Technovation
Technovation is a 501c3 nonprofit running the world's largest AI and tech entrepreneurship program for girls and young women ages 8-24, serving 400,000+ participants across 160+ countries through Technovation Girls, the AI in Action Curriculum, and the AI Ventures Accelerator.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Technovation does
Technovation is a US-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2006 by CEO Tara Chklovski (originally as Iridescent, rebranded to Technovation in August 2019) and headquartered at 700 El Camino Real in Menlo Park, California. The organization runs the world's largest technology accelerator program for young people, delivering AI, coding, and entrepreneurship education to girls and young women ages 8-24. Its flagship Technovation Girls program is a 3-month, team-based curriculum in which students identify a community problem, design and build a technology solution, and pitch it at regional and global events; supporting offerings include the 50+ hour AI in Action Curriculum (standards-aligned to ISTE and the UNESCO AI Competency Framework), the 12-week AI Ventures Accelerator for ages 19-24 (with $100K in combined equity-free seed funding for the top 10 teams), and the AI Forward Alliance (TAIFA), a public-private partnership with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited targeting 25 million girls by 2037. The technology stack is pedagogical rather than proprietary: students use App Inventor, ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, and curated datasets to build applications spanning image (computer vision), audio (diagnostic ML), text (NLP), structured data, and multimodal AI, with example student projects including AsthmaAssist (cough-sound classification at 88%+ accuracy), Project Heart Scope, and VivaCell.
Technovation has reached 400,000+ participants across 160+ countries since 2006, supported by 80,000+ mentors and volunteers and 131 chapter ambassadors across 13 countries, and reports strong longitudinal outcomes (76% of alumnae pursue STEM degrees, 60% work in STEM versus a 29% national average, 81% report career impact). Because all programs are free to participants, the organization operates a classic nonprofit revenue model: corporate sponsorships and employee engagement (Google, EY, ServiceNow, Shopify, Oracle, NVIDIA, AMD, Best Buy, Boeing), foundation and government grants (Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, AmeriCorps Public Allies, Cisco Foundation, Vodafone Americas Foundation, TE Connectivity Foundation), individual donations including a Catalyst Society recurring giving program and 100+ cryptocurrencies, and in-kind event hosting (Synopsys hosted the 2023 World Summit). Disclosed grant income includes $200K (2022), $500K (2023) from McGovern, $250K from Boeing for mentorship programs, and $456,255 from AmeriCorps (2024); 2023 pass-through grants to local community partners exceeded $600,000. Leadership comprises a small team of approximately 25-30 staff and a board drawn from State Street Global Advisors, Solventum, GoFundMe, Bayer, Google, Scale AI, Databricks, and Quinn Emanuel, with founder Chklovski remaining in the CEO seat.
Technovation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Technovation
- Legal name
- Technovation
- Website
- https://technovation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Technovation is a 501c3 nonprofit running the world's largest AI and tech entrepreneurship program for girls and young women ages 8-24, serving 400,000+ participants across 160+ countries through Technovation Girls, the AI in Action Curriculum, and the AI Ventures Accelerator.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Technovation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Technology & AI Education
- NAICS
- Computer Training (61142), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AI/ML Learning Platforms for Students (EDAFANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- AI & Emerging Technology Literacy (EDAAAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Technovation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Technovation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorship and Funding Partnerships: Technovation generates revenue through corporate sponsorships and funding partnerships. Companies like Google, EY, ServiceNow, Shopify, Oracle, AMD, Best Buy, and others provide funding to support program operations, curriculum development, and expansion into new regions. In 2023, Technovation dedicated over $600,000 in grants to support local community partners.
- Individual Donations: Technovation accepts individual donations through online giving platforms, cryptocurrency (100+ cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others), and the Catalyst Society recurring giving program. Donations support program delivery and scholarships for underserved communities.
- Employee Engagement Programs: Corporate partners engage employees as volunteer mentors, coaches, and judges. While the engagement is primarily volunteer-based, it represents a value exchange where corporations fund or support programs in exchange for employee development and CSR outcomes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free AI in Action Curriculum - available to all educators and students globally |
| Freemium | Others | Free Technovation Girls Program - global technology entrepreneurship program |
| Freemium | Others | Free AI Ventures Accelerator with equity-free seed funding opportunity |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Technovation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Technovation is a nonprofit that designs and delivers free technology and AI education programs — primarily the Technovation Girls competition, the AI in Action curriculum, and the AI Ventures Accelerator — through which girls and young women ages 8–24 learn AI, machine learning, and coding by building apps and ventures that address community problems, supported by a global mentor and chapter network. Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorships, grants, and individual donations rather than participant fees.
Product overview
Technovation is a nonprofit technology education organization offering a portfolio of programs centered on its flagship Technovation Girls platform. The core offering is a 3-month curriculum where students identify real-world community problems and build technology solutions using AI and coding. Supporting programs include the AI in Action Curriculum (a 50+ hour standalone curriculum), the AI Ventures Accelerator (a 12-week accelerator for young women aged 19-24), and the AI Forward Alliance (a global partnership initiative). The organization has transitioned from its original Family Science program and subsequent Iridescent branding to its current unified Technovation Girls model, with strategic goals to reach 25 million girls by 2037.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Technovation Girls A 3-month technology entrepreneurship program for girls ages 8-18 in 100+ countries. Teams identify a community problem, design and build a technology solution (app or AI model), and develop a business plan, supported by industry mentors. The program culminates in regional pitch events and an annual World Summit.
- AI in Action Curriculum A 50+ hour free, project-based curriculum guiding students ages 8-18 through identifying community problems and building AI-powered mobile apps, with an entrepreneurship component. Standards-aligned (ISTE and UNESCO AI Competency Framework) for educator use in classrooms worldwide.
- AI Ventures Accelerator A 12-week free accelerator where teams of young women aged 19-24 build investor-ready AI ventures, supported by mentorship from successful tech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, with the top 10 teams each receiving $10,000 in equity-free seed funding. Co-run with UNICEF's Generation Unlimited.
- AI Forward Alliance (TAIFA) A global public-private partnership (Technovation, UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, Grameen Foundation, App Inventor Foundation, Girl Geek X, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Shopify, ServiceNow, Google, EY, and others) committed to providing 25 million girls with AI, coding, and entrepreneurship skills by 2037. Delivered through shared curricula, training, and programs across 144+ countries.
- Technovation App Gallery
Quantifiable outcome
- 76% of Technovation Girls Alumnae go on to pursue a STEM degree
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Technovation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Technovation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature3 records
Technovation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UNICEFcoreUNICEF and Technovation form the core leadership of the AI Forward Alliance. UNICEF provides access to educators, ministries of education, and girls/women in 144 countries through its global network. The partnership aims to reach 25 million girls with AI-skilling programs.
- Generation UnlimitedcoreA global public-private-youth partnership hosted by UNICEF and launched by the UN Secretary-General. GenU brings expertise to reach and support more girls on their entrepreneurial journeys through programs like Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) and imaGen Ventures.
- Grameen FoundationcoreGives TAIFA increased access to educators, ministries of education, and girls/women as network partners. CEO Zubaida Bai cited excitement about emerging AI technologies and working with the Alliance.
- App Inventor FoundationcoreSupports development of resources and training for TAIFA's ecosystem educators and facilitators as a technical partner. Executive Director Natalie Lao highlighted commitment to empowering students and educators with AI understanding.
- Girl Geek XcoreBrings expertise to help grow and strengthen a global community of women tech leaders as a workforce development partner. Founder & CEO Angie Chang emphasized supporting women continuing to grow and inspire each other in tech.
- EYcoreEY teams provide knowledge through mentoring, coaching, and judging. Committed to Women in Tech and EY Ripples programs. Aims to help empower 25 million girls worldwide with AI tools and resources.
- NVIDIAminorSenior Director Tonie Hansen from NVIDIA's Corporate Social Responsibility team featured as quote endorser. NVIDIA employees volunteer as mentors and judges for Technovation programs.
- BoeingminorInvested $250K in Technovation mentorship programs. Boeing engineers served as mentors and judges. Impact study assessed skills-based volunteerism program effects on professional engineers.
- AmericorpsminorListed as funding partner supporting Technovation programs and community engagement initiatives.
