Introducing Mahara Mindfulness, one of the ten recipients of the Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund 2024!
Founders: Sheba Zaidi and Genevive Savundranayagam
Location: Toronto, ON
About Mahara Mindfulness
Mahara Mindfulness is a Canadian, female-founded business dedicated to improving mental health through mindfulness. Their flagship product, The Human Being Journal, is a guided monthly journal designed to help users manage mental health, gain perspective, and live more fulfilled lives. Inspired by the pandemic’s impact on mental health, Mahara sought to create an accessible, scientifically backed tool for stress and anxiety management. Featured in outlets like The New York Times and Oprah Daily, and endorsed by wellness icons like Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba, the journal bridges the human and being aspects of life to unlock true potential. Committed to sustainability and inclusivity, the journals are made in Canada from recycled materials, with diverse quotes and gender-neutral designs. Mahara also partners with organizations like CAMH, Restorations Second Stage Homes, and Holt Renfrew’s H-Project, aligning with their mission to support underserved communities and promote mental wellness.
How will the fund make an impact with your business?
At Mahara Mindfulness, our biggest challenge is finding the resources to build a community around The Human Being Journal. While COVID pushed us to focus on e-commerce, our vision has always been to create workshops and events to help Canadians connect, reflect, and embrace mindfulness. These events would teach journaling, meditation, and breathwork while addressing Canada’s growing loneliness epidemic. This Fund will help us launch our first event in 2025, covering infrastructure, speakers, marketing, and outreach to ensure success. With a loyal audience already engaged through social media and newsletters, we’re confident this event would spark a movement and advance our mission to improve mental health through tools and community. Winning this grant will allow us to take this critical first step.
What is your long term goal for the company?
We’re a small, Canadian-grown business with big dreams of expanding The Human Being Journal across North America and globally. Currently available in retailers like Indigo, Holt Renfrew, Paper Source, and Barnes & Noble, we aim to bring this powerful mindfulness tool to homes worldwide, including the U.K., Australia, and India, over the next 3–5 years. As two female, BIPOC founders who bootstrapped this business during the pandemic, we’re proud to follow our passion for making a difference in mental health.
Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2024 recipients here.
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