The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

What The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation does

The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation is a not-for-profit charity (Charity No: 1122517; Company No: 06144314) registered in England and Wales that delivers research-based mindfulness programmes to individual learners, professionals, and organisations. The organisation was founded by Mark Williams, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford and co-developer of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and operates under a formal research collaboration with the University of Oxford Mindfulness Research Centre. Its portfolio spans introductory to advanced personal learning courses (Mindfulness for Life, Introducing Mindfulness, Finding Peace in a Frantic World, Deeper Mindfulness, Taking it Further), specialised clinical programmes (MBCT for Depression, delivered with the NHS Nottingham Centre for Mindfulness), and a teacher training pathway (12-Month Teacher Training Programme and Train to Introduce Mindfulness) leading to MBI:TAC-aligned certification.

The business is delivered through three primary channels: live online courses via Zoom, in-person retreats and annual gatherings, and the Oxford Mindfulness mobile application, which provides access to over 300 meditations and self-paced courses in more than 10 languages across 170+ countries. Revenue is generated through course fees (£175–£4,960 depending on course type), app subscriptions (£5.99 monthly / £59.99 annual with a freemium tier), personal mentoring packages, workplace and organisational partnerships (including a recent partnership with Opera Air to embed mindfulness tools into the Opera Air browser), and charitable donations. Pricing follows a sliding-scale model (Standard, Supported, Supporting) to support accessibility, consistent with the charity's mission.

Customer segments include general-public individual learners, healthcare professionals seeking teaching certification, employers and educational institutions procuring workplace well-being programmes, NHS clinical populations for MBCT for Depression, and a global community of trained mindfulness teachers served through continuing professional development, supervision, and the members' programme. Distribution is hybrid, combining direct-to-consumer online delivery with a network of international strategic partners spanning China, Brazil, Portugal, Singapore, India, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Norway, and referral channels via BAMBA and ACCESS MBCT teacher directories.

Name

The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

Legal name

Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

Website

https://oxfordmindfulness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation is a UK-registered charity that delivers research-based mindfulness courses, MBCT-aligned teacher training, and a global mobile meditation app to individual learners, healthcare professionals, workplaces, and trained teachers across 170+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mindfulness Training and Mental Health Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mindfulness-Based Coaching & Training (MBSR/MBCT-style) (HSADAJAB), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD), Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF), Mental Wellness & Resilience Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAK)

Keywords

• Mindfulness training courses
• MBCT teacher training
• Mental health education
• Guided meditation app
• Mindfulness-based therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees - Personal Learning: Revenue from 8-week mindfulness courses (Mindfulness for Life, Finding Peace, Deeper Mindfulness), introductory courses, and retreats. Pricing varies by course type and support level (standard, supported, supporting rates).
2. Teacher Training Programs: Revenue from 12-month teacher training programmes and Train to Introduce Mindfulness courses for individuals seeking to become certified mindfulness teachers.
3. App Subscriptions: Monthly (£5.99) and annual (£59.99) subscription fees for full access to 300+ meditations on the Oxford Mindfulness app. One-time purchases for specific courses and materials also available.
4. Personal Mentoring: One-to-one mentoring sessions with experienced teachers offered as packages (e.g., 3 sessions for £250), providing individual support for mindfulness practice.
5. Donations and Fundraising: As a not-for-profit charity (Charity No: 1122517), the organization receives donations and organizes fundraising events to support its charitable mission of making mindfulness accessible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation delivers research-based mindfulness courses, certified teacher training programmes, and a mobile meditation app built on Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) curricula developed in partnership with the University of Oxford. Offerings range from introductory 3-week courses to 12-session advanced programmes, professional teacher training, personal mentoring, retreats, and a freemium app with 300+ meditations available globally.

Product overview

Oxford Mindfulness Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation offering a comprehensive portfolio of research-based mindfulness courses and training programmes developed from research at the University of Oxford. The core offering consists of personal learning courses including Mindfulness for Life (MBCT-L), Introducing Mindfulness, MBCT for Depression, Finding Peace in a Frantic World, Deeper Mindfulness, and Taking it Further, ranging from 3-week to 12-session formats. Professional development encompasses the 12-Month Teacher Training Programme and Train to Introduce Mindfulness course, leading to internationally recognised Trained Teacher Certificates. Additional services include live online meditation, retreats, personal practice mentoring, annual gatherings, guest talks, and a membership programme. The Oxford Mindfulness mobile app provides access to over 300 meditations and self-paced courses, available in over 170 countries with content in 10+ languages. The Foundation has established partnerships with organisations including Opera Air to integrate mindfulness into everyday contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oxford Mindfulness App

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows mindfulness courses reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Oxford Mindfulness Research Centre focuses on preventing depression, promoting mental health, and resourcing people to meet 21st century challenges. This is the foundational partnership providing research backbone and academic credibility.
• Chinese Association for Life Care – Mindfulness Professional CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSetting standards and promoting mindfulness in China to improve lives, health and social harmony. Supports expansion of Oxford mindfulness curricula into Chinese-speaking regions.
• Access MBCTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational listing of professionals committed to excellence in delivery, training and dissemination of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. Provides quality assurance and teacher verification.
• British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's primary professional body of mindfulness practitioners, teachers and teacher training organisations. Mission to promote safe, ethical and inclusive practices in evidence-based secular mindfulness teaching.
• The Mindfulness NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2012 to bring together highly-trained mindfulness-based supervisors, retreat leaders and teacher trainers working within Good Practice Standards.
• Charles UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1348, one of the oldest universities in the world. A modern, dynamic, cosmopolitan and prestigious institution supporting mindfulness research and education in Central Europe.
• Nottingham Centre for Mindfulness (NHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated within UK National Health Service, providing MBCT to clinical services since 2007. Collaboration partner for MBCT for Depression courses offered to UK residents.
• Mindfulness and Health InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation with vision to improve access to evidence-based courses. Raises funds for scholarships for mindfulness courses, supporting accessibility mission.
• The Mindful FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation aiming to make mindfulness accessible to varied groups including workplaces, schools, and lower income groups in India.
• Mindful CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingapore-based not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to fostering resilience, compassion, and community through evidence-based mindfulness practices.
• Parkinson's UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity campaigning for better health and care, funding research, with a powerful community united by improving life with Parkinson's. Partnership explores mindfulness applications.
• Opera AirmajorTechnology or IntegrationNorwegian browser maker Opera partnered to integrate mindfulness tools (breathing exercises, meditation, binaural beats, stretching, positive quotes) into Opera Air browser. Oxford Mindfulness provides research-based mindfulness expertise.
• Visual Snow Initiative (VSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit dedicated to raising awareness, fostering research, and providing support for individuals affected by Visual Snow Syndrome.
• Mente AbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian social impact company for dissemination of scientific information and courses based on mindfulness. Promotes personal transformations and sustainable behavior changes.
• Ser IntegralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2007 to promote and disseminate mindfulness in Portugal and work with international community of mindfulness teachers.
• University of AlgarveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly Portuguese university created by Law of the Assembly of the Republic, with unanimous Parliamentary approval. Supports mindfulness education in Portugal.
• Albert Einstein UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate non-profit association created with humanistic approach to assist in education of society towards a Peace Culture.
• Association of Cognitive Behavioural Studies (ACBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest CBT training centre in Greece. Primary programme leads to CBT certification according to European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT).
• Mindful DirectoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration with mindful.org providing global platform for mindfulness professionals and training organisations to share details and display event information.
• ZKBAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2011 to support science, professionalism, systematic approaches, and continuous development in healthcare sector.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Waking Up: Waking Up is a subscription mindfulness and meditation app offering daily practice, theory lessons, and community features. It is comparable to Oxford Mindfulness in positioning research-informed mindfulness for adult individual learners.
• Headspace: Headspace is a leading subscription meditation and mindfulness app offering guided meditations, sleep content, and workplace well-being (Headspace for Work). It is directly comparable to Oxford Mindfulness' mobile app and live courses, competing head-on for consumer attention in 170+ markets.
• Ten Percent Happier: Ten Percent Happier combines a meditation app with structured video-based courses taught by recognizable teachers and a 'Ten Percent Business' B2B offering. It overlaps directly with Oxford Mindfulness' courses-plus-app format and its workplace partnerships.
• Insight Timer: Insight Timer is a freemium meditation app with a large library of teacher-led content, live sessions, and community features. Comparable to Oxford Mindfulness' app-plus-live-course model, particularly for individual learners seeking free or low-cost guided practice.
• Palouse Mindfulness: Palouse Mindfulness offers online MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) teacher training and courses, similar to Oxford Mindfulness' MBSR-adjacent MBCT-based curricula and 12-month teacher training pathway. Directly comparable training institution competing for aspiring mindfulness teachers.
• Calm: Calm is one of the largest meditation, sleep, and mindfulness apps globally, with premium subscription content and a B2B arm (Calm Business). It competes with Oxford Mindfulness' app on consumer mindshare and with its corporate offering on enterprise mindfulness contracts.

Emerging players

• Plum: Plum is a workplace well-being and mindfulness app aimed at employers and employees. Comparable to Oxford Mindfulness' workplace partnerships and 'Finding Peace in the Workplace' programme from a B2B distribution perspective.
• Mindful (Mindful.org): Mindful.org is a US-based mindfulness media and community platform that offers directories, courses, and content. It is comparable as a global mindfulness community and referral channel overlapping with OMF's teacher directory and content marketing.
• The Mindfulness Network: The Mindfulness Network is a UK charity supporting mindfulness-based supervisors, retreat leaders, and teacher trainers under Good Practice Guidelines. Comparable to Oxford Mindfulness' training, certification, and CPD ecosystem in the UK.

Broad incumbents

• BetterUp: BetterUp is a broad workplace well-being platform combining coaching, mindfulness, and mental health resources. It competes with Oxford Mindfulness' enterprise/workplace channel as a broader incumbent rather than a specialist mindfulness provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkvTP_x8sburMgYSMjYnNHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Oxfordmindfulness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oxford-mindfulness-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/oxford_mindfulness_foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 The Oxford Mindfulness Foundation