Transform Press
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersBerkeley, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
Transform Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Transform Press
- Legal name
- Transform Press
- Website
- https://transformpress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Transform Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirituality & Personal Growth Publishing (Mindfulness, Contemplative, New Age) (MPAJAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Humanities & Arts Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAE), Medical & Clinical Reference (Physicians, Nursing, Allied Health) (EDAGAGAA)
Keywords
Where Transform Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berkeley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Transform Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales (Physical, Digital, Audio): Transform Press generates revenue through the sale of published books, including physical trade paperbacks/hardcovers, digital e-books, and audiobooks. Key titles include PiHKAL, TiHKAL, The Nature of Drugs series, Psychedelic Psychotherapy, and Ergot Alkaloids. Books are sold directly through the company website and distributed to bookstores via Publishers Group West.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Books (Individual) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Bundle (Volumes One & Two) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Audiobooks |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | E-books (Digital) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Commemorative Edition Boxed Set |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Transform Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Transform Press is a niche publishing house that publishes and sells books on psychopharmacology, psychedelic drug research, psychoactive compounds, consciousness, and related subjects. Founded in 1991 by Alexander and Ann Shulgin, the company publishes its catalog in physical book, e-book, and audiobook formats and sells them directly to consumers and through bookstore distribution.
Product overview
Transform Press is a niche publishing house specializing in works on psychopharmacology, psychedelic drug research, and psychoactive compounds. Founded in 1991 by Alexander and Ann Shulgin, the company publishes books in multiple formats (physical books, e-books, and audiobooks). The core product portfolio includes foundational texts on psychedelic chemistry and consciousness such as PiHKAL and TiHKAL (the Shulgins' landmark works on phenethylamines and tryptamines), The Nature of Drugs (transcribed from Sasha's 1987 SFSU lectures), Psychedelic Psychotherapy (practical therapeutic guides), and Ergot Alkaloids (Albert Hofmann's work on ergot compounds). Products are available individually or as bundles, with the company also distributing documentary films about the Shulgins' legacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Nature of Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, Volume One Physical book transcribing Alexander Shulgin's 1987 San Francisco State University course, covering the origin of drugs, history of U.S. drug law enforcement, human anatomy, nervous system, drug administrations, varieties of drug actions, memory and states of consciousness, and research methods. Priced at $35.00.
- The Nature of Drugs: History, Pharmacology, and Social Impact, Volume Two Continuation of Shulgin's SFSU lectures covering stimulants, depressants, intoxicants, deliriants, and psychedelics; their chemical makeup and actions; cultural history of tobacco and alcohol use; mechanics of drug testing. Available as physical book ($35) or e-book ($12.99).
- The Nature of Drugs: Volume One & Two Bundle Bundle containing both Volume One and Volume Two of The Nature of Drugs with a $10 discount when purchased together (Bundle price: $60). Includes lectures 1-23.
- The Nature of Drugs: Volume One Audiobook Audiobook version of Volume One with actual audio clips from Sasha Shulgin's original 1987 lectures interspersed with professional narration. Delivered via the Glassboxx app for Windows, Android, and Apple devices. Priced at $30.00.
- PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story First book by Alexander and Ann Shulgin, originally published 1991. Fictionalized autobiography interwoven with synthesis recipes and bioassay notes for 179 psychoactive phenethylamine compounds (also known as 'Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved'). Available in commemorative hardcover ($200), paperback ($100), and e-book versions. Reprinted over 20 times and translated into Spanish, German, and other languages.
- TiHKAL: The Continuation Sequel to PiHKAL, originally published 1997. Continuation of the love story combined with travel, botanical facts, scientific speculation, and synthesis recipes for 55 novel tryptamine compounds including LSD. Also available as e-book.
- Psychedelic Psychotherapy: A User Friendly Guide to Psychedelic Drug-Assisted Psychotherapy Book by R. Coleman published November 2017. Practical guide for psychedelic drug-assisted psychotherapy based on three decades of underground practice. Covers MDMA, LSD, psilocybin, and marijuana in therapeutic settings. Available in paperback ($32.50) and e-book formats, 153 pages.
- Ergot Alkaloids: History, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Uses English translation of Albert Hofmann's historic encyclopedia of ergot alkaloids and their derivatives. Covers botany, cultivation, historical elaboration, medical uses, and synthesis of ergot compounds. Published October 10, 2023 as a 256-page hardcover priced at $138.00.
- The Commemorative Edition of PiHKAL and TiHKAL Four-volume boxed set commemorating the 25th anniversary of PiHKAL, released September 2018. Splits the original narrative and chemistry sections of PiHKAL and TiHKAL into separate volumes. Includes nearly 200 photographs, essays, and tributes from psychedelic luminaries. Available in paperback ($100) and hardcover ($200) boxed-set editions.
