Digital Youth Network
Digital Youth Network is a Northwestern University research lab that builds digital platforms and runs youth programs to connect K-12 learners and families with out-of-school learning opportunities, serving municipalities, school districts, libraries, and community organizations across the Midwest and Texas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Digital Youth Network does
Digital Youth Network (DYN) is a research lab at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy that designs systems and builds digital infrastructure for out-of-school time (OST) ecosystems. Founded in 2005 by Dr. Nichole Pinkard and Akili Lee, DYN serves municipalities, school districts, libraries, youth-serving organizations, families, and K-12/young adult learners across the U.S. Midwest and Texas. The organization addresses fragmented OST landscapes by providing platforms that connect youth to learning opportunities, match mentors with organizations, and generate analytics on ecosystem health.
DYN's product portfolio includes purpose-built web and mobile platforms — CitiesLearn (a modular OST ecosystem platform with landscaping, opportunity, engagement, and workforce modules), MAPSCorps (a youth-as-data-scientist program with nearly 3,000 alumni researchers), STEAMbassadors (a mentor matching Gig Board), Steamville (a STEAM learning delivery platform), Freeze Frame (a geospatial mobile data-capture app launched in 2024), and city-specific deployments including My Chi My Future (Chicago), EL3 (Evanston), and Dallas City of Learning. Supporting programs include the ELEAP scholarship initiative, Digital Youth Divas, Tree Lab (AI ethics), and STEAM Challenge Club. Technology is purpose-built for OST rather than adapted from generic learning management systems.
DYN operates through three revenue streams: platform licensing and implementation with municipal and institutional clients (subscription/recurring), research lab funding through academic grants and partnerships (managed services), and direct program services including STEAM programming and mentor training (professional services). Distribution is primarily B2G, with direct field sales to municipalities and school districts supplemented by channel partnerships with libraries and community organizations. The organization has not disclosed external equity funding and operates as an academic-affiliated entity under Northwestern University's institutional umbrella.
Digital Youth Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Youth Network
- Legal name
- Digital Youth Network
- Website
- https://digitalyouthnetwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Digital Youth Network is a Northwestern University research lab that builds digital platforms and runs youth programs to connect K-12 learners and families with out-of-school learning opportunities, serving municipalities, school districts, libraries, and community organizations across the Midwest and Texas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Youth Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Software Platforms
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Teacher-Led Digital Lesson Packages & Instructional Resources (EDAFACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early Learning Digital Curriculum & School Readiness Content (EDAFACAN)
Keywords
Where Digital Youth Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Digital Youth Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Platform Licensing and Implementation: DYN provides customized platforms for cities and organizations. Platforms like CitiesLearn, EL3, My Chi My Future, and Dallas City of Learning serve as technology infrastructure for municipalities and school districts to manage OST ecosystems.
- Research Lab Funding: As a research lab at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy, DYN operates with academic research funding and grants to design learning systems and build OST infrastructure.
- Program Services: STEAM programming delivery through STEAMBassadors, summer programs like Southside STEAM Scholars, Digital Youth Divas, and MAPSCorps. Involves training mentors and delivering engaging STEAM content to youth.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Digital Youth Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Youth Network designs and operates purpose-built digital platforms (CitiesLearn, My Chi My Future, EL3, Dallas City of Learning, STEAMville) and delivers youth development programs (STEAMbassadors, MAPSCorps, Digital Youth Divas) that connect youth to out-of-school time learning opportunities. The organization sells customized platform implementations to municipalities, school districts, and libraries, while also providing STEAM mentorship programming and community data research through a network of trained college mentors.
Product overview
Digital Youth Network (DYN) is a research lab that designs systems and builds purpose-built infrastructure for out-of-school time (OST) ecosystems. Their portfolio consists of multiple interconnected digital platforms and youth programs. The core platforms include Cities Learn (comprehensive OST ecosystem platform with landscaping, opportunity matching, engagement, and workforce features), MAPSCorps (youth-as-community-data-scientists program), STEAMbassadors (mentor matching platform), and Steamville (STEAM learning platform). DYN also operates regional platforms including My Chi My Future (Chicago), EL3 (Evanston), and Dallas City of Learning. Supporting programs include ELEAP (scholarship program), Freeze Frame (geospatial mobile app), Digital Youth Divas, Tree Lab (AI ethics), and STEAM Challenge Club. DYN is uniquely positioned as an organization that both leads high quality youth programming and supports other organizations through OST-focused digital tools and content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cities Learn: A platform providing end-to-end solutions for building healthy out-of-school time ecosystems, including OST Landscaping, OST Opportunity, OST Engagement, and OST Workforce features.
- MAPSCorps
- STEAMbassadors
- Steamville
- Digital Youth Divas
- EL3
- My Chi My Future
- Dallas City of Learning
Products and services
- CitiesLearn Platform End-to-end platform providing solutions for building healthy out-of-school time ecosystems, featuring OST Landscaping (capture and analyze local OST infrastructure), OST Opportunity (connecting families with relevant opportunities), OST Engagement (provider tools for delivering programs), and OST Workforce (matching organizations with vetted mentors). Designed for municipalities seeking to build and sustain OST ecosystems.
- MAPSCorps Program and data collection system that trains youth (high school and college students) as community data scientists to produce and understand high-quality data about community assets. To date, MAPSCorps has employed nearly 3,000 youth, the majority identifying with racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in STEM. Combines scientific inquiry with creative exercises.
- STEAMbassadors Mentor matching platform connecting trained mentors from local colleges and universities with youth-serving organizations in Chicago and Evanston via an online Gig Board. Mentors are trained to deliver carefully curated STEAM curricula.
- STEAMville Online platform for youth and mentors to engage in STEAM learning. Youth organizations use STEAMville to deliver content and manage participant engagement, while out-of-school time mentors are trained to deliver quality youth STEAM programming.
- My Chi My Future Platform helping Chicago youth and families discover local programs and activities tailored to their interests. Also used to deliver curriculum for the city's employment and enrichment programs such as One Summer Chicago and Chicago Youth Service Corps.
- EL3 - Evanston Platform run by D65 designed to empower Evanston families by curating activities and vetted programs that foster learning, empowerment, and advancement with equitable access to educational opportunities. Powers the ELEAP scholarship program for Evanston students 5th-12th grade.
- Dallas City of Learning Platform designed to help families and youth discover educational programs and activities throughout Dallas. A citywide initiative created to ensure all students have access to high-quality summer learning programs.
- ELEAP (Evanston Learning, Empowerment, and Advancement Program) Scholarship program powered by EL3 platform to enhance outcomes for Evanston students from 5th through 12th grade by providing scholarships that expand access to summer and out-of-school time programming and incentivizes students to explore resources contributing to college and career readiness.
- Freeze Frame Geospatial capture mobile app that allows individuals to document where and how they spend their free time outside of school. The app captures location, activities, companions, transportation, reasons, and timing for understanding community dynamics and youth engagement with local assets.
- Digital Youth Divas After-school program with focus on middle school girls from non-dominant communities, encouraging young women to get hands-on with engineering and computer science.
- Tree Lab (AI) Program where STEAMbassadors work with high school students to explore the ethical implications of AI, learning how technology influences areas like education, surveillance, and social media.
- STEAM Challenge Club Program that immerses high school students in computer science with mentorship from STEAMbassadors, developing skills through hands-on activities in music production, data analytics, sports analytics, and artificial intelligence.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 3,000 youth employed as community researchers through MAPSCorps
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Youth Network
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Digital Youth Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Digital Youth Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Evanston/Skokie School District 65 (D65)coreD65 runs the EL3 platform designed to empower Evanston families by curating activities and vetted programs. DYN's ELEAP scholarship program is powered by EL3.
- DuSable Black History MuseumminorHost venue for Summer Showcase celebration where students presented STEAM projects. Event brought together students, STEAMbassadors, and community partners.
- Youth-Serving OrganizationscoreSTEAMbassadors matched with youth serving organizations in Chicago and Evanston via online Gig Board. Organizations get access to hire from vetted and trained local mentor pool. Includes libraries, community centers, and after-school programs.
- Local Colleges and UniversitiescoreMentors for STEAMbassadors program recruited from local colleges and universities. Train to deliver carefully curated STEAM curricula to youth.
- City of Chicago Mayor's OfficecoreLaunched Chicago City of Learning with Mayor's Office and Chicago Public Schools. Initiative to connect youth to out-of-school learning opportunities citywide.
- Chicago Public SchoolscorePartnered with Chicago Public Schools for Chicago City of Learning initiative. Platforms deliver required curriculum for city employment and enrichment programs.
- Chicago Public LibrariescorePartnered with Chicago Public Libraries to co-create YOUmedia - reimagining how public libraries can engage youth in learning. Major initiative in DYN's history.
- University of ChicagominorDYN launched its first digital literacy after school programs while at the University of Chicago before moving to Northwestern.
- Northwestern University - School of Education and Social PolicycoreDYN is a research lab at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy. Founded by Dr. Nichole Pinkard and Akili Lee. The university affiliation provides academic credibility, research infrastructure, and access to graduate students for workforce.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Digital Youth Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cityspan Technologies: Cityspan provides case management and program management software for youth and community services, including afterschool and OST programs. It is the most direct competitor to CitiesLearn, serving similar municipal and nonprofit customers with comparable platform functionality.
- Cityspan Technologies: Cityspan provides case management and program management software for youth and community services, including afterschool and OST programs. It is the most direct competitor to CitiesLearn, serving similar municipal and nonprofit customers with comparable platform functionality.
Broad incumbents
- ClassDojo: ClassDojo is a widely adopted classroom and school communication platform used by K-12 teachers and families. While broader than DYN's OST focus, it serves overlapping customer segments (schools, families) and could expand into OST ecosystem functionality given its scale.
- Salesforce.org (now Salesforce for Nonprofits): Salesforce.org offers CRM and program management solutions tailored to nonprofits and educational institutions. It competes with DYN for the same municipal and youth-serving organization budgets, albeit as a much broader, more general-purpose platform.
- Outschool: Outschool is a marketplace for supplemental K-12 classes and enrichment programs. While it focuses on paid consumer classes rather than OST ecosystem infrastructure, it competes for the same family/parent attention and could intersect with DYN's platform over time.
- Varsity Tutors: Varsity Tutors is a large-scale supplemental education platform serving K-12 and adult learners. It overlaps with DYN's enrichment/OST positioning and is part of the broader competitive set for municipal and family learning budgets.
Emerging players
- Boys & Girls Club of America: BGCA is the largest youth development organization in the US, running afterschool and summer programs that overlap with DYN's target use cases. While primarily a direct service provider rather than a platform, BGCA represents both a potential channel partner and a competitive benchmark for DYN's youth programs.
- MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): MENTOR is the national umbrella organization advancing youth mentoring, directly comparable to DYN's STEAMbassadors mentor matching model. Both organizations operate at the intersection of youth development and structured mentoring, often serving the same municipal and nonprofit customers.
- MIND Research Institute: MIND Research provides STEAM/math educational programs and curricula used in schools and OST settings. It is comparable to DYN's Digital Youth Divas and STEAM Challenge Club programs, with a similarly mission-driven, evidence-based approach to youth STEAM engagement.
Others
- Afterschool Alliance: Afterschool Alliance is a national advocacy organization promoting OST access and funding. While not a direct competitor, it influences the policy and funding environment that drives demand for DYN's platforms and programs, making it a relevant ecosystem participant.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Digital Youth Network social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Youth Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Youth Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Digital Youth Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Digital Youth Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Digital Youth Network
What does Digital Youth Network do?
Digital Youth Network designs and operates purpose-built digital platforms (CitiesLearn, My Chi My Future, EL3, Dallas City of Learning, STEAMville) and delivers youth development programs (STEAMbassadors, MAPSCorps, Digital Youth Divas) that connect youth to out-of-school time learning opportunities. The organization sells customized platform implementations to municipalities, school districts, and libraries, while also providing STEAM mentorship programming and community data research through a network of trained college mentors.
Is Digital Youth Network a public or private company?
Digital Youth Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Digital Youth Network founded?
Digital Youth Network was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Digital Youth Network based?
Digital Youth Network is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Youth Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Platform Licensing and Implementation is the primary driver. The others are research Lab Funding and program Services.
Who are Digital Youth Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cityspan Technologies and Cityspan Technologies. Broad incumbents are ClassDojo, Salesforce.org (now Salesforce for Nonprofits), Outschool and Varsity Tutors. Emerging players are Boys & Girls Club of America, MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership) and MIND Research Institute. Afterschool Alliance is listed as an others.
Does Digital Youth Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Youth Network.
What industry is Digital Youth Network in?
Digital Youth Network's product category is Educational Software Platforms. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFACAL, Teacher-Led Digital Lesson Packages & Instructional Resources, with a secondary code of EDAFACAN, Early Learning Digital Curriculum & School Readiness Content. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.