Colorado Succeeds

What Colorado Succeeds does

Colorado Succeeds is a Denver-based nonprofit business coalition founded in 2006 that operates as the only organization in Colorado bringing education, business, and government leaders together to drive systemic improvements in education and workforce outcomes. The coalition convenes 70+ member companies spanning small businesses to Fortune 500 employers (including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, DaVita, Kaiser Permanente, and MolsonCoors), 500+ business partnerships, 91 high schools across 13 districts, 60+ rural districts, and workforce intermediaries across all 64 Colorado counties. Its core programmatic portfolio includes the Talent Strategy Hub digital platform, three active sector employer collaboratives (Project SCALE for construction, Life Sciences, and NextGen Advanced Manufacturing), the Colorado Talent Academy (training 35 cross-sector leaders annually in Talent Pipeline Management), and a suite of policy advocacy, career pathway navigation, and workforce readiness resources.

The organization's product surface has expanded significantly in 2025-2026 with the launches of the Talent Dashboard (2026), Path4Ward postsecondary pathways program (2025), a statewide credit transfer tool (2025), the Work-Based Learning Roadmap (2025), and an Aerospace Employer Collaborative (2026). The underlying technology is relatively lightweight: a WordPress-based website with standard analytics and no public API or AI/ML capabilities. The differentiator is not technology but convening power and policy influence, evidenced by a 99% legislative success rate on supported bills since 2017.

Revenue is generated primarily through member dues and corporate partnership contributions rather than product sales or contracts. The organization is member-funded by 70+ companies across diverse sectors, with governance distributed across three boards (Directors, Trustees, Advisors). The coalition reaches 190,000+ learners annually and has facilitated 44,000+ high-demand credentials since 2017. Operating as a private nonprofit under Colorado jurisdiction, Colorado Succeeds scales impact through policy advocacy and employer-led program design rather than direct service delivery, with membership-based go-to-market and community-led convening as its primary commercial motion.

Name

Colorado Succeeds

Legal name

Colorado Succeeds, Inc.

Website

http://www.coloradosucceeds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colorado Succeeds is the only organization in Colorado which brings education, business, and government leaders together.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Coalition & Education Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB), Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL)

Keywords

• Workforce development coalition
• Education policy advocacy
• Employer talent pipeline
• Career pathway programs
• Business education partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Contributions and Business Partnerships: Colorado Succeeds operates as a nonprofit coalition funded by member companies and business partners. Businesses join as members providing expertise, influence, and capital to support the organization's education and workforce development mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Colorado Succeeds is a nonprofit business coalition that convenes employers, education providers, and government leaders to drive systemic change in Colorado's education and workforce systems. It operates employer-led collaboratives across sectors (construction, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, aerospace), runs the Colorado Talent Academy leadership training program, and delivers the Talent Strategy Hub digital platform. The organization influences education and workforce policy through advocacy and member-supported initiatives.

Product overview

Colorado Succeeds is a business coalition organization (not a traditional SaaS product company) that operates a portfolio of interconnected workforce development programs and platforms. The core offering is the Talent Strategy Hub—a digital platform providing visibility into employer-led talent initiatives—supplemented by three active employer collaboratives (Project SCALE for construction, Life Sciences Employer Collaborative, and NextGen Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative), the Colorado Talent Academy training program, and various policy resources including the Career Development Incentive Program. These products work together to create a coordinated talent pipeline from K-12 education through workforce placement, with employer leadership as the unifying principle across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Talent Strategy Hub
• Project SCALE (Stackable Construction Pathways for All)
• Life Sciences Employer Collaborative
• NextGen Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative
• Colorado Talent Academy
• Policy Advocacy Services
• Statewide Credit Transfer Tool
• Path4Ward
• Career Development Incentive Program
• Employer-Designed Training Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 190,000+ learners reached in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and emerging.

• Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICC is a core partner in Project SCALE, Colorado Succeeds' construction workforce initiative. CICC has grown from a single school in 2015 to operating in 91 high schools statewide, placing nearly 600 students into construction jobs and issuing more than 3,000 industry-recognized certificates. Colorado Succeeds works with CICC to build stronger data and alumni tracking systems and expand statewide impact.
• Education to Employment AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Succeeds leads the Education to Employment Alliance to ensure business drives system improvement in workforce development. This alliance brings together employers, workforce intermediaries, and education partners to coordinate talent strategy across the state.
• Project SCALE (Construction Employer Collaborative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor construction and skilled trades employers align and scale high school programs, apprenticeships, and postsecondary pathways to fill the more than 30,000 unfilled construction jobs statewide. Partner employers include DPR Construction, Hensel Phelps, and others.
• Life Sciences Employer CollaborativekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor bioscience employers including Terumo Medical Corporation and Tolmar Pharmaceuticals scale pathways to fill hundreds of critically needed roles in Colorado's life sciences sector.
• NextGen Advanced Manufacturing CollaborativekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor advanced manufacturing companies including CoorsTek are creating hiring goals aligned with critical occupational pathways to address workforce needs in the manufacturing sector.
• Colorado Talent AcademykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerA six-month program that annually trains 35 cross-sector leaders in Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) and employer engagement strategies, building statewide capacity for employer-led talent solutions.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (Talent Pipeline Management)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Succeeds implements Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) frameworks developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, building business capacity for employer-led, data-driven workforce solutions.
• Colorado State Legislature and Governor's OfficecoreOthersColorado Succeeds has a 99% success rate with legislation they support, working closely with policymakers to pass education and workforce development policies including universal preschool access, full-day kindergarten, career pathway incentives, and $90 million in federal stimulus funds for workforce programs.
• School Districts (13 districts, 20 high schools)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Succeeds guides 20 high schools across 13 school districts in elevating career pathway navigation, work-based learning experiences, and concurrent enrollment opportunities, impacting more than 20,000 students.
• Aerospace Employer CollaborativeemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Succeeds is launching an aerospace employer collaborative in 2026, with partners including RTX and CSBR, to address workforce needs in Colorado's aerospace sector.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit driving workforce development and education-to-career pathways. Highly comparable to Colorado Succeeds' coalition model, sector-based employer collaboratives, and policy advocacy at both state and federal levels.
• National Skills Coalition: National workforce policy advocacy organization that convenes business, labor, and education leaders to advance state and federal skills policy. Closely mirrors Colorado Succeeds' membership/coalition model and policy influence.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Develops the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) framework that Colorado Succeeds implements. Functions as a national umbrella and direct partner, operating the same employer-led, data-driven workforce model.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): National nonprofit building career academies and employer-validated pathways in K-12 schools. Directly comparable to Colorado Succeeds' career-connected learning work with high schools and employer-led program design.
• Opportunity America: Workforce-focused policy and research organization promoting employer-led skills strategies. Operates a similar coalition and policy advocacy model to Colorado Succeeds at the federal level.
• Siemens Foundation / Siemens Trades Education Network: Corporate foundation funding workforce and education-to-career pathways, particularly in advanced manufacturing and skilled trades. Comparable to Colorado Succeeds' employer-funded sector-based approach.

Broad incumbents

• Business Roundtable Education & Workforce Committee: CEOs of major U.S. corporations convening on education and workforce policy. Comparable to Colorado Succeeds' approach of convening business leaders but operating at a national scale across multiple policy domains.
• America's Promise Alliance: National cross-sector coalition focused on youth development and pathways to success. Comparable cross-sector coalition model, though with broader youth-development scope rather than workforce-specific focus.

Emerging players

• Credential Engine: Nonprofit building a registry of credentials and skills data. Comparable to Colorado Succeeds' Talent Strategy Hub work on credential visibility and credit transfer tools, but with a national technology/data focus.

Others

• National Governors Association (Center for Best Practices): Bipartisan association of U.S. governors working on workforce and education policy. Adjacent to Colorado Succeeds in shaping the state policy environment in which the organization operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cosucceeds
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWEPfYhahse4_OWjqdBr2Kw
• Facebookfacebook.com/coloradosucceeds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-succeeds
• Instagraminstagram.com/coloradosucceeds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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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 Colorado Succeeds