Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM

What Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM does

Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational consulting organization founded in 2003 by Jan Morrison and headquartered in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The organization designs and operates statewide and regional STEM education ecosystems, providing consulting services to K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, corporations, and philanthropic foundations. TIES operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of TIES Global, Inc., with a headcount of 11-50 employees delivering programs through both staff and a broad partner network.

TIES's core offerings center on STEM Ecosystem Design consulting (needs assessments, strategic planning, partnership mapping), Digital Fabrication Labs and Makerspaces (stationary and mobile — including the STEM-on-the-Go Van deployed with RTI and DSEC), Emerging Technologies Integration (AI, quantum computing, robotics), STEM Curriculum & School Design, Future Ready Talent workforce development, Blue Economy water-sector initiatives, Government Engagement, and STEM Investing Advising. Supporting programs include AI Summits, the LEAD STEM Fellowship, STEM Data Walks, STEM SAIL Ohio, and Professional Learning & Training. The organization co-founded the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice in 2015, which coordinates nearly 120 regional ecosystems reaching 40M+ learners and 900K teachers through 4,600+ partners across 43 U.S. states and seven international markets.

TIES generates revenue through professional-services consulting fees and grant-funded programs, drawing significant funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense (via the Defense STEM Education Consortium), Office of Naval Research, IBM SkillsBuild, Harvard's LabXchange, the Fab Foundation (supported by Chevron), Siemens, Broadcom Foundation, and regional funders such as the Fund for Our Economic Future and New Growth Group. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements are quote-based and tailored to each client. Distribution occurs through direct consulting engagements, community-of-practice channels, and convenings, with a 2024 brand refresh repositioning TIES around emerging technologies and ecosystem expansion.

Name

Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM

Legal name

Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM

Website

https://tiesteach.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) is a Cleveland Heights-based nonprofit consulting firm that designs and coordinates statewide STEM education ecosystems for K-12 districts, higher education, government agencies, corporations, and foundations, operating through nearly 120 regional ecosystems globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Consulting Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH), STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL), STEM/Business/Discipline-Specific Foundation Pathways (EDAIAJAH)

Keywords

• STEM education consulting
• Digital fabrication labs
• Professional development services
• STEM ecosystem design
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Educational Consulting Services: TIES provides consulting services to K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, businesses, government agencies, and foundations for STEM ecosystem design, professional development, and digital fabrication lab implementation. Revenue is generated through service fees for these engagements.
2. Grant-Funded Programs: TIES receives significant funding from federal agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense, and Office of Naval Research. These grants fund specific STEM education initiatives and programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) is a nonprofit educational consulting organization that designs and implements statewide STEM ecosystems for K-12 schools, higher education institutions, businesses, and government agencies. Its core services include STEM ecosystem design, digital fabrication lab and makerspace consulting, mobile STEM labs (STEM-on-the-Go Van), teacher professional development, emerging technologies integration (AI, quantum computing, robotics), and workforce development programs such as Future Ready Talent.

Product overview

Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) is an educational consulting organization that offers a comprehensive portfolio of STEM education services rather than a single software product. The core offerings include STEM Ecosystem Design consulting, Digital Fabrication Labs & Makerspaces (with both stationary and mobile labs), and the STEM-on-the-Go Mobile Digital Fabrication Van. These are complemented by Emerging Technologies Integration (AI, quantum computing, robotics), STEM Curriculum & School Design, Future Ready Talent workforce development, Blue Economy initiatives, Government Engagement, and STEM Investing Advising. Additional services include AI Summits, STEM SAIL Ohio, LEAD STEM Fellowship, STEM Data Walks, and Professional Learning & Training programs. The ecosystem approach connects education, industry, community organizations, and government to create sustainable STEM pathways for learners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Ecosystem Design Consulting services to support communities in developing collaborative STEM learning environments through needs assessments, strategic planning, design studios, partnership mapping, and measurement implementation.
• Digital Fabrication Labs & Makerspaces Comprehensive consulting for establishing Fab Labs and Makerspaces in schools, museums, and corporations, including custom space design, equipment procurement, and sustainable fabrication lab planning.
• STEM-on-the-Go Mobile Digital Fabrication Van Mobile Digital Fabrication Lab operated in partnership with RTI and Defense STEM Education Consortium, bringing hands-on STEM experiences directly to schools and communities using digital fabrication and machining equipment.
• Emerging Technologies Integration Services positioning organizations at the forefront of emerging technologies including AI, quantum computing, and robotics through thoughtful integration into learning environments.
• STEM Curriculum & School Design Transforming learning environments through innovative STEM curriculum and school design integrating engineering, real-world problem-solving, and technology.
• Future Ready Talent Bridging education and industry through workforce development initiatives that prepare students for in-demand careers while meeting employer needs through curriculum alignment and industry partnerships.
• Blue Economy Sustainable water resource management and workforce development initiatives connecting STEM education to water-related careers, technological innovations, and economic opportunities.
• Government Engagement Influencing STEM education policy and implementation through strategic engagement at local, state, and federal levels, including advocacy, policy advising, and grant coordination.
• STEM Investing Advising Guiding strategic investment in STEM education through public-private partnerships, philanthropy advising, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• AI Summits Collaborative summits bringing together educators, community leaders, and AI experts to explore AI's potential to transform learning and prepare students for future workforce needs.
• STEM SAIL Ohio Statewide initiative coordinated by TIES in partnership with Ohio Department of Education to strengthen STEM learning opportunities aligned to workforce needs through cross-sector collaboration.
• LEAD STEM Fellowship Personalized professional development and collaborative learning experiences for STEM leaders through a Train-the-Trainer approach to build sustainable capacity across ecosystems.
• Professional Learning & Training Curriculum and professional development programs specifically designed for Digital Fabrication spaces, Innovation Labs, and mobile learning environments with ongoing implementation support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40M+ learners reached through STEM Ecosystems globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• IBM SkillsBuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM SkillsBuild partnership provides technology resources and curriculum integration for TIES STEM programs, enhancing digital skills training across ecosystems.
• Harvard University (LabXchange)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Harvard's LabXchange platform provides digital STEM education resources and content for TIES ecosystem programs.
• aiEDU (The AI Education Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to integrate AI education content and resources into TIES STEM ecosystems, supporting AI literacy initiatives.
• Fab FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported by Chevron, the Fab Foundation partnership enables TIES to deploy digital fabrication labs and equipment through the Fab Lab network.
• RTI InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the STEM-on-the-Go Van program, bringing mobile digital fabrication capabilities to underserved communities.
• SiemensmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting STEM workforce development and educational program resources through Siemens industry expertise.
• Broadcom FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnership supporting STEM education initiatives and coding/programming curriculum development.
• Cleveland Water AllianceregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership supporting water science education and environmental STEM programming in the Cleveland area.
• Ohio Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education agency partnership for implementing statewide STEM ecosystem frameworks and programs.
• STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of PracticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTIES serves as the national office for this community, which encompasses nearly 120 STEM ecosystems globally with 4,600+ partners.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project Lead The Way: A nonprofit that provides STEM curriculