility. The combination of Rich's marketing expertise and Andy's meditation mastery created a product that made mindfulness accessible to millions.