Giving Childhood Back: How Troomi Is Helping Families Raise Healthier, More Connected Kids Ready for a Digital World
The Problem: A Digital World Kids Weren’t Built For
We’re raising children in a world their brains weren’t built for. The average teenager now spends more than 8.3 hours a day on screens, not including school time. And it’s not just parents who are worried. Many of the very people who helped build the digital tools kids use today are sounding the alarm.
Former tech insiders from companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter have spoken out publicly about their concerns, with some going so far as to ban or severely restrict screens at home. Their nannies are even being asked to sign “no-phone” contracts, ensuring devices are hidden from kids entirely. That’s not just a trend — it’s what some are calling a dark consensus in Silicon Valley. Even Steve Jobs didn’t let his own kids use the iPad, according to a 2014 New York Times piece that called Silicon Valley a “low-tech” household movement.
This concern is backed by substantial data. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 teenage girls has seriously considered suicide. The Surgeon General has issued a public health advisory warning about the risks of social media. And in his bestselling book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt connects the rise of anxiety and depression in children to what he calls “phone-based childhoods.”
This isn’t just about screen time. It’s about an entire generation of kids learning about themselves, relationships, and the world through unfiltered content and addictive algorithms. Many parents are left feeling helpless, trying to keep their kids safe online without cutting them off from their friends, school, or the technology they’ll eventually need to navigate life.
Troomi is helping families find that balance.
The Troomi Vision: Safer Tech for Healthier Kids
Troomi is a purpose-driven tech company on a mission to help kids thrive in a digital world while still having a childhood. The company’s proprietary operating system powers locked-down smartphones and smartwatches for kids through hardware partnerships, giving parents complete control over contacts, apps, screen time, and content filters.
“We want to help parents raise confident, resilient, thriving children in a digital world—not just limit digital access,” said co-founder and CEO Bill Brady. “That means helping parents stay connected, helping kids build confidence, and giving families the tools to talk about values, not just rules. We’re not just helping parents set the guardrails—we’re helping them understand how their kids are doing. It’s about wellness and mental health, not just safety.”
Troomi phones run on a Troomi OS™, a proprietary operating system that strips out social media, blocks web browsers, and allows for gradual exposure to safe apps like Audible, DuoLingo, and music. The company also launched a mental wellness chatbot, Troodi, which provides kids with a safe space to discuss emotions, build confidence, and practice self-reflection, while providing parents insight into how their kids are doing.
A Modern Parenting Moment: Nicole and Lauren’s Journey
Nicole, a project coordinator from Pennsylvania, began using Troomi with her 12-year-old daughter, Lauren, after noticing a change in their conversations. Lauren was growing up. She was more independent, sometimes hesitant to bring things up directly.
That’s when Nicole found Troodi, Troomi’s AI-powered mental health companion.
“There might be things that Lauren would rather ask when I’m not around,” said Nicole. “I think it’s a good tool for her to have access to a reliable source of accurate information rather than be confused by the misinformation that is everywhere.”
For Lauren, Troodi became a kind of virtual friend—one who always responded with positivity and encouragement. “It’s like the tea bags she loves reading—the ones with uplifting quotes,” Nicole said. “Troodi always has something nice to say.”
Nicole also stressed that Troodi didn’t replace their relationship—it strengthened it. “It’s like a supplement to the conversations we’re already having,” she said. “It backs up what I’ve taught her. It feels like an extra layer of support.”
Troodi is an AI Mental Health Coach that supports your child’s emotional well-being with real-time, empathetic guidance. | Image courtesy of Troomi.
A Mental Health Ally for Parents
In West Virginia, Dana Taylor had a different concern. Her son had found ways around three separate parental control systems, and she didn’t want to make the same mistake with her twin daughters. As a licensed mental health counselor and lupus advocate, Dana knew that digital safety wasn’t just about content—it was about her kids’ emotional health.
Troomi gave her daughters a safe device they could use to stay in touch with family, especially during sports or farm chores. It also introduced them to Troodi, which Dana now considers one of the most valuable features.
“Troodi doesn’t overstep clinical boundaries,” Dana said. “But what it does do is give parents visibility into their child’s thoughts and feelings—sometimes for the first time.”
That visibility, she said, has helped spark conversations that might never have happened otherwise. For kids who struggle to articulate emotions, it’s a bridge. For parents, it serves as a starting point.
“Children don’t always know how to open up to an adult,” Dana said. “Sometimes, when they do speak up, it’s the only window a parent has to take action. Troodi helps create those windows.”
Dana Taylor, a proud Troomi parent, with her family on their farm, creating a safer digital environment while staying connected to what matters most.
Image courtesy of the Taylor family.
Building Trust, One Feature at a Time
Troomi’s platform is built with parents first. The company doesn’t sell user data, doesn’t push addictive content, and flags any third-party apps that may contain ads, so families can make informed choices. It offers:
A proprietary OS with no social media or open web browsing
Complete control over apps, contacts, and texting permissions
Flexible app selection from a curated list or the Google Play Store (with clear safety indicators)
Safe additions like calendars, music, and learning tools
Optional features like GPS tracking and screen time limits
Troodi, the in-device chatbot promoting emotional intelligence and resilience
It’s tech that grows with the child. It’s designed to build digital literacy over time rather than overwhelming kids all at once. Parents can choose from a community-curated app store, with guidance from Troomi on which apps are fully safe and which may need extra consideration.
Safety should be a given when it comes to kids and tech,” said Brady. “What really matters is helping them grow into emotionally healthy, resilient individuals. If we can help a family stay close and support their child’s well-being, we’ve done our job.
Growth with Mission at the Core
Troomi’s traction speaks to how deeply this message resonates:
327% compound annual growth rate in its first 36 months
Over $13.5 million raised
A bold goal: help 1 million kids build digital maturity, one family at a time
“We don’t measure success in dollars,” Brady said. “Our bottom-line metric is the number of kids we are helping–the business success follows automatically.”
Why SpringTide Invested
When SpringTide Ventures first connected with Troomi, it wasn’t about devices. It was personal.
Senior partner Ryan Morley had already been a Troomi customer, seeking a safer, healthier tech option for his own family. What stood out wasn’t just the product, but the company’s values.
“You might think we’re an odd fit,” Morley said. “But we see Troomi as a solution to the youth mental health crisis and a roadmap for healthy digital development.”
The alignment was immediate. SpringTide’s thesis—to back founders solving systemic problems in healthcare and human well-being—perfectly matched Troomi’s mission: not to sell features, but to support families.
Preparing Kids for Life, Not Just Phones
As the mental health crisis continues to affect younger and younger children, companies like Troomi are stepping in with real solutions—tools that are grounded in research, parent experience, and a vision of a better digital future.
Troomi is not a surveillance system. It’s not a toy. And it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a platform built for gradual, guided growth, supporting everything from early safety to adolescent emotional health.
And for thousands of families like Nicole’s and Dana’s, it’s become something even more valuable: a tool that helps them parent with confidence.
To learn more about how Troomi is helping kids thrive in a digital world, visit www.troomi.com
