Lemnis has acquired Wayfinder, a Stanford spinout providing purpose-driven PreK-12 curriculum to more than 1.5 million students across nearly 5,000 schools and districts.
Following the acquisition, Wayfinder will convert from a for-profit company into a division of Lemnis, a public charity focused on expanding educational opportunity.
Wayfinder was founded in 2015 at the Stanford d.school K-12 Lab and has developed 14 years of PreK-12 curriculum based on research in adolescent development and neuroscience.
An independent evaluation by Stanford researcher Dr. Heather Malin found students completing the curriculum showed an 11-times increase in a measure of purpose, along with 55% growth in school engagement and 64% growth in social awareness compared with a control group.
One Des Moines Public Schools elementary school also reported chronic absenteeism declining from 33% to 16% after implementing Wayfinder.
Wayfinder’s curriculum focuses on six core skills: Self-Awareness, Adaptability, Empathy, Collaboration, Agency and Purpose.
As part of Lemnis, the company will continue delivering its existing programs and services to PreK-12 schools and districts.
The acquisition represents Lemnis’ third transaction in eight months. The organization previously acquired InsideTrack in February and Mainstay in March.
Nfluence Partners served as exclusive investment banker to Wayfinder.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re living through a moment when the path from high school to a meaningful career has never been less certain, or more consequential. Amid rapid technological advancement, it’s essential that young people are given the opportunity to hone uniquely human skills that are relevant to any job in any field that they choose to pursue. Wayfinder ignites purpose and passion, alongside college and career-ready skill development, that has fundamentally shaped students’ experience in and beyond school.”
Melissa Johnston, Founding CEO of Lemnis
“The questions at the heart of what we do—who am I, what do I value, what kind of life do I want to build—have always mattered. But they’re more urgent now than ever. Young people are navigating a world that’s more complex and, in some ways, more demanding than anything previous generations have faced. Too many are doing it without the tools or support to find their footing. Becoming part of Lemnis means we can meet that moment at the scale it deserves. As a public charity, Lemnis shares our conviction that this work is too important to be steered by shareholder pressure or a quarterly bottom line—it’s mission first, always. That alignment means more resources, wider reach, and the staying power to keep showing up for students and educators for the long haul. We couldn’t be more excited about what we get to build together.”
Patrick Cook-Deegan, Founder and CEO of Wayfinder
“We are preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist in a rapidly changing world. To navigate this landscape, our students need skills in adaptability, resilience, and collaboration, with a forward-thinking mindset. Through our partnership with Wayfinder, we give teachers the curricula they need to support students in developing skills for their future lives and careers. Wayfinder’s curriculum prepares our students by fostering self-awareness, cultivating character, and promoting responsible decision making, which we see as essential ingredients to their future success.”
Jennifer Hauth, Director of Student Well-Being at Bend-La Pine Schools