- SynopsysminorGenerously hosted the 2023 World Summit in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- EricssonminorEmployees supported girls to complete Technovation Girls program in 2021. Shared stories and impact on mentors.
- STEM Next / Million Girls MoonshotminorPartnership to recruit Moonshot Ambassadors and launch new clubs and chapters to ignite the Million Girls Moonshot and reach more girls in the US.
- TEKsystemsminorListed as partner in 2023 Annual Report supporting Technovation programs.
- Unlikely CollaboratorsminorListed as alliance member working to empower girls in AI and technology education.
- ChangeHappens FoundationminorListed as alliance member supporting TAIFA's mission.
Scale indicators30 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Technovation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Black Girls CODE: Nonprofit introducing girls of color to technology and computer science through workshops, hackathons, and after-school programs. Direct peer in mission to diversify tech talent pipeline among underrepresented girls, with similar free-program and volunteer-driven delivery.
- AI4ALL: Nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in AI education, research, policy, and practice. Closest peer to Technovation on the AI-literacy-for-underrepresented-youth axis, with similar outcome-driven program design and corporate partnerships.
- Kode With Klossy: Free coding camp for young women ages 13-18 founded by Karlie Kloss, offering web development and machine learning tracks. Comparable as a high-profile, donor-backed nonprofit running free immersive tech education for girls with corporate-tech sponsorship.
- Girls Who Code: Nonprofit focused on closing the gender gap in technology through free coding programs for girls and young women. Most directly comparable to Technovation in mission, target demographic, and free-program delivery model, though with a U.S.-centric footprint.
- Code.org: Nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools, with a specific K-12 curriculum focus. Comparable as a free, donor-funded computer-science education nonprofit with global brand recognition and corporate sponsor base.
Emerging players
- Code2040: Nonprofit focused on activating, connecting, and mobilizing the largest racial equity community in tech. Comparable in diversity-in-tech mission and alumnae engagement; Technovation hired Code2040 alumni into program leadership, indicating operational overlap.
Broad incumbents
- National Academy Foundation (NAF): National network of career academies preparing high school students for college and career, with a strong STEM/IT track. Broader incumbent with curriculum-and-school-district distribution; overlaps Technovation's educator channel and career-pathway positioning.
- AnitaB.org: Nonprofit focused on women in technology with programs spanning K-12, higher education, and workforce. Comparable as a broader women-in-tech incumbent with multiple program lines serving a similar population, though with more workforce-stage focus.
Others
- Generation Unlimited (UNICEF): Global public-private-youth partnership hosted by UNICEF. Currently a strategic partner via TAIFA, but operates as an adjacent ecosystem enabling youth skilling globally, including the YOMA and imaGen Ventures platforms leveraged by Technovation.
- App Inventor Foundation: Nonprofit supporting the MIT App Inventor platform used to teach mobile app development. Currently a TAIFA technical partner supplying curriculum infrastructure; functions as an enabling peer rather than direct competitor, though its tools are central to Technovation's pedagogy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Technovation social profiles
Digital presenceTechnovation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Technovation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Technovation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Technovation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Technovation
What does Technovation do?
Technovation is a nonprofit that designs and delivers free technology and AI education programs — primarily the Technovation Girls competition, the AI in Action curriculum, and the AI Ventures Accelerator — through which girls and young women ages 8–24 learn AI, machine learning, and coding by building apps and ventures that address community problems, supported by a global mentor and chapter network. Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorships, grants, and individual donations rather than participant fees.
Is Technovation a public or private company?
Technovation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Technovation founded?
Technovation was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Technovation based?
Technovation is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Technovation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorship and Funding Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and employee Engagement Programs.
Who are Technovation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Black Girls CODE, AI4ALL, Kode With Klossy, Girls Who Code and Code.org. Code2040 is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are National Academy Foundation (NAF) and AnitaB.org. Others are Generation Unlimited (UNICEF) and App Inventor Foundation.
Does Technovation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Technovation.
What industry is Technovation in?
Technovation's product category is Youth Technology & AI Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFANAE, AI/ML Learning Platforms for Students, with a secondary code of EDAAAIAJ, AI & Emerging Technology Literacy. Its NAICS code is 61142 and its SIC code is 8200.