IREX

Name

IREX

Legal name

International Research and Exchanges Board

Website

https://irex.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

Keywords

• International development
• Education programs
• Leadership development
• Workforce development
• Exchange programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary revenue from U.S. Government funding, particularly the U.S. Department of State, through programs like exchange alumni networks, early grade education activities, and international development initiatives. Also includes funding from foundations such as the Mastercard Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IREX is a nonprofit global development organization that designs and implements donor-funded programs in education, leadership development, workforce readiness, and youth engagement. Its portfolio spans government-sponsored exchange programs (Fulbright, Gilman, Boren, Peace Corps), early-grade education reform initiatives (e.g., ASAS in Jordan), fellowships, research studies (IFN Impact Study, Higher Education AI Readiness, Ukraine Labor Market Intelligence), and a small set of technology products including FireTrack AI fire detection and Gabay Tech online safety portal delivered through its subsidiary Development Gateway.

Product overview

IREX operates as a program-focused organization offering a portfolio of technology products, research services, and exchange programs. The technology offerings include FireTrack (AI-powered fire detection using computer vision on existing camera networks), Gabay Tech (online safety portal for reporting online harm), and Higher Education AI Readiness Research. The broader portfolio includes exchange programs (Fulbright, Peace Corps, Gilman, Boren), professional development services (Career Connections Seminars, U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship), grant programs (Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund), and youth engagement initiatives (Kenya Youth Advisory Group). Research capabilities include fellowship impact studies and labor market intelligence for Ukraine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Development Gateway: An IREX Venture: A technology solutions subsidiary of IREX focused on digital platforms, data analytics, and technology solutions for international development, including the Gabay Tech online safety platform.

Products and services

• FireTrack AI Fire Detection AI-powered fire detection system that processes visual data from existing camera networks to detect fires and smoke in real time, reducing false alarms and enabling rapid first responder notification. Deployed across multiple countries.
• IREX AI Surveillance Platform AI-based CCTV/surveillance platform that analyzes existing camera feeds to generate alerts supporting missing-person recovery and other public-safety use cases. Used by municipal law enforcement.
• Gabay Tech Online Safety Portal Open-source online safety support portal developed by Development Gateway and IREX to help survivors of online harm navigate reporting and access support services, with guidance on Philippine laws and evidence documentation.
• Higher Education AI Readiness Research Global benchmark research report assessing university readiness for AI adoption, providing institutional leaders, policymakers, and development partners with evaluation criteria for AI strategy, governance, skills, and infrastructure.
• Career Connections Seminars Professional development and networking seminars for U.S. exchange alumni, delivered as in-person regional events and virtual sessions focused on skills training and career advancement.
• U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellowship Ten-month fellowship program enabling nine U.S. exchange alumni to strengthen leadership skills while mobilizing regional alumni networks and supporting local economic growth.
• Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF) Small grants competition awarding up to $10,000 to teams of U.S. government exchange alumni for projects addressing global challenges through citizen diplomacy initiatives.
• Impact Fellowships Network (IFN) Collaborative research initiative exploring how fellowship experiences support leaders in driving change at individual, institutional, community, and systems levels, spanning 23 fellowship programs across 141 countries.
• ASAS Activity (Jordan Early Grade Education) U.S. Department of State-funded early grade education initiative in Jordan focused on strengthening teacher preparation, classroom practice, and system-level reform to expand literacy and numeracy skills, implemented with the Jordan Ministry of Education and partner universities.
• Kenya Youth Advisory Group (KYAG) Fifteen-member youth advisory group partnering with the Mastercard Foundation to ensure young people's voices shape strategy, programming, and decision-making across the Foundation's Kenya Country Programs.
• Ukraine Labor Market Intelligence Sector profiles series translating Ukrainian labor market data into actionable guidance for investors, employers, and government, covering Construction, Logistics, Energy, Manufacturing, and Technology sectors.
• U.S. Government-Sponsored Exchange Programs U.S. government-sponsored international exchange programs including Fulbright, Boren Awards, Critical Language Scholarship, Gilman, Peace Corps, and Youth Ambassadors, implemented for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• U.S. J-1 Visa Sponsorship IREX serves as a designated U.S. J-1 visa sponsor for exchange visitors coming to the United States, administered under the U.S. Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Math proficiency in Grade 2 increased from 13.7% to 18.6%, and in Grade 3 from 29.3% to 36% in Jordan through ASAS program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Development GatewaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Development Gateway and IREX have partnered on multiple initiatives including the Higher Education AI Readiness research (released May 2026) and the Gabay Tech online safety platform development. Development Gateway: An IREX Venture refers to a subsidiary relationship for technology solutions.
• UN Sustainable Development Solutions NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Partnership for global research on university AI readiness. Survey conducted November 2025 to January 2026 to assess AI integration within universities globally and help benchmark readiness.
• Mastercard FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Mastercard Foundation partnered with IREX to launch the Kenya Youth Advisory Group (KYAG), a 15-member group ensuring young people's voices shape Foundation strategy and programming across Kenya Country Programs in MSME, Agriculture, Workforce Development, and Digital Economy sectors aligned with Young Africa Works Strategy.
• Jordan Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ASAS Activity focused on improving early childhood and early grade education in Jordan. Partners on strengthening teacher preparation, aligning policy with practice, and building stronger foundation for literacy and numeracy nationwide.
• University of JordanmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerASAS Activity partner strengthening teacher preparation and supporting system-level reform for literacy and numeracy improvement in Jordan.
• Yarmouk UniversitymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerASAS Activity partner contributing to early grade education reform and teacher preparation enhancement in Jordan.
• Hashemite UniversitymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerASAS Activity partner in Jordan focused on improving education outcomes through quality assurance and academic program enhancement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FHI 360: FHI 360 is a large U.S.-based international development nonprofit operating across education, health, and workforce programs globally with comparable scale and a similar government-grant funding model, making it the closest direct peer to IREX.
• Institute of International Education (IIE): IIE administers flagship U.S. exchange programs including Fulbright alongside IREX, making it a direct peer in the government-sponsored international exchange and academic mobility niche that anchors IREX's U.S. Exchange Alumni portfolio.
• World Learning: World Learning operates the Experiment in International Living, Fulbright exchanges, and global youth leadership programs - directly overlapping with IREX's exchange, fellowship, and leadership development offerings.
• Chemonics International: Chemonics is a large international development implementer funded primarily by USAID and the U.S. State Department with overlapping education, workforce, and governance programming - a highly comparable peer in scale and donor base.
• Creative Associates International: Creative Associates implements U.S. government-funded education, democracy, and economic growth programs in conflict-affected countries, mirroring IREX's model of education reform and citizen diplomacy initiatives.
• Education Development Center (EDC): EDC is a nonprofit focused on education, health, and workforce programs globally with significant early grade literacy and teacher training work - directly comparable to IREX's ASAS-style education improvement portfolio.
• Winrock International: Winrock implements international development programs in education, agriculture, and workforce development, often funded by USAID - a structurally similar peer with comparable U.S. government donor exposure.
• RTI International: RTI International is a nonprofit research institute implementing large-scale international development programs in education, governance, and economic growth with similar grant-funded operating model.
• Pact: Pact is an international development nonprofit with deep presence in Africa and Eastern Europe working on governance, health, and economic opportunity - comparable to IREX's regional depth in Kenya, Ukraine, and similar markets.
• American Councils for International Education: American Councils administers government-sponsored exchange and language programs (including Critical Language Scholarship and Fulbright components alongside IREX) and operates in overlapping post-Soviet and MENA geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/irexinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irex
• Xx.com/irexintl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about IREX