David Ko

CEO and Board Member, Calm
San Francisco, California,United States
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Who Is David Ko?

Total Experience55 years
CompanyCalm
CountryUnited States

David Ko is a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur, best known as the Co-Founder and CEO of Ripple Health Group, the parent company of the globally recognized mental wellness brand, Calm. With a career spanning over two decades, he has established himself as a leader in scaling consumer technology companies. Before co-founding Calm in 2012 and growing it into the world's first mental health unicorn, David held significant leadership roles, including President of Zynga Studios, where he managed iconic games like FarmVille and Words With Friends. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Yahoo! as a Senior Vice President, overseeing key products like Yahoo! Mail and Messenger. David holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is driven by a mission to make the world a happier and healthier place through accessible digital health solutions.

How Did David Ko's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

David Ko's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Calm - CEO and Board Member(2022 to Present)
Ripple Health Group - Co-Founder and CEO(2019 to 2022)
New York University - Member Board Of Trustees(2021 to Present)
New York University - Stern Venture Fellows - Board Member(2016 to Present)
Castilleja School - Board Member(2020 to 2024)
Rally Health / (Acquired UnitedHealth Group 2017) - President and COO(2013 to 2019)
Audax Health - Board Member(2013 to 2019)
Zynga - COO(2012 to 2013)
Yahoo! - SVP - Audience, Mobile and Local(2000 to 2010)
Citigroup - Sr. Associate(1995 to 2000)
Richard A Eisner - Audit(1993 to 1995)

What Are David Ko's Key Achievements?

Co-Founder & CEO of Calm/Ripple Health Group

Co-founded Calm in 2012, transforming it from a simple meditation app into a global wellness powerhouse with over 100 million downloads and a valuation exceeding $2 billion. He now leads its parent company, Ripple Health Group, to broaden its impact in the digital health sector.

First Mental Health 'Unicorn' Status

Under his leadership, Calm became the first mental health-focused startup to achieve a 'unicorn' status, signifying a valuation of over $1 billion, which highlighted the massive market potential and need for accessible mental wellness tools.

President of Zynga Studios

Oversaw the development and operations for Zynga's most successful games during its peak, managing a portfolio that generated massive user engagement and revenue, and significantly shaping the social gaming landscape.

Leadership in Mobile Strategy at Yahoo!

As a Senior Vice President at Yahoo!, he was instrumental in guiding the company's strategic initiatives in mobile technology, mail, and messenger services, managing products used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

What's David Ko's Educational Background?

Degree Program

NYU Stern School of Business

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Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
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Company Overview

Calm
Total employees453
HeadquartersSan Francisco
Founded2012

Calm is a leading mental wellness brand with a popular app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation. Its mission is to make the world a happier and healthier place by providing tools to manage stress, anxiety, and insomnia. The app offers a wide range of content, including guided meditations, Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities, breathing programs, relaxing music, and masterclasses led by world-renowned experts. It is designed to help users of all experience levels build a mindfulness practice and improve their overall well-being.

Calm Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
$75M - Most recent funding amount
5 - Number of funding rounds
Feb 8, 2021 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
TPG
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Insight Partners
Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Sound Ventures
Marc Benioff

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