Proxima Careers

What Proxima Careers does

Proxima Careers is a Utah-based benefit corporation founded in 2024 that operates a navigator-led workforce development model aimed at moving individuals facing barriers (financial, transportation, language, unfamiliarity with higher education, criminal record) into entry-level healthcare careers such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant (MA), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The organization's core offering is not a software product but a human-intensive service stack: personalized navigator coaching, certification program placement assistance through partner training institutions (Davis Technical College, Ogden-Weber Technical College, Mountainland Technical College, Salt Lake Community College, Horizonte, Granite Peaks, Promise Co-Op), job-readiness workshops, financial support, mentorship connections, and direct handoffs to employer partners. The platform has no proprietary technology stack of note; the moat is relational, operational, and ecosystem-based rather than technological.

The go-to-market is community-led and partner-anchored: Proxima acquires participants through CBO referrals, healthcare employer recommendations, educational institution channels, and a website-driven interest form, then drives them through cohort-based training and into employer placements. Geographic footprint is Utah-centric, currently anchored on the Wasatch Front (Springville-headquartered) and expanded in 2025 into Weber, Davis, Utah, and Tooele counties. The participant-facing product is free to the end user (training costs are sponsor-funded), with a $25-100 refundable deposit as the only direct participant payment.

The business model is non-transactional from the participant's perspective. Proxima is funded by equity investments from the University of Utah and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, with additional grants from Nelnet Bank, CHG Healthcare, Optum Bank, the Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation, and Weber State University. As a benefit corporation (not a venture-backed SaaS), its "revenue" is effectively grant and program funding rather than customer-paid fees, which both lowers churn risk and caps scalability absent continued capital inflows. Cumulative program reach is 130+ participants to date, with 4 scholars hired at University of Utah Health in February 2025 and 31 additional certifications expected in March 2025. Leadership includes former Utah Department of Health Executive Director Rich Saunders (CEO) and University of Utah presidential-initiative operator Cameron Wright (COO), whose political and institutional capital is a defining feature of the company.

Name

Proxima Careers

Legal name

Proxima Careers

Website

https://proximacareers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Workforce Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Services & Career Readiness (EDALABAB), Career Exploration & Labor Market Readiness (EDAAAKAA)

Keywords

• Healthcare workforce development
• Career navigation services
• Healthcare certification training
• Community-based referrals
• Job placement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Springville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Equity Investment: Proxima operates as a benefit corporation funded by equity investments from partners such as the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation and grant funding from financial partners including Nelnet Bank, CHG Healthcare, and Optum Bank. Training costs are covered for participants, suggesting revenue comes from institutional funding rather than participant fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Proxima Careers is a Utah-based benefit corporation that provides end-to-end support for individuals pursuing entry-level healthcare careers. Its services include certification training support for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant (MA), and EMT programs delivered through partner training organizations, personalized navigator coaching from career exploration through employment, financial support covering tuition costs, and direct connections to healthcare employer partners for job placement.

Product overview

Proxima Careers is a workforce development platform providing end-to-end support for individuals pursuing healthcare careers. The core offering consists of three interconnected components: (1) Healthcare Certification Training Support for CNA, MA, and EMT certifications through partner training organizations; (2) Navigator Services providing personalized coaching throughout the journey from exploration to employment; and (3) Job-Readiness Training including resume, interview, and workplace preparation. Additional modules include Employer Connection Services linking graduates with health system partners, Cohort-Based Training for collaborative learning, Career Pathway Planning for long-term advancement, Financial Support Services covering tuition costs, and Mentorship Network connecting participants with professional advisors. The platform operates as a benefit corporation focused on expanding education access for underserved communities facing barriers to healthcare careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Proxima Scholars Program End-to-end career pathway program for adults 18+ facing barriers to healthcare careers, providing certification training support (CNA, MA, EMT), navigator coaching, financial support covering tuition, job-readiness workshops, and direct connections to healthcare employer partners. Free for eligible participants who commit to maintaining engagement with their navigator and seeking employment with employer partners.
• Healthcare Employer Partnership Workforce pipeline service for hospitals, healthcare facilities, and medical practices seeking to fill entry-level healthcare positions with job-ready candidates. Provides employers with a constant supply of trained candidates, reduced turnover costs through career advancement planning, and access to candidates who have completed certification programs.
• Community-Based Organization Partnership Program Partnership initiative for trusted community organizations to identify and refer individuals facing barriers to healthcare career education. Provides CBOs with resources and referral pathways to connect community members to healthcare training and employment opportunities.
• Educator Partnership Program Collaboration program for high schools, technical institutes, GED-granting institutions, colleges, and universities that provide healthcare training programs. Increases enrollment, improves student completion rates, and connects graduates to employment opportunities through Proxima's employer network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ participants engaged in program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Weber State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Educational partner and grantor supporting Proxima's efforts to expand access to healthcare education. Weber State provides training infrastructure and academic pathways for Proxima scholars.
• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted community partners who identify individuals facing barriers to healthcare careers and help connect them to Proxima's programs. These organizations are critical to reaching potential participants.
• Healthcare Employers / Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisionary health system partners who develop their workforce by hiring Proxima-trained candidates. They receive a constant supply of job-ready staff and benefit from reduced turnover costs through career advancement planning.
• Educational Institutions (High Schools, Technical Institutes, Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtah colleges, universities, high schools, and technical institutes that provide healthcare training programs for Proxima scholars. They benefit from increased enrollment and student completion rates.
• Granite PeaksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner organization that co-hosts CNA cohort programs with Proxima, providing clinical training locations and instruction.
• Utah CNA Training CentersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing CNA certification programs in partnership with Proxima. Collaborates on community CNA training cohorts.
• Davis Technical College (Davis Tech)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing CNA, Medical Assistant, and EMT training programs. Proxima collaborates with Davis Tech leadership to support community members in Davis County.
• Salt Lake Center for Science and Education (SLCSE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity education partner hosting Proxima open houses and community CNA training classes in the Rose Park area, making training more accessible to local residents.
• University of Utah HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare employer partner that has hired multiple Proxima scholars. Provides employment opportunities for graduates of the program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA): Established national certification body for healthcare roles including pharmacy technician, medical assistant, and patient care technician. Comparable because it sits in the same certification-credential ecosystem Proxima funnels learners into, though NHA is a testing/certification vendor rather than a navigator/coaching intermediary.
• Heluna Health: California-based public health nonprofit building healthcare workforce pipelines for community health workers, contact tracers, and entry-level clinicians. Comparable mission of resolving healthcare workforce shortages via training and navigation, although larger, older, and focused on California.

Direct peers

• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Nonprofit providing vocational training, career navigation, and employer placement across multiple U.S. cities to underserved communities. Comparable model for adults facing employment barriers, though JVS operates across many industries rather than specializing in healthcare.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing free technical training and career navigation to adults facing barriers to employment. Comparable in its tuition-free, navigator-driven, employer-partnered model for underserved adults—Proxima is essentially Per Scholas scoped to healthcare credentials instead of IT.
• STRIVE: Workforce development nonprofit serving returning citizens, opportunity youth, and other underserved populations with intensive coaching and employer partnerships. Comparable mission and navigator-driven model, although STRIVE has broader industry exposure than Proxima's healthcare focus.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults facing barriers to careers, using a navigator/coaching model with employer partners. Comparable because it follows the same end-to-end support (coaching, training stipends, employer placement) for underserved populations, although Year Up's focus spans multiple industries rather than healthcare specifically.
• NPower: National nonprofit providing free tech training and career navigation to underserved young adults and veterans. Comparable tuition-free, navigator-driven, employer-partnered model; differs only in targeting tech rather than healthcare careers.
• America Works: Workforce development firm providing job-readiness coaching and employer placement for unemployed and low-income adults. Comparable navigator model and outcome-funding structure (paid per placement), though often operating on government contracts rather than foundation grants.

Others

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit intermediary that designs, scales, and funds workforce development initiatives—often acting as a grant intermediary and policy advocate. Comparable as an enabler in the same sector ecosystem; JFF funds and supports programs like Proxima rather than directly competing with it.

Emerging players

• University of Utah Healthcare Workforce Programs: The University of Utah operates its own health-professions pipeline initiatives and is simultaneously Proxima's anchor equity partner, employer partner, and training provider. Comparable because it directly competes for the same healthcare workforce candidates and employer relationships within Utah.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/proxima_careers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Proxima Careers