Maharishi Foundation International

What Maharishi Foundation International does

Maharishi Foundation International (MFI) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, that teaches the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique and related programs worldwide. Its core mission is to create a peaceful, harmonious, and enlightened society through the full development of every individual, with TM delivered to the general public as well as to governments, businesses, and schools. The organization operates a fully remote team of over 50 people, mostly located across North America and Europe, and reaches learners in more than 100 countries via certified TM teachers and an affiliated ecosystem that includes Maharishi International University and the David Lynch Foundation; cumulative learner count is stated at more than 10 million over the past 60 years.

MFI's core product is the Transcendental Meditation mobile application (TM App) for iOS and Android, launched in 2020, which supports meditators from beginners to experienced practitioners with features including meditation tracking, reminders, and Digital Course content taught by certified TM teachers. The app integrates with Apple App Store and Google Play Store, which handle all payment processing for an optional paid Membership offered as a recurring monthly subscription; MFI itself does not collect or store complete payment information. Underlying technology is conventional mobile/web delivery with no disclosed AI/ML components, and web analytics are handled through standard tools including Google Analytics and Mixpanel.

MFI's business model is primarily mission-driven nonprofit: it generates revenue from TM course offerings and the optional paid Membership, with all proceeds supporting its nonprofit educational mission. The organization holds registered trademarks on "Transcendental Meditation®", "TM®", and "Maharishi®" in the United States and other countries. Founded in 1960 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the firmographic record lists 1993, which appears to reflect a specific corporate reorganization of the US entity rather than the original movement), MFI is an independent US public charity with no parent company and no shareholders.

Name

Maharishi Foundation International

Legal name

Maharishi Foundation International

Website

https://maharishi.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Maharishi Foundation International is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique to the general public, governments, businesses, and schools in more than 100 countries via certified teachers, a TM mobile app, and affiliate organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meditation Education & Wellness Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Meditation education
• Transcendental meditation
• Mindfulness training
• Wellness programs
• Nonprofit education

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. TM Technique and Related Programmes: MFI operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique. Revenue supports the nonprofit educational mission. The organization helps organisations in more than 100 countries benefit from modern technology and globally integrated operations to teach the TM technique.
2. TM App Membership Subscription: Optional paid Membership offered as a recurring monthly subscription processed through Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Membership provides early access to certain app features and enables users to support the TM app. All proceeds support MFI's nonprofit educational mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Maharishi Foundation International teaches the Transcendental Meditation technique and related programs to individuals and organizations across more than 100 countries. Its core offerings include the Transcendental Meditation Mobile App (TM App) for iOS and Android with meditation tracking and Digital Course content, in-person and digital TM technique instruction delivered through a global network of certified TM teachers, and an optional paid Membership subscription for early access to app features.

Product overview

Maharishi Foundation International offers a unified product portfolio centered on the Transcendental Meditation technique. The core offering is the Transcendental Meditation Mobile App (TM App) for iOS and Android, which serves as the primary digital platform for delivering meditation content and supporting the TM community. The app integrates with Digital Course content to facilitate teaching of the TM technique by certified TM teachers. Optional paid Membership provides early access to new app features. The ecosystem also includes related programs and services delivered through associated organizations like Maharishi International University and David Lynch Foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TM App: First TM app for iOS and Android to support the TM community, from new meditators learning Transcendental Meditation to those who've practised TM for many years.
• Digital Course

Products and services

• Transcendental Meditation Mobile App (TM App) A mobile application for iOS and Android that supports the TM community, from new meditators learning Transcendental Meditation to experienced practitioners. Includes meditation tracking, reminders, early access to certain features via paid Membership, and access to Digital Course content for TM Course participants.
• Transcendental Meditation Technique Instruction In-person and digital instruction of the Transcendental Meditation technique delivered by a global network of certified TM teachers to individuals, governments, businesses, and schools.
• Digital Course Digital course content offered through the TM App to facilitate the teaching of the Transcendental Meditation technique by certified TM teachers, providing remote and structured instruction for TM Course participants.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Maharishi International UniversitycoreOthersMIU is a related educational institution that brings TM to people from all walks of life. Maharishi International University and David Lynch Foundation are among the key organisations mentioned as bringing Transcendental Meditation to diverse populations worldwide.
• David Lynch FoundationcoreOthersNonprofit foundation that brings Transcendental Meditation to people from all walks of life. The foundation is one of the key organisations mentioned alongside Maharishi International University as helping expand access to TM worldwide.
• Apple App StorecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing platform for monthly Membership subscriptions. All payments, renewals, and cancellations are handled by Apple App Store in accordance with its own terms and privacy policy. MFI does not directly collect or store complete payment information.
• Google Play StorecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing platform for monthly Membership subscriptions. All payments, renewals, and cancellations are handled by Google Play Store in accordance with its own terms and privacy policy. MFI does not directly collect or store complete payment information.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Insight Timer: Insight Timer is a large free meditation app marketplace with thousands of teachers and timer-based meditation. It competes with the TM App as a meditation and digital community platform, offering both free and subscription content for beginner to advanced meditators.
• Calm: Calm is a major meditation, sleep, and mental wellness app with guided meditations, masterclasses, and stories. It competes directly with the TM App in the meditation apps and digital courses space, serving similar consumer audiences seeking stress reduction and personal development.
• Headspace: Headspace is a leading meditation and mindfulness app offering guided meditation, sleep, and focus content via subscription. It directly competes with MFI's TM App in the consumer meditation app category, targeting similar wellness-seeking consumers with digital courses and personalized content.

Emerging players

• Waking Up: Waking Up is a meditation and mindfulness app by Sam Harris focusing on both practice and the theory of consciousness. It overlaps with MFI's TM audience of intellectually curious meditators seeking deeper, technique-oriented content beyond generic mindfulness.
• Aura Health: Aura Health is a personalized mental wellness app offering meditation, coaching, and therapy content with AI-driven personalization. It competes with the TM App in the broader mindfulness/wellness category with a modern digital-first approach.
• Simple Habit: Simple Habit is a meditation and wellness app offering short, on-demand guided sessions for busy professionals. It competes with the TM App for the same time-constrained consumer segment interested in stress reduction and personal development.
• 10% Happier: 10% Happier is a meditation app targeting skeptics and beginners with practical, evidence-based meditation content. It overlaps with MFI's potential audience of newcomers curious about structured meditation techniques like TM.
• Oak Meditation & Breathing: Oak is a meditation and breathing app offering guided meditation, breathing exercises, and mindful habits. It is comparable to the TM App as a focused meditation app with mobile-first delivery and a similar simplicity ethos.

Others

• Maharishi International University: MIU is a closely affiliated educational institution that integrates TM into its curriculum and operates a range of wellness and educational programs. It is a strategic partner and ecosystem peer that extends MFI's TM teaching mission into formal higher education.
• David Lynch Foundation: David Lynch Foundation is a nonprofit that promotes TM in schools, businesses, and underserved populations, often funding TM instruction. It is a strategic ecosystem partner and adjacent nonprofit with overlapping mission and beneficiary audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maharishi-foundation-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 International