Yvonne is the one preparing your guidance.
Yvonne Knap.
CEO of StarKid Universe.
Biologist. Mindfulness teacher.
TEDx speaker.
With over 2,000 hours of personal meditation and programs spanning Europe, the USA and Asia, Yvonne helps families discover deeper peace, focus and emotional connection - bridging the gap between modern science and ancient wisdom.
"Work is love made visible."
- Kahlil Gibran, Yvonne's guiding line
Watch Yvonne on TEDx
What can you expect from becoming more present?
A life path
Bringing mindfulness to kids and parents.
A decade of practice with the Dhammakaya Buddhist monks, a degree in Biology - Yvonne lives at the seam between ancient wisdom and modern science.
11k+
children & families guided
3
continents: North America, Europe, Asia
2k+
meditation hours
From autism care in North Carolina to war-affected communities in Gaza, from the Ljubljana Zoo's youngest visitors to the Sonček Society for children with cerebral palsy - the work has always followed the same thread.
StarKid Universe works for the neurodivergent and neurotypical.
Credentials
A decade of practice, in receipts.
Mindfulness & meditation training
- TEDx speaker, Netherlands (January 2026)
- Training with Dhammakaya Buddhist monks of Thailand since 2015
- Yoga Teacher Training Course
- Children's Yoga Course
- Two 10-day Vipassana Meditation Retreats
- Courses in hypnosis, reiki, and channeled meditations
- Bachelor's degree in Biology, University of Ljubljana (2020) - neuroscience of mindfulness
Experience with children
- Work with children at Center Morje (2021)
- Children's education at Ljubljana Zoo (2011–2020)
- Children's education at the Ljubljana Botanical Garden (2012)
- Volunteer work at Sonček Society for children with cerebral palsy (2015)
- Work with children from the war zone of Gaza (2017)
- Training in Holistic Approaches to Youth Mental Health (2021)
- Work with autistic children at Compleat KiDZ Pediatric Clinic, North Carolina, USA (2023)
Media appearances
- Planet TV (Slovenia) - featured twice (2024)
- RTV 1 (Slovenia) - national television feature on StarKid Universe (2024)
- Journal de Jerez - interview during business visit (2024)
- The Top Voices - launch of a children's mental health platform
- StartupReporter - European EdTech startup addressing youth mental health
- Ascolta.news - podcast on youth mental health (Il malessere dei ragazzi)
- IT Logos - emotional regulation and mindfulness methodology for children
- Tech Talks Podcast - founder's path of Buddhism and StarKid Universe
- The Catalyst - introducing mindfulness into children's daily habits
Business programs & education
- Leadership Summer School, Stuttgart, Germany (Mummert-Stiftung, 2019)
- Million Dollar Business Program with Robert Rolih, Slovenia (2020)
- ABC Accelerator, Ljubljana, Slovenia (2021)
- Primorska Technology Park, Nova Gorica, Slovenia (2022)
- Hummelnest, Graz, Austria (2023)
- YTILI Transatlantic Business Delegation, Charlotte, NC, USA (2024)
- AWE Business Program by CEED, Ljubljana, Slovenia (2024)
- Authority Accelerator Program with Sunny Lenarduzzi (2025)
Speaking - TEDx 2026, Netherlands
Routines the families remember.
Featured across international media, Yvonne speaks to educators, parents and entrepreneurs on:
- - Mindfulness for neurodiverse children
- - Integrating mindfulness into daily family routines
- - The crisis of childhood attention and anxiety
- - Science-backed emotional resilience
What people say
two voices, one feeling.I have received so much feedback since the event, and many people mentioned that your talk was one of the main highlights of the day. They spoke about the calmness in the way you speak, the perspective you bring, and how the whole experience felt. Some even shared that it felt like they were meditating with you in the room.
The creator of StarKid Universe has given me my first real lessons in meditation. I became more aware and connected to myself, my surroundings, and most importantly, the truth. As we grow up, we become disconnected from some important aspects of ourselves. We go on a quest of soul-searching, only to discover that we already have everything we need - and so do our children.
Book Yvonne
For events, conferences and workshops.
- Keynotes on stress and burnout - for kids and adults.
- Live meditation sessions for any group size.
- Workshops for schools, families and companies.
- In person or online.
yvonne.knap@starkiduniverse.com
Walk a year with her.
Small routines, repeated daily, accumulate over a year into a different family. The StarKid Journey is a twelve-month invitation - for the parents who refuse to raise children on autopilot.