What CAPS Network does

CAPS Network, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, founded in 2009 as an outgrowth of the Blue Valley School District's Center for Advanced Professional Studies program. It operates a membership network of 100+ affiliate K-12 profession-based learning (Pro-BL) programs across 22-25 US states and 4 countries (USA, Canada, Kenya, Kuwait), connecting high schools and districts with industry partners, post-secondary institutions, and foundations to deliver immersive, client-connected learning experiences to students alongside high school and college credit. The organization is governed by a Five Core Values framework (Profession-Based Learning, Professional Skills Development, Self-Discovery, Entrepreneurial Mindset, and Responsiveness) and sustains a Council of Champions of named industry partners such as Black & Veatch, American Bakers Association, HCA Midwest Health, Mazuma Credit Union, and Lifted Logic.

The technology footprint centers on the CAPS Colab proprietary online collaboration engine (member-only news feed, virtual strand discussions, document repository, shared event calendar) plus a public-facing content stack including the Experience.Work gateway platform (co-developed with American Student Assistance / Britebound, launched January 2025), two podcasts (The Network, hosted by CEO Corey Mohn; The CAPS Playbook, hosted by K-12 Director Alisa Morse), downloadable Playbook Modules and case studies, and a documentary ("Where Students Lead"). Distribution is community-led: schools and districts join as affiliate members through outreach and events (Summer Huddle, Regional Huddles), with onboarding guidance and access to the Colab platform, resource repository, and national industry/post-secondary partnerships.

Revenue mechanics are nonprofit-native: 501(c)(3) status (EIN 85-4285822), funded through a mix of charitable donations, foundation grants (Kemper Family Foundations, Sherman Family Foundation, Patterson Family Foundation), and likely membership fees handled via direct consultation rather than published pricing. The only disclosed funding event is a $238,000 investment from American Student Assistance in March 2024, which functioned as a precursor to the Experience.Work joint venture. Customer segmentation is hybrid — K-12 districts and schools are the primary "buying" segment, while students, teachers, industry partners, and post-secondary institutions are co-served personas within the Pro-BL ecosystem. The organization has no parent company, no disclosed revenue, no disclosed M&A activity, and no AI/ML platform component.

Name

CAPS Network

Legal name

CAPS Network, Inc.

Website

https://yourcapsnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CAPS Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership network of 100+ K-12 affiliate programs across 22 US states and 4 countries, delivering profession-based learning — client-connected projects, industry mentors, and dual high school/college credit — to high school students via schools, districts, industry partners, and post-secondary endorsements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Profession-based learning
• K-12 career education
• Experiential learning network
• Industry-education partnerships
• Workforce readiness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Overland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CAPS Network relies on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. Donations support essential resources, enrichment opportunities, and program development for CAPS students. The organization is registered as EIN #85-4285822.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: CAPS Network receives grants from foundations such as the Patterson Family Foundation (which provided $30,000 grants to McPherson County schools for equipment as part of the Rural Initiative) and the Kemper Family Foundations. These grants support specific programs, rural expansion, and general operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CAPS Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a national membership network of more than 100 affiliate high school programs implementing Profession-Based Learning (Pro-BL). The network provides member schools and districts with the CAPS educational framework, proprietary collaboration tools (CAPS Colab), curriculum resources, educator professional development, and connections to industry partners and post-secondary institutions. Affiliate programs immerse high school students in professional culture, solving real-world client projects with industry-standard tools under mentor guidance.

Product overview

CAPS Network is a 501c3 nonprofit offering a network-based educational model with profession-based learning (Pro-BL) at its core. The portfolio consists of the CAPS Colab collaboration platform (proprietary member platform), Experience.Work (jointly developed with American Student Assistance/Britebound), the CAPS Network Podcast and CAPS Playbook Podcast, downloadable playbook modules and case studies, and the Where Students Lead documentary. The network connects over 100+ affiliate programs across 22+ states and 4 countries that share best practices and connect students with professional partners, post-secondary institutions, and industry mentors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Experience.Work: A platform dedicated to bridging the gap between education and industry through Profession-Based Learning, launched in partnership with American Student Assistance.

Products and services

• CAPS Colab Proprietary online collaboration platform for CAPS Network affiliate members, providing access to an all-member news feed, virtual industry strand discussions, document/resource repository, and shared event calendar at colab.yourcapsnetwork.com.
• Experience.Work Platform Gateway website co-developed with American Student Assistance that helps communities launch profession-based learning (Pro-BL) and build industry-education connections. Provides free resources, success stories, and practical guides for educators and industry partners.
• CAPS Playbook Modules Downloadable curriculum modules covering community partnerships, client-connected projects, and curriculum design resources for implementing profession-based learning programs, available as free PDF downloads.
• CAPS Case Studies Published case studies including the Rural Case Study and Urban Case Study demonstrating CAPS model implementation and outcomes, available as free PDF downloads.

Quantifiable outcome

• Confidence in accessing professionals and adding them as social connections: increased from 13% before CAPS to 72% after CAPS (Spring 2021 survey, 1,321 student responses)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• American Student Assistance (ASA) / BriteboundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025American Student Assistance and CAPS Network co-developed the Experience.Work platform, a groundbreaking resource dedicated to bridging education and industry through Profession-Based Learning. The platform provides free resources, success stories, and practical guides to help educators and industry partners launch Pro-BL programs. ASA is a national nonprofit focused on career readiness and preparation for middle and high school students, operating Futurescape, Next Voice, and EvolveMe digital experiences.
• Black & VeatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack & Veatch serves as the Engineering Champion on the CAPS Council of Champions. The employee-owned engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company was an original host site for CAPS students when the original program launched in 2009. The company has consistently partnered on win-win pairings of engineering professionals and CAPS students in engineering and business globally. Clint Robinson, Associate VP of State/Local Government Affairs, is featured as a CAPS advocate.
• American Bakers Association (ABA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABA serves as the Food Science and Manufacturing Champion on the CAPS Council of Champions. The largest trade association for the commercial baking industry (375+ member companies, 1,200+ facilities) collaborates with CAPS to enhance student engagement strategies and inspire high school students to pursue careers in the baking industry through BakingWorks.org.
• Lifted LogiccoreTechnology or IntegrationLifted Logic serves as the Tech Design Champion on the CAPS Council of Champions. The Kansas City-based digital agency designs and builds online experiences for CAPS Network, supports technology needs that connect education administrators, instructors, and students globally, and regularly onboards CAPS students to learn the industry and produce real content for clients.
• Mazuma Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMazuma Credit Union serves as the Kansas City Area Champion on the CAPS Council of Champions. CEO Deonne Christensen and Mazumans annually host a student takeover of headquarters with nearly 100 students from multiple school districts working to provide solutions to the executive team and board of directors.
• HCA Midwest HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCA Midwest Health serves as the Hospital System Champion on the CAPS Council of Champions. The healthcare network (150+ points of care, 1,500+ providers, 80+ specialties) partners with CAPS programs across the Kansas City region to connect students with real-world medical environments, innovation challenges, and industry mentors.
• Northeastern UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNortheastern University is a post-secondary partner that has endorsed the CAPS model and provides thought leadership around profession-based and experiential education. Lydia Young, Director of NExT at Northeastern, serves on the CAPS Network team. The university has stated CAPS is a tremendous match for their network and vision for preparing educators for the future.
• Arizona State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona State University is a post-secondary partner that has endorsed the CAPS model. ASU supports efforts where CAPS high school programs allow students to use sophisticated tools and learn practical skills to solve real-world problems, which aligns with ASU's approach to ensuring graduates are dynamic and flexible lifelong learners.
• Washington University in St. LouismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis formally supports CAPS efforts and recognizes the program as vital to recruiting and educating the next generation of problem solvers.
• Central Washington UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Washington University is a post-secondary partner that provides ongoing support for CAPS Network and has endorsed the model as providing students with opportunities to explore professions while nurturing curiosity and developing skills necessary for success.
• University of MissourimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Missouri is pleased to support the CAPS Network and has endorsed its efforts in providing hands-on experiential learning and fostering innovation and technology through partnerships nationwide.
• Kansas State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKansas State University and its four campuses are fully committed to partnering with CAPS and strongly endorses the network as a means to prepare students for college and careers with high-impact educational experiences.
• Saint Louis UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Louis University has endorsed the CAPS Network, recognizing that by providing students opportunities to engage with real-world experiences, CAPS fosters innovative education while adding value to business and community partners.
• Florida State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida State University's Campus Reimagined mission aligns with CAPS in providing student-centric campus experience that promotes entrepreneurial mindset and helps students discover interests, develop professional skills, and fulfill highest aspirations.
• North Dakota State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Dakota State University is exploring ways to partner with CAPS to align K-12, higher education, and industry, recognizing CAPS as creating a new generation of prospective post-secondary students highly aligned to their opportunities.
• Digital PromiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Promise partners with CAPS Network to offer micro-credentials for educators pursuing Profession-Based Learning in their classrooms. CAPS instructors can earn micro-credentials through this partnership.
• BoeingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoeing partners with Puget Sound Skills Center (a CAPS affiliate) through programs in aerospace, construction, automotive technology, and auto body technology. In 2026, more than 50 seniors graduated with job offers from Boeing, demonstrating direct workforce pipeline outcomes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce-development nonprofit providing young adults with corporate internships and skill training — a sibling mission to CAPS but targeting a different age cohort, with similar employer-partnership and outcome-measurement disciplines.

Direct peers

• P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School): P-TECH is a grades 9-14 model combining high school, college, and workplace learning with industry partners (originated by IBM), directly comparable to CAPS in integrating industry mentorship and credit-bearing professional experiences into the high school experience.
• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning runs a national network of student-centered, experience-driven high schools emphasizing internships and real-world projects mentored by professionals — the same experiential-learning philosophy CAPS Network scales through its affiliate schools.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): NAF operates a national network of career academies embedded in U.S. high schools, partnering with industry to give students profession-themed coursework and work-based learning experiences — directly comparable to CAPS's profession-based learning mission and affiliate-network model.
• Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG): JAG delivers career-readiness programming to at-risk high school students through a state-based affiliate network with employer partnerships and measurable outcomes — closely aligned with CAPS in target population, network model, and outcome-tracking rigor.
• Cristo Rey Network: Cristo Rey operates a national network of Catholic college-prep high schools built around a corporate work-study model that places students in professional firms — a comparable network-of-affiliates structure delivering professional experience as a core curriculum element.

Others

• Digital Promise: Digital Promise is a national nonprofit working on education innovation and micro-credentials, and is a CAPS partner offering micro-credentials to CAPS instructors — comparable as an education-innovation nonprofit with K-12 reach and credentialing focus.
• iCEV (CEV Multimedia): iCEV provides CTE curriculum, certifications, and instructional content to K-12 schools — an ecosystem supplier serving the same career-and-technical-education buyer as CAPS Network, though offering classroom content rather than profession-based learning programs.

Broad incumbents

• SkillsUSA: SkillsUSA is a larger, established national CTE student organization serving middle-school, high-school, and college students with industry-recognized frameworks — overlapping with CAPS's career-connected learning mission but broader in scope and longer-tenured.
• American Student Assistance (ASA): ASA is a national nonprofit focused on middle- and high-school career readiness through digital products like Futurescape and EvolveMe, and is CAPS's co-development partner on Experience.Work — overlapping mission around career-connected learning for adolescents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/networkcaps
• Facebookfacebook.com/capsnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caps-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/capsnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 CAPS Network