Fluid Focus Raises £640K Pre-Seed to Expand Screen-Time Productivity App Globally
Tech startup Fluid Focus has raised £640,000 in a pre-seed funding round to scale its screen-time productivity app globally, with initial expansion focused on the United States.
Founded by Glenn Stephenson and Connor Mason, Fluid Focus rewards users for reducing usage of distracting apps and engaging in focused work sessions. Through its app, users earn “Fluid Coins” by avoiding distractions, which can be redeemed for rewards such as weekly giveaways or charitable donations. The company also integrates behavioural science and gamification to encourage healthier screen time habits.
The funding was led by Co-Fund III, managed by Clarendon Fund Managers, along with a network of business angels from across the UK and Europe. The capital will be used to grow Fluid Focus’s team, enhance its product features, and launch into new markets, with the United States among the key targets.
Fluid Focus recently conducted a research programme in partnership with Dr Paul Redmond from the University of Liverpool. The study involved 18 academic institutions and over 2,800 students, investigating how Gen Z interacts with technology, and exploring issues around smartphone usage, sleep, study habits, focus, and overall mental wellbeing. The study found that current students spend an average of 5.5 hours per day on their phones — a pattern which, if maintained, amounts to decades of screen time over a lifetimes’ waking hours.
The app is built around the premise that many existing tech platforms monetize user attention in ways that undermine wellbeing. Connor Mason, co-founder, describes the company’s mission as restoring personal agency — giving people tools both to manage their screen use and to gain real benefits from doing so. Co-founder Glenn Stephenson notes that being a Belfast-based startup with global ambitions, Fluid Focus sees this funding as a milestone on its path to establishing a presence in the U.S. market and forging partnerships with academic institutions and businesses that will use the app for employees and students to support productivity, mental health, and healthier habits.
Fluid Focus is already attracting attention and traction: the app has users in many countries, and the founders say that businesses and educational institutions are increasingly interested in adopting the platform. The product roadmap includes enhancements to core features as well as improvements in reward mechanics, user engagement tools, and possible further integration with devices beyond mobile.
Beyond product development and team growth, a key part of the strategy involves using this investment to build partnerships. Fluid Focus aims to work closely with universities and companies to roll out its app in settings where the challenges of screen distraction, wellbeing, and focus are particularly acute. Investors have expressed confidence in the company’s research-led approach, especially its combination of data, academic backing, and gamified incentives. The involvement of Clarendon Fund Managers and angel backers with experience in tech and wellness spaces underscores their belief in the app’s potential.
The startup sees a strong opportunity in the U.S. market, where concerns over screen addiction, mental wellbeing, and reducing attention spans are growing. The fresh funding gives Fluid Focus the runway to establish a U.S. presence, attract more institutional clients, and scale operations internationally.
As more people worry about balance in their digital lives, Fluid Focus positions itself not just as a productivity tool but as part of a broader movement addressing screen time, attention, and mental wellbeing. With its new funding, strong academic research backing, and a proven early market response, the company is now entering a growth phase with the aim of helping users reclaim focus, time, and healthier digital habits.