Quantifiable outcome
- PiHKAL has over 20 reprints and translations into Spanish, German, and other languages
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Transform Press
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Transform Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Transform Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- UC Berkeley (Zellerbach Hall)flagshipThe memorial service for Ann Shulgin was held at Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus, sponsored by BCSP (Berkeley Center for Psychedelic Studies) and CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies). The event honored Ann's contributions to the psychedelic field.
- BCSP (Berkeley Center for Psychedelic Studies)minorBCSP sponsored and supported the Ann Shulgin memorial service at UC Berkeley Zellerbach Hall in July 2023.
- CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies)minorCIIS sponsored the Ann Shulgin memorial service held at UC Berkeley Zellerbach Hall in July 2023.
- City Lights BookstoreflagshipSan Francisco's iconic City Lights Bookstore partnered with Transform Press and Synergetic Press to host a two-day virtual symposium (June 26-27, 2021) celebrating the pioneering legacy of Sasha and Ann Shulgin, featuring five panels of psychedelic luminaries. The event marked the publication of The Nature of Drugs.
- Synergetic PresscoreTransform Press signed a co-publishing deal with Synergetic Press. This partnership expanded distribution capabilities and production support for Transform Press titles. Synergetic Press is also collaborating with Transform Press on forthcoming publications, including the ongoing Shulgin legacy works and the 'Synthesis' third volume of the PiHKAL/TiHKAL series.
- Publishers Group WestcoreFollowing the merger with Synergetic Press, Transform Press books are now distributed to physical bookstores through Publishers Group West, replacing any previous distribution arrangements.
- Women's Visionary Congress (WVC)minorThe Shulgin family suggests donations to the Women's Visionary Congress in honor of Ann Shulgin's life and contributions. Ann was a supporter of the WVC since 2008, which highlights women's roles in psychedelics.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Transform Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Inner Traditions / Bear & Company: Long-established publisher of New Age, alternative health, and consciousness titles, including its Park Street Press imprint. Inner Traditions carries psychedelic and entheogen-adjacent titles and is the dominant incumbent in the broader category Transform Press occupies.
- Hay House: Major mind-body-spirit publisher founded by Louise Hay. While broader in scope than Transform Press, Hay House competes for the same consciousness-curious consumer audience and has begun publishing psychedelic-related titles.
- Hampton Roads Publishing: Publisher of metaphysics, spirituality, and consciousness titles (an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser). Hampton Roads carries psychedelic-adjacent content and serves overlapping reader interests in consciousness exploration and personal growth.
Regional players
- Chelsea Green Publishing: Independent publisher focused on sustainability, health, and progressive social issues. Chelsea Green is comparable as a values-driven independent publisher serving engaged niche communities, though it does not focus on psychedelics specifically.
Others
- MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies): Nonprofit research organization that has endorsed Transform Press titles. MAPS is a key partner and reference-point organization in the same ecosystem, though it is a research nonprofit rather than a publisher.
- Chacruna Institute: Nonprofit fostering dialogue on psychedelics, plant medicine, and consciousness. Chacruna publishes related content and operates in the same community ecosystem as Transform Press, though as a nonprofit rather than commercial publisher.
Direct peers
- North Atlantic Books: Independent publisher focused on alternative health, consciousness, and holistic healing. North Atlantic Books is closely comparable in size, mission, and editorial focus, with overlapping audiences in the psychedelic-adjacent and consciousness communities.
- Synergetic Press: Co-publishing partner, considered the most direct peer in psychedelic publishing given shared author network, distribution channels, and editorial mission.
- Synergetic Press: Independent publisher specializing in psychedelics, consciousness, and plant medicine. Synergetic Press is Transform Press's co-publishing partner and the most directly comparable peer, sharing the same niche focus and author communities.
- Park Street Press: Imprint of Inner Traditions specifically focused on consciousness studies, shamanism, and altered states. Park Street Press is directly comparable to Transform Press at the imprint level and competes for the same niche of readers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Transform Press social profiles
Digital presenceTransform Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Transform Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Transform Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Transform Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Transform Press
What does Transform Press do?
Transform Press is a niche publishing house that publishes and sells books on psychopharmacology, psychedelic drug research, psychoactive compounds, consciousness, and related subjects. Founded in 1991 by Alexander and Ann Shulgin, the company publishes its catalog in physical book, e-book, and audiobook formats and sells them directly to consumers and through bookstore distribution.
Is Transform Press a public or private company?
Transform Press is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Transform Press founded?
Transform Press was founded in 1991. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Transform Press based?
Transform Press is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Transform Press make money?
One revenue line is on record: book Sales (Physical, Digital, Audio).
Who are Transform Press's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, Hay House and Hampton Roads Publishing. Chelsea Green Publishing is listed as a regional player. Others are MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and Chacruna Institute. Direct peers are North Atlantic Books, Synergetic Press, Synergetic Press and Park Street Press.
Does Transform Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Transform Press.
What industry is Transform Press in?
Transform Press's product category is Specialty Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAH, Spirituality & Personal Growth Publishing (Mindfulness, Contemplative, New Age), with a secondary code of EDAGAFAE, Humanities & Arts Scholarly Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.