Our story
How it all started
WaldorfMinds began in 2022 with one student at the Waldorf School of Florence and a simple question. Today it’s looked after by nine volunteers in four countries.
From one idea to a small team
The question was whether an online space could feel like a Waldorf school: calm, creative, and about real people. Here’s how we’ve tried to answer it so far.
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Summer 2022
The first version
Pietro, a student at the Waldorf School of Florence, starts building WaldorfMinds. He wants to find out whether an online space can encourage real conversations, creativity and friendship, in the spirit of his school.
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January 2023
Open to everyone
With help from the parents’ association of the Waldorf School of Florence, the app opens to the public. In the first months, more than 400 people from different countries join.
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May 2023
An article in Erziehungskunst
WaldorfMinds is featured in the special issue “Waldorf Digital” of Erziehungskunst. For us, it’s the start of many conversations.
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Early 2025
A pause, and a new team
The community has grown to more than 1,200 members. Pietro takes a break and opens the project up to a team of students, alumni, parents and teachers.
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30 May 2026
The relaunch
The new WaldorfMinds goes online, rebuilt by nine volunteers in four countries, with new protections for younger members.
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Today
Working together
Small groups look after development, design, communication, moderation and the community. We make decisions together, mostly on video calls.
Where we’ve been welcomed
WaldorfMinds grew up inside the Waldorf movement. These are some of the places that have made room for us so far.
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Florence
Waldorf School of Florence
The parents’ association gave the project its first support. The school is also where our association is registered.
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2023
Erziehungskunst
An article in the special issue “Waldorf Digital” introduced WaldorfMinds to readers in German-speaking countries.
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Germany
WaldorfSV & the Bundesschüler*innentagung
We presented WaldorfMinds at the 33rd national meeting of Waldorf students in Germany.
WaldorfMinds is an independent project, and we don’t speak for the Waldorf movement or its schools. The Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen has authorised us to use the name “Waldorf”, and we’re in conversation with the Hague Circle about working together.
How we’re organised
We keep things simple, so the app can stay free and calm.
- A non-profit associationWe’re a cultural association based in Florence, Italy.
- All volunteersNobody on the team is paid. Donations go straight into building and caring for the app.
- Free for everyoneNo ads, no fees, and we never sell anyone’s data.
Meet the people behind it
Nine volunteers in four countries, with Waldorf schools in common.