Science Cheerleaders

What Science Cheerleaders does

Science Cheerleaders is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York that challenges gender stereotypes in STEM by deploying professional cheerleaders who also hold STEM careers as volunteer role models for young girls. The organization operates a national network of more than 300 current and former NFL, NBA, and college cheerleaders — including individuals with PhDs, engineering degrees, and medical credentials — who lead hands-on STEM activities at school appearances, museum workshops, and community events such as UT Austin's STEM Girl Day and the Children's Museum of Phoenix during Super Bowl LVII.

The organization's "products" are primarily programmatic rather than technological: branded STEM activity formats (e.g., 'All About Binary' coding bracelets, 'In My DNA' genetics activities, 'The Heart of Cheer' physiology lessons), educational media content including the CBS show Mission Unstoppable featuring SciCheer Morgan Yost, and the Stem Loft digital series recognized with 16 Telly Awards and a 2024 Webby nomination. It also maintains a branded merchandise e-commerce store selling apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants) and accessories (hats, drawstring bags, travel mugs) at unit prices ranging from $24 to $75. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or API; the technical footprint is limited to a Squarespace-hosted website and Instagram presence.

Science Cheerleaders generates revenue through two streams: tax-deductible individual donations (preset tiers of $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100, available as one-time, monthly, or annual gifts) and direct-to-consumer merchandise sales (with 100% of profits stated to fund STEM programming). The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led: schools, museums, and community organizations request appearances through a website contact form, while the volunteer network is mobilized organically through professional sports and STEM professional connections. The organization has no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, no disclosed revenue figures, and operates with 1–10 paid staff supplemented by its all-volunteer cheerleader network.

Name

Science Cheerleaders

Legal name

Science Cheerleaders

Website

https://sciencecheerleaders.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Science Cheerleaders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses a national network of 300+ professional cheerleaders who hold STEM careers to run hands-on STEM events, school appearances, and educational media aimed at inspiring K-8th grade girls to pursue STEM.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Outreach

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393)

akta.pro primary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• STEM education outreach
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Women in science
• Branded merchandise
• Public science events

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Science Cheerleaders relies on tax-deductible donations from supporters. 100% of donations go toward funding Science Cheerleaders initiatives and appearances to inspire girls everywhere.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, hats, bags, and travel mugs through its online store. 100% of profits from merchandise sales go directly to support the mission and bring more events and STEM programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Science Cheerleaders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that mobilizes more than 300 professional cheerleaders who also hold STEM careers to challenge stereotypes about women and girls in science. The organization delivers educational appearances, events, and outreach programs, primarily at sports venues, schools, and public gatherings, and supports its mission through donations, sponsorships, and sales of branded apparel and accessories.

Product overview

Science Cheerleaders is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including apparel (youth and adult t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants) and accessories (hats, drawstring bags, travel mugs). All proceeds from merchandise sales fund Science Cheerleaders initiatives, appearances, and STEM programming to inspire girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The organization also facilitates appearances by their network of 300+ professional cheerleaders who work in STEM careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Outreach Appearances and Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,000 K-8th graders reached at single STEM Girl Day event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NoteKnightminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026NoteKnight, a learning app created by Science Cheerleader collaborator Chris, sponsored a blog post on the Science Cheerleaders website. NoteKnight was inspired by the STEM career pivot journey and supports learners from all backgrounds.
• UT Austin Women in STEM (WiSTEM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Science Cheerleaders partners with UT Austin's Women in STEM organization to participate in annual STEM Girl Day events. In 2024, the event brought together over 9,000 K-8th graders for hands-on STEM activities led by Science Cheerleaders including 'In My DNA' and 'All About Binary' activities.
• CBS Mission UnstoppablecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Science Cheerleaders were featured on the CBS show Mission Unstoppable hosted by Miranda Cosgrove. SciCheer Morgan Yost, a professional cheerleader, programmer and roboticist, shared lessons about physics and how science and math are used in cheerleading.
• Children's Museum of PhoenixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Science Cheerleaders partnered with the Children's Museum of Phoenix to host an interactive Super Bowl LVII event featuring science activities, citizen science education through SciStarter, binary coding bracelet making, and heart rate science demonstrations.
• UC DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Dr. Wendy conducted her PhD research at UC Davis on engineering implants of articular cartilage. The collaboration included Project MERCCURI, a citizen science project developed with UC Davis researchers to study microbes in space.
• Space Florida and NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Project MERCCURI was submitted to the Space Florida International Space Station Research Competition and won. Science Cheerleaders led citizen scientists in collecting microbe samples which were then launched to the ISS in partnership with Space Florida and NASA.
• SciStarterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Cheerleaders collaborated with SciStarter during the Super Bowl LVII event at the Children's Museum of Phoenix to teach visitors about citizen science opportunities.
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerASME featured Science Cheerleaders Zoe and Sarah, mechanical engineering majors and cheerleaders at Duke University, highlighting the intersection of engineering and cheerleading.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology by inspiring, educating, and equipping girls with computing skills. Directly comparable as a women-in-STEM education nonprofit that combines programs, events, and grassroots community-building aimed at K-12 girls.
• Black Girls Code: Nonprofit introducing girls of color to technology through workshops, hackathons, and after-school programs. Comparable as a STEM outreach nonprofit targeting underrepresented girls with hands-on programming and a community-based volunteer network.
• Kode With Klossy: Free coding camps and community for young women aged 13–18, leveraging a high-profile founder brand. Comparable as a mission-aligned, identity-forward STEM-for-girls nonprofit with branded camps and a celebrity/media-led outreach model.
• National Girls Collaborative Project: National network connecting organizations committed to informing and encouraging girls in STEM. Comparable as a K-12 girls-in-STEM nonprofit that scales impact through partner networks rather than direct service delivery.
• Million Women Mentors: Initiative to mentor young women and girls in STEM fields, engaging corporate and institutional partners. Comparable as a women-in-STEM nonprofit built on a volunteer mentor network and event-driven outreach.
• Girls Inc. National nonprofit inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through afterschool and summer programming. Comparable as a youth-girl-focused nonprofit combining STEM, sports, and life-skills programming with local affiliates and event-driven engagement.
• EngineerGirl: Program of the National Academy of Engineering aimed at increasing the participation of girls in engineering. Comparable as a mission-aligned girls-in-STEM organization using role models and content to influence K-12 girls' career aspirations.
• TechGirlz: Nonprofit inspiring middle-school girls to explore technology through free workshops and events. Comparable as a K-12 STEM-for-girls nonprofit with a workshop/event-driven delivery model and volunteer educator base.
• AI4ALL: Nonprofit increasing diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence through education programs for K-12 students. Comparable as a newer, mission-specific STEM outreach nonprofit using program-based engagement to shift the demographic pipeline for girls and underrepresented students.

Broad incumbents

• Society of Women Engineers: Largest professional organization supporting women engineers and technologists. Comparable as a broader women-in-STEM organization with outreach programming, but operates at a much larger scale and serves adult professionals rather than focusing exclusively on K-12 girls.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=KqmQPzy-UVA
• Instagraminstagram.com/thescicheers
• Xx.com/TheSciCheers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Science Cheerleaders