DAPCEP

What DAPCEP does

DAPCEP (Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers STEM education programming to Pre-K through 12th-grade students in Southeastern Michigan. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including the Saturday Series, Explorers, Pathfinders, Summer Camps, Pop-Up STEM Workshops, In-School Curriculum, Senior Seminar, and a planned START tier scheduled for Fall 2026. Most programming is delivered through host institutions rather than facilities owned by DAPCEP — partner universities such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Lawrence Technological University, and Bradley University provide venues, faculty, and engineering-track content, while Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) supplies K–12 in-school delivery.

The business model combines low individual program fees (e.g., $100 for Explorers, $25 for Pathfinders), corporate grants and sponsorships (General Motors is documented at $125,000 in December 2021, with DTE Energy, Ford, Consumers Energy, Rocket Community Fund, and Marathon Petroleum also active), foundation and government grants (including the Kresge Foundation), and individual donations. Operationally, DAPCEP runs with only 1–10 employees yet reaches 16,000+ youth annually and has accumulated 68,000+ alumni since inception — leverage achieved through the university and corporate partner network rather than owned infrastructure. The organization is led by Executive Director Michelle L. Reaves, with a Board of Directors drawing membership from GM, DTE Energy, Rocket Mortgage, Consumers Energy, and other Detroit civic and corporate institutions.

Name

DAPCEP

Legal name

Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program

Website

https://dapcep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DAPCEP is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1976, that delivers Pre-K–12 STEM education programming — including Saturday Series, summer camps, and in-school curricula — to 16,000+ youth annually across Southeastern Michigan through university and corporate partner networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Science & Medical STEM Programs (Pre-Med, Public Health) (EDAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Youth STEM education
• Pre-college engineering
• K-12 STEM enrichment
• Saturday STEM classes
• STEM summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Grants and Sponsorship: DAPCEP receives grants from major corporations such as General Motors ($125,000 grant in 2021) and ongoing sponsorships from companies like DTE Energy, Ford Motor Company, and others. Partners provide financial contributions, support signature programs, event sponsorship, and internship opportunities.
2. Program Fees: Modest program fees: $100 for Explorers program and $25 for Pathfinders courses. Limited scholarships are available for eligible families to ensure accessibility.
3. Donations: Individual donations accepted through PayPal portal on the DAPCEP website, supporting the nonprofit's mission to provide STEM education.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from government sources such as Michigan GEAR UP (U.S. Department of Education funded program) and grants from organizations like Rocket Community Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DAPCEP (Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on, standards-aligned STEM programming to Pre-K through 12th grade students in Southeastern Michigan. Its core offerings include Saturday courses on university campuses, residential and commuter summer camps, in-school curriculum, pop-up STEM workshops, and college/career readiness seminars, supported by partnerships with universities, corporations, and school districts.

Product overview

DAPCEP is an educational nonprofit offering a portfolio of STEM programs for Pre-K to 12th grade students in Southeastern Michigan. The core offering is the Saturday Series held at university campuses, comprising the Explorers program (Pre-K to 3rd Grade) and Pathfinders program (4th to 12th Grade). Supporting programs include Summer Camps (residential and commuter), Pop-Up STEM Workshops, In-School Curriculum (DISC), and Multi-Year Engagement Programs. Signature events include STEM Day, Fall Showcase, and the Real McCoy Awards. New for Fall 2026, the START program offers a two-year specialized track for 11th-12th graders with tracks in Biotechnology, Computational Thinking, Engineering Design, Algebraic Functions, Heart & Lungs, and Foundations & Safety. The organization also operates specialized programs with university partners including Bradley University Pathfinders and University of Michigan engineering courses, along with Senior Seminar/college tours and the Michigan GEAR UP partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Explorers Program (Pre-K to 3rd Grade)
• Pathfinders Program (4th to 12th Grade) Six-week Saturday STEM courses for 4th through 12th grade students, offering hands-on, interactive curriculum in artificial intelligence, chemistry, cybersecurity, robotics, urban design, video game design, and related topics, culminating in student final projects. Offered at a $25 program fee with limited scholarships available.
• DAPCEP Summer Camps Residential and commuter summer camps held at university campuses throughout Southeastern Michigan (e.g., Lawrence Technological University), exposing youth to cutting-edge technology, college life experiences, and outdoor STEM activities including drone certification. Camp duration is typically 2-4 weeks.
• Pop-Up STEM Workshops (STEM Squad) Three-hour STEM workshops led by trained STEM Squad facilitators brought to schools and community organizations throughout metro Detroit, offering introductory hands-on STEM experiences at partner locations.
• In-School Curriculum (DISC) Advanced STEM and project-based learning programs delivered during weekday in-school hours at select Detroit Public Schools Community District, Cesar Chavez Academy, and Barack Obama Leadership Academy schools, including preparation for the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit.
• Pathfinders at Bradley University Saturday STEM courses at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, preparing 4th through 12th grade students for advanced STEM pathways. Topics include robotics, aerodynamics, computer programming, coding, chemical engineering, and artificial intelligence, delivered in five-week terms both virtually and in-person.
• START (STEM & Trades Advanced Readiness Tracks) Two-year specialized track program for 11th and 12th grade students, launching Fall 2026. Six specialized tracks include Biotechnology, Computational Thinking, Engineering Design, Algebraic Functions, Heart & Lungs, and Foundations & Safety, designed in partnership with industry professionals and higher education faculty.
• Senior Seminar and STEM College Tours Year-long college and career readiness program for 11th-grade students including SAT preparation, financial aid sessions, college tours, book scholarships, and potential paid summer internships with corporate partners.
• Multi-Year Engagement Programs Cohort model programs engaging students in two consecutive years of targeted STEM activities, combining Saturday courses, immersive experiences, and summer courses for sustained skill-building and college pipeline development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16,000+ youth served annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Detroit ZoominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Participates in Fall Showcase event, providing STEM activities and vendor support for DAPCEP students.
• University of Michigan DearborncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025University partner hosting DAPCEP programming and participating in Fall Showcase as vendor and sponsor.
• BLKOUT Walls Mural FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025DAPCEP collaborated with BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival to help students learn about STEM and art, exploring engineering through mural creation.
• University of Michigan - College of EngineeringmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Partnership for spring engineering programs for grades 7-9 and Aerospace Engineering Summer Camp (Galaxy Summer Camp) for 8th and 9th graders at the nation's oldest aerospace program.
• Michigan Learning ChannelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Featured DAPCEP as a STEM career pathway program on Michigan Learning Channel, expanding reach through educational media.
• Bradley UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022DAPCEP Saturday courses at Bradley University (Peoria, Illinois) prepare 4th-12th grade students for advanced STEM pathways. Topics include robotics, aerodynamics, computer programming, coding, chemical and engineering, and artificial intelligence.
• Lawrence Technological UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Host for DAPCEP residential camps where middle school students experience college classroom settings and STEM activities.
• Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021DPSCD offers DAPCEP during the school day as an elective at select schools. Students work on projects for the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit.
• Cesar Chavez AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Charter school offering DAPCEP during the school day as an elective program.
• Barack Obama Leadership Academy (BOLA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021School offering DAPCEP during the school day as an elective program.
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1976Founding partner since 1976. DAPCEP began with University of Michigan partnership serving 245 students at Detroit Public Schools. University provides campus facilities for programming.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1976Founding partner since 1976. MSU provides campus facilities and programming support for DAPCEP camps and courses.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dapcep
• Facebookfacebook.com/DAPCEP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about DAPCEP