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In classrooms across the country, teachers are doing more than delivering lessons; they’re managing the emotional landscape of a generation. Rising anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and classroom disruptions have made teaching harder than ever, especially for those working with young children.

A Practical Solution for a Pressing Need

Many behavior support programs are hard to implement and often feel out of sync with the day-to-day realities of the classroom. Kind Mind takes a different approach. Its hands-on tools fit naturally into daily routines, and teachers can earn professional development credits during regular classroom hours.. The program supports both educators and students, helping educators confidently manage their classrooms while also teaching children lifelong skills to self-regulate, be kind, and feel ready to learn.

And the numbers back it up: classrooms using Kind Mind have seen a 48% reduction in student anxiety and emotional distress, and a 54% decrease in bullying behaviors. More than 80% of educators who use the program report increased confidence in managing student behavior. Kind Mind has over 170 active users that reaches an estimated 4,500 children annually and continues to grow.

Scaling with Purpose and Staying Rooted in Mission

Like many early-stage founders, Sowles faced a familiar set of challenges: how to scale without sacrificing ownership, and how to fund product development and hiring while maintaining a focus on impact.

Support from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) helped Kind Mind meet those challenges head-on. Through funding and the MERC program, Sowles was able to hire team members, enhance the product based on direct user feedback, and work with trusted consultants to shape the growth strategy.

“MTI has allowed Kind Mind to grow intentionally on product development,” she says. “We’ve been able to create our product, connect with our customers, engage in feedback, and improve our product through the funding stages.”

With guidance from MTI advisors Bianca Kowal and Emily Braley, Kind Mind secured funding to complete two major phases of product development. Sowles describes the process as very easy, supportive, and encouraging. 

The result: consistent revenue growth of 17% or more each year, and customer retention rates holding strong at over 90%. A clear sign that with MTI’s support, the platform is delivering lasting value. 

“I don’t know where I would be today without MTI,” Sowles reflects.

Building Community from the Inside Out

What sets Kind Mind apart isn’t just its impact on classrooms; it’s the deep alignment between its mission and its internal culture. Sowles, who describes herself as a creator and visionary at heart, has built a workplace where team members are encouraged to care for their own well-being while advancing the company’s goals.

“We’re cultivating a team that is self-managing, values balanced living, and is aligned around a shared purpose,” she says. “We want to model internally what we hope to bring to the education space: resilience, connection, and meaningful change.”

That mission-driven approach has fostered strong customer retention and a steady stream of new referrals, especially within the Maine community. For Sowles, building Kind Mind in her home state has been both strategic and personal.

“Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is collaborative and full of people eager to make warm introductions,” she says. “Local organizations like The Roux Institute have been valuable in this journey.”