Project Genesis

What Project Genesis does

Project Genesis, Inc. is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 that provides person-centered education, training, and support services to individuals with disabilities. The organization operates three core program lines: the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program (since 1999, serving survivors of brain injury through the Connecticut Medicaid Waiver with independent living skills training, supported employment, and community activities at two satellite learning centers), the Special Education Support Services (SESS) Program (transition and vocational services for students with IEPs across 40+ Connecticut school districts), and the R.I.S.E. (Reaching Individual Success & Employment) Program (vocational services for adults with disabilities, including the Level Up transition track for students). The technology stack is deliberately modest: an Electronic Verification Visit (EVV) system for Medicaid compliance and Microsoft Teams for the SESS Distance Learning sub-product introduced during COVID-19, alongside a person-centered planning methodology rather than any proprietary software platform.

The organization employs 230+ staff and serves 225+ adults and students annually throughout Connecticut, with all three program lines funded through government contracts — the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), the Connecticut Department of Social Services Medicaid Waiver, and the Connecticut Department of Education via school district relationships. Services are provided at no cost to eligible consumers; the organization does not sell directly to end users. Employer partners (Aetna, Lowes, Home Depot, Walgreens, CVS, TJX, Walmart, McDonald's, City of Enfield) function as placement destinations rather than revenue sources, though they receive federal tax credits up to $2,400 per hire as a participating incentive. There are no consumer-facing applications, no published APIs or SDKs, no AI/ML capabilities, and no patents or trademarks on file.

The revenue model is structurally a managed-services / government-grant arrangement under multi-year contracts, with no disclosed pricing to end consumers. The go-to-market motion is sales-led in the sense that growth depends on winning and renewing state procurement and school district contracts; marketing channels are primarily organic social media, content/blog (survivor stories), and partner referrals rather than paid demand generation. Leadership includes CEO Kathy Rathan (promoted from within in 2013), CHRO Maribel Anaya-Hammer, CFO Daryl Brown, program directors Rachel Kuhn (ABI) and Kelly Sanders (SESS), and a board chaired by Brandon Rothschild. The organization has been a five-time Hartford Courant Top Workplace awardee (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021) and is headquartered in Willimantic, Connecticut.

Name

Project Genesis

Legal name

Project Genesis, Inc.

Website

https://projectgenesis.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Project Genesis is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that provides person-centered education, vocational, and community-living services to individuals with disabilities and brain injury survivors across three core programs funded by state contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Special education services
• Brain injury support
• Nonprofit human services

Headquarters

HQ city

Willimantic

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracted Services: Project Genesis operates as a nonprofit service provider funded entirely through government contracts and programs including the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), Connecticut Department of Social Services Medicaid Waiver for Acquired Brain Injury, and Connecticut Department of Education funding through school districts. Services are provided at no cost to consumers.
2. Employer Partnerships for Vocational Services: The organization works with employers throughout Connecticut providing free on-the-job training, coaching, and evaluations. Employers receive access to Federal tax credits up to $2,400 for hiring consumers. No direct revenue from employers; funded through BRS program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Project Genesis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services organization delivering three core programs: the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program providing independent living skills, supported employment, and community activities for brain injury survivors; Special Education Support Services (SESS) offering in-school academic, behavioral, and transition services to students with IEPs; and the R.I.S.E. Program (Reaching Individual Success & Employment) providing vocational training, job matching, and on-the-job coaching for adults with disabilities seeking competitive employment across Connecticut.

Product overview

Project Genesis is a nonprofit human services organization offering three core program areas: the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program, Special Education Support Services (SESS), and R.I.S.E. (Reaching Individual Success & Employment) Program. These programs are designed to support individuals with disabilities throughout Connecticut, helping them achieve independence and productive lives. The ABI Program provides comprehensive services to brain injury survivors including independent living skills training and community activities. SESS offers transition and vocational services to students with disabilities in schools and community settings. The R.I.S.E. Program focuses on employment placement and support for adults with disabilities. Additionally, the organization offers an ABI Community component for socialization and support networks, and SESS Distance Learning for remote educational delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program A comprehensive program helping survivors of brain injury attain independent and productive lives through person-centered planning, providing independent living skills training, supported employment, pre-vocational services, companion services, transportation, and community activities at two satellite learning centers. Funded by the Connecticut Department of Social Services Medicaid Waiver.
• Special Education Support Services (SESS) Transition and vocational services for students with disabilities, providing one-on-one in-school academic and behavioral supports, community-based transition supports with emphasis on employment readiness, independent living skills, and community engagement. Works with over 40 school districts and colleges across Connecticut, funded through the Connecticut Department of Education.
• R.I.S.E. Program (Reaching Individual Success & Employment) A vocational program helping adults with disabilities find and keep employment, providing individualized career exploration, job matching, free on-the-job training and coaching, and Level Up services for students with IEP or 504 plans transitioning from high school. Funded through the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS).
• ABI Community Community activities and support networks helping ABI consumers build personal resiliency, strong friendships, and enriched lives. Includes the annual 'Fun in the Sun' Summer Cookout co-hosted with the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut and support/social groups including the Willimantic Brain Injury Support Group.
• SESS Distance Learning Remote educational services providing academic instruction via Microsoft Teams, coaching on online college courses, social learning experiences, independent living skill development, at-home vocational learning opportunities, and virtual job coaching for students with special educational needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 225+ adults and students served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Genesis co-hosts the annual 'Fun in the Sun' Summer Cookout with BIAC, described as one of New England largest social gatherings for ABI survivors. The organizations also collaborate on support and social groups including the Willimantic Brain Injury Support Group. BIAC recognized Project Genesis with the 2015 Partnership Award.
• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)coreOthersState agency providing funding for vocational rehabilitation services. Project Genesis was selected as one of only 13 community rehabilitation providers in 2018 to provide vocational services to adults with disabilities. BRS funds the RISE program and Level Up transition services for students.
• Connecticut Department of Social ServicescoreOthersProvides Medicaid Waiver funding for the Acquired Brain Injury Program, enabling comprehensive services including independent living skills training, supported employment, and community activities for ABI survivors.
• Connecticut Department of EducationcoreOthersProject Genesis is a Transition/Vocational Service Provider approved by the Connecticut Department of Education. School districts fund SESS services aligned with Individualized Education Plans (IEP) through this relationship.
• Employer Partner NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProject Genesis works with employers throughout Connecticut representing a broad range of industries including Aetna, Lowes, Home Depot, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and others. Employers receive pre-screened motivated employees, free on-the-job training, and access to federal tax credits up to $2,400.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ability Beyond: Ability Beyond is a Connecticut-based nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities through residential, vocational, and community-based programs. It is one of the other BRS-authorized community rehabilitation providers in the state and directly competes for vocational, ABI, and special education referrals against Project Genesis.
• Marrakech Inc. Marrakech is a Connecticut-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and day services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It overlaps with Project Genesis on vocational rehabilitation, community-based day services, and supported employment funded by BRS and Medicaid Waivers.
• The Arc Connecticut: The Arc Connecticut is a statewide disability services and advocacy organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It competes for transition services, employment supports, and case management contracts from CT DOE and DDS, overlapping with Project Genesis' SESS and RISE programs.
• Kennedy Center (CT): Kennedy Center is a Connecticut-based nonprofit providing employment, residential, and community supports for people with disabilities. It is a BRS-authorized provider and competes directly with Project Genesis on vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and transition services.
• SARAH Inc. SARAH Inc. is a Connecticut-based nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day, and vocational programs. It is one of the other state-funded community rehabilitation providers competing for the same BRS, Medicaid Waiver, and school district contracts.
• Sunrise Northeast / LifeBridge Community Services: Sunrise Northeast is a Connecticut-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and community-based services for people with disabilities. It directly competes for ABI, vocational, and transition referrals funded through Connecticut state agencies.
• Goodwill of Hartford and Northern Connecticut: Goodwill of Hartford is a Connecticut-based nonprofit that provides vocational training, job placement, and employment services, including for individuals with disabilities. It competes with Project Genesis' RISE program for BRS-funded vocational rehabilitation contracts in the same geography.

Regional players

• Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut: Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut is the regional affiliate of the national Easterseals network, providing disability services including vocational rehabilitation and special education supports in the same Connecticut geography as Project Genesis.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals (National): Easterseals is a national nonprofit network providing disability services including vocational rehabilitation, autism services, and special education supports. As a broad incumbent, it offers overlapping capabilities to Project Genesis' programs across a much larger multi-state footprint.

Others

• Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC): BIAC is a Connecticut nonprofit providing advocacy, education, and support services for brain injury survivors. It is a strategic partner of Project Genesis (co-hosts 'Fun in the Sun' cookout, operates joint support groups) and serves overlapping ABI consumers, making it thematically adjacent rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProjectGenCT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@projectgenesisCT
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectGenesisCT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-genesis-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectgenesisinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Project Genesis