Maharishi Foundation

What Maharishi Foundation does

Maharishi Foundation USA is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique through a structured 4-day course delivered by certified TM teachers. Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and now led by Dr. Tony Nader (M.D., Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard and MIT), the organization operates 170+ TM Centers across all US states and maintains branches in over 100 countries, serving individual consumers seeking stress reduction, improved sleep, cardiovascular health benefits, and relief from anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Customer segments extend beyond the general adult population to include first responders, medical professionals, veterans, students, and at-risk youth, with the latter groups served via a strategic partnership with the David Lynch Foundation.

The core technology is the TM technique itself: an effortless meditation practice using a personally assigned mantra, performed for 20 minutes twice daily while sitting with eyes closed, producing alpha-one brainwave patterns documented in peer-reviewed research. The product portfolio spans the in-person TM Course, a newer Hybrid TM Course (in-person Day 1 plus remote Days 2-4), the TM App (meditation timer, practice tracking, video library, daily live meditations), TM Retreats, TM Advanced Programs designed to accelerate consciousness development, and one-on-one Consciousness Advisors offering SuperHabits coaching and Ayurvedic recommendations. The Inner Well Podcast extends the brand into content and top-of-funnel education across YouTube, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and Spotify.

The business model centers on a one-time $980 course fee (with a 4-payment installment option and reduced income- and student-based rates), supplemented by monetization across retreats, advanced programs, and Consciousness Advisor services. As a non-profit, all course fees support educational and charitable initiatives rather than profit distributions, and finances are audited annually by an independent CPA firm. Distribution combines 170+ physical US TM Centers, the hybrid online/in-person course format, the TM App, and self-serve website booking, with marketing emphasizing scientific research validation, celebrity endorsements (David Lynch, Ray Dalio, Martin Scorsese, Ellen DeGeneres, Hugh Jackman), and earned media coverage in Forbes, Axios, and Cleveland Clinic.

Name

Maharishi Foundation

Legal name

Maharishi Foundation USA

Website

https://tm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Maharishi Foundation USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique through certified teachers, 170+ US TM Centers, and a mobile app, serving individual consumers, students, first responders, medical professionals, and veterans worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meditation and Wellness Instruction

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH), Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD), Mindfulness, Stress Management & Resilience Training (EDAMAIAD)

Keywords

• Meditation instruction
• Wellness education
• Stress management
• Mindfulness training
• Consciousness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. TM Course Fees: One-time course fee of $980 providing personal one-on-one instruction, 3 group sessions, lifelong teacher support, TM App access, and satisfaction guarantee. Paid in full or 4 monthly installments.
2. Income-Based Course Rates: Reduced rates available for eligible households based on income. Partial scholarships funded by donations may be available for those with financial need.
3. Follow-up and Advanced Programs: TM refresher courses, retreats, advanced TM programs, and Consciousness Advisor services provide ongoing revenue opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Maharishi Foundation teaches the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique through a 4-day instructional course priced at $980, delivered by certified TM teachers in person at 170+ US TM Centers or via a hybrid online format. The course includes personalized one-on-one instruction, three group sessions, lifelong teacher support, TM App access, and a satisfaction guarantee. The organization also offers ongoing follow-up services such as retreats, advanced programs, and Consciousness Advisor coaching for continued practice development.

Product overview

Maharishi Foundation offers the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique as its core product, taught through a 4-day instructional course ($980) available in both in-person and hybrid formats. The organization operates 170+ TM Centers across the United States for localized instruction and ongoing support. The TM App provides mobile access to a meditation timer, practice tracking, videos, and event listings. Additional offerings include TM Retreats, Advanced Programs, and Consciousness Advisors coaching for continued practice development. The Inner Well Podcast extends the brand into content/media. The portfolio follows a single-product-with-services model: the TM technique as the foundation, supported by the TM Course for instruction, the TM App for digital engagement, physical TM Centers for in-person support, and advanced programs for deeper practice development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Inner Well Podcast: A podcast featuring real talk on meditation, meaning, and modern life, hosted by three seasoned TM teachers Donielle, Emily, and Meghan.

Products and services

• TM Course

Quantifiable outcome

• TM practice reduces cortisol by 30%
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• David Lynch FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership providing free TM instruction to underserved populations including first responders (NYC Fire Department, Herndon Police Department), medical professionals through Heal the Healers Now initiative, and veterans. The David Lynch Foundation funds TM programs while Maharishi Foundation provides certified teachers and curriculum. Joint videos and marketing materials promote these initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• BetterHelp: BetterHelp is a large online therapy and mental health platform addressing stress, anxiety, and depression. It is an adjacent competitor for the same consumer pain points (chronic stress, anxiety, burnout) that TM positions itself against, particularly for clinical or sub-clinical populations.
• Waking Up: Waking Up, founded by Sam Harris, is a subscription meditation app blending contemplative practice with a curriculum on consciousness. It overlaps with TM's deeper "states of consciousness" framing and competes for the intellectually curious practitioner.
• Open (meditation app): Open is a newer secular, evidence-based meditation app positioned around mental health outcomes and clinical research. It overlaps with TM's evidence-led value proposition and competes for the same research-minded, premium-willing consumer.

Others

• David Lynch Foundation: David Lynch Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that funds and promotes TM instruction for underserved populations including first responders, veterans, students, and the homeless. It is a strategic partner and donor-funded counterpart rather than a competitor, but occupies adjacent space in meditation philanthropy.

Direct peers

• Calm: Calm is a major meditation, sleep, and mental wellness app offering guided meditations, Sleep Stories, and masterclasses via subscription. It is a direct competitor to TM App for consumer meditation engagement and shares the same focus on stress reduction and sleep benefits.
• Headspace: Headspace is a leading consumer meditation and mindfulness app offering guided meditation, sleep, and focus content via subscription. It competes directly with Maharishi Foundation's TM App and digital course channel on consumer mindshare and price ($0 vs. $980 for TM Course).
• Insight Timer: Insight Timer is a free meditation app with a large library of guided meditations, timers, and a global teacher community. It competes with Maharishi Foundation for consumer meditation practice and overlaps with TM's mantra-based and teacher-led positioning.
• 10% Happier: 10% Happier is a meditation app targeted at skeptics, offering secular meditation content with prominent teacher personalities. It mirrors TM's positioning challenges around cultural perception and competes for the same evidence-minded, non-spiritual-leaning consumer segment.

Broad incumbents

• Peloton: Peloton is a connected fitness and wellness platform offering meditation, yoga, and mindfulness content alongside its core workout classes. It is a broad incumbent in the consumer wellness subscription category and a peer for high-engagement, content-driven wellness consumers.
• Mindbody: Mindbody is a large wellness software and marketplace platform connecting consumers to yoga, meditation, fitness, and wellness studios. It is a broad incumbent in wellness services distribution that touches the meditation category TM operates in and competes indirectly for class-based wellness consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theinnerwellpodcast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maharishi-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maharishi Foundation