MassBioEd

What MassBioEd does

MassBioEd (Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered at 255 Main Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It operates as the workforce development and education arm of MassBio (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council) and serves as the state's primary life sciences talent pipeline builder. The organization delivers programs spanning K-12 education, adult career entry, and incumbent professional development. Core offerings include the BioTeach program (K-12 teacher training, curriculum, equipment lending, and the ACCESS Program for underserved districts), the BioTalent program (Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program, College to Career pathways, Pre-Apprenticeship, and the Life Sciences Career Hub), Professional Training Courses (leadership, project management, and technical courses like Intro to Biotech), the annual Life Sciences Workforce Conference, the Champions for Biotechnology Education Awards Reception, and the Life Sciences Employment Outlook labor market research report. Reported outcomes include 98% of trained teachers improving lab activities, 10,000+ students engaged annually, and 400 attendees at the Workforce Conference.

The business model is a hybrid of grant-funded nonprofit revenue and fee-for-service training. Grants and charitable contributions from foundations (notably Biogen Foundation, with $250,000 over ten years), corporations (Bristol Myers Squibb), and government agencies (U.S. Department of Labor $1.4M in 2004, Baker-Polito Administration $100K in 2021, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center) provide the majority of program funding. Professional Training Courses generate secondary revenue through member rates (e.g., $1,250 for Accelerated Leadership), non-member rates ($1,320), tiered corporate package discounts (approximately $1,190-$1,337 per enrollee), and Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Program reimbursements. Event sponsorships for the Workforce Conference and Champions Awards provide additional income, with sponsors receiving complimentary training credits.

Distribution is direct and regional: MassBioEd delivers programs through its Cambridge headquarters, partner institutions (Northeastern University, Fitchburg State University, LabCentral's Learning Lab), and employer-hosted apprenticeship sites. Customer segments are split across four primary personas: K-12 educators, life sciences professionals, students and career seekers, and life sciences employers. Notable employer partners include Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Arranta Bio, and Alexion. Geographic scope is concentrated in Massachusetts, with newer expansion into Maine and Rhode Island through the BioConnects New England coalition.

Name

MassBioEd

Legal name

Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation

Website

https://massbioed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MassBioEd is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization building the Massachusetts life sciences talent pipeline through K-12 teacher training (BioTeach), registered apprenticeships, professional training courses, and career coaching, serving educators, students, career changers, and biotech employers in New England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Sciences Workforce Development and Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Sciences & Biotech (R&D/Clinical) Staffing (BPACADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy) (EDAMABAF)

Keywords

• Life sciences workforce development
• Biotechnology education programs
• K-12 teacher training
• Professional training courses
• Apprenticeship program

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Charitable Contributions: MassBioEd operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded through grants from foundations (e.g., Biogen Foundation grants over $250,000), government funding (Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Program, US Department of Labor grants), and corporate charitable contributions. Funding partners include pharmaceutical companies, life sciences organizations, and government agencies.
2. Professional Training Course Fees: Revenue generated from professional training courses offered to industry professionals. Courses have member rates (e.g., $1,250 for Accelerated Leadership) and non-member rates (e.g., $1,320). Discounts available for corporate package purchases and sponsors.
3. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events such as the Life Sciences Workforce Conference and Champions for Biotechnology Education Awards. Sponsors receive free credits for professional training courses based on sponsorship level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MassBioEd (Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation) is a nonprofit that delivers life sciences workforce development and education programs. It trains K-12 science teachers through the BioTeach program, runs registered apprenticeships in biomanufacturing and clinical trials, offers professional development courses for life sciences professionals, hosts career exploration events, and produces labor market research for the Massachusetts life sciences industry.

Product overview

MassBioEd (Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation) is a nonprofit workforce development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs designed to build and strengthen the life sciences workforce in Massachusetts. Its core offerings include the BioTeach Program for K-12 teacher training and biotechnology curriculum, the BioTalent Program for workforce entry and professional development, and the Life Sciences Career Hub for career placement and coaching. Key programs include the Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program (registered apprenticeship for biomanufacturing technicians and clinical trial associates), Professional Training Courses (open-enrollment and single-company industry training), and the annual Life Sciences Workforce Conference. MassBioEd also produces the Life Sciences Employment Outlook report with labor market research and partners with academic institutions and employers to provide alternative pathways into the life sciences industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BioTeach Program A K-12 biotechnology education program that provides teacher training, curriculum resources, equipment lending, and professional development to help educators deliver inquiry-based life sciences instruction. Includes the ACCESS Program serving underserved districts and the TOTE (Take Out Training and Equipment) Lending Program.
• BioTalent Program Workforce development program focused on growing, elevating, and diversifying the life sciences workforce by creating alternative pathways to careers for non-traditional students and job seekers. Includes the Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program, Pre-Apprenticeship & Career Exploration Program, College to Career pathway, and Professional Training Courses.
• Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program Registered apprenticeship program providing paid on-the-job training and technical education for biomanufacturing technicians and clinical trial associates. Recruits from underrepresented communities and provides placement with employer partners including Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Arranta Bio.
• Professional Training Courses Industry-relevant professional development courses for life sciences professionals, including leadership development (Accelerated Leadership, Transitioning to Leader), project management, change management, communication skills, and technical courses such as Intro to Biotech and Biotechnology Project Management. Available in open-enrollment and single-company formats, with many eligible for workforce training fund reimbursement.
• Life Sciences Career Hub Online platform connecting individuals to life sciences career opportunities, providing career coaching, job search resources, and industry pathway guidance for career changers and new entrants to the industry.
• Career Coaching Career coaching services provided through the Life Sciences Career Hub to help individuals navigate career transitions, explore opportunities, and develop professional skills for the life sciences industry.
• Life Sciences Workforce Conference Annual conference bringing together life sciences industry and academia to discuss workforce training, talent development, and the future of the industry. Features presentations, panels, and networking opportunities focused on hiring, education, and workforce trends.
• Life Sciences Employment Outlook Annual report published in collaboration with TEConomy Partners providing data and analysis on Massachusetts life sciences employment trends, talent supply and demand, and workforce forecasts. Projects job growth and identifies skill gaps and reskilling needs.
• Champions for Biotechnology Education Awards Annual awards reception recognizing outstanding teachers and industry leaders for their contributions to biotechnology education and workforce development in Massachusetts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of trained teachers improved lab activities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BioConnects New EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2022Partnership to create a robust biomanufacturing industry cluster in the New England region (Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island). Coalition is a finalist of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. MassBioEd will create career development services, develop K-12 educational programming, and support workforce training with referrals to the apprenticeship program.
• Arranta BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2021Apprenticeship partner where MassBioEd's Life Sciences Apprenticeship Program places apprentices. Arranta Bio hosts apprentices at their Watertown facility for biomanufacturing technician training. The partnership enables individuals to obtain industry-recognized skills and transition into life sciences careers.
• PfizercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of first MassBioEd apprentice cohort with apprentices at their Andover manufacturing campus. Partnership developed through relationships with local universities and colleges and traditional recruitment methods.
• LabCentralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabCentral Ignite provided a grant to MassBioEd as one of ten impact organizations. LabCentral provides BioTeach program access to their Learning Lab (1,270 sq ft of laboratory and classroom space) for hands-on educator training.
• Northeastern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for apprenticeship program training; apprentices learn basic biomanufacturing skills from Northeastern instructors before placement at companies. Co-lead of BioConnects New England coalition with its Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab.
• Quincy CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partner offering biotechnology program that has produced successful career changers who entered the life sciences industry.
• MassBiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization and founding parent. MassBioEd serves as the workforce development and education arm of MassBio, with MassBio members being primary beneficiaries of talent pipeline programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MassBio (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council): Founding parent and sister organization of MassBioEd; the state's leading biotech industry association with overlapping workforce, education, and policy programs serving the same employer members.
• BioConnects New England: Coalition (Build Back Better Regional Challenge finalist) building a New England biomanufacturing cluster via K-12 programming, career services, and apprenticeship referrals — directly overlapping MassBioEd's workforce development remit across MA/ME/RI.
• Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: State quasi-public agency that funds apprenticeship, internship, and STEM education programs in MA life sciences — co-lead of BioConnects New England alongside MassBioEd and Northeastern.
• Forsyth Technical Community College — National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce: Operates a federally designated National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce focused on biomanufacturing technician training and apprenticeships — directly comparable in mission and program structure to MassBioEd's BioTalent.

Regional players

• NewYorkBIO: New York's bioscience industry association running education, workforce, and advocacy programs targeting a different geography but serving the same function for employers in a competing cluster.
• California Life Sciences (CLS): California's industry association, the geographic analog to MassBio, with workforce development, education, and equity-focused programming for the largest U.S. life-sciences cluster.

Emerging players

• LabCentral: Cambridge-based biotech co-working/incubator operator with an educational arm (LabCentral Ignite grantmaking, Learning Lab) that partners with MassBioEd's BioTeach and supports similar workforce training missions.
• Northeastern University Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab: Co-lead of BioConnects New England and apprenticeship curriculum partner; runs biopharmaceutical training that feeds the same employer pipeline as MassBioEd's apprenticeship program.

Others

• TEConomy Partners: Research partner that co-produces MassBioEd's Life Sciences Employment Outlook; comparable economic-impact and life-sciences workforce analytics consulting firms serving state bioscience associations.
• Biogen Foundation: Long-tenured MassBioEd funder and operator of CoLab, a community lab program reaching 65,000+ students — directly comparable as a STEM/life-sciences education grantmaker and program operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MassBioEd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massaschusetts-biotechnology-education-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/massbioed_
• Xx.com/MassBioEd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 MassBioEd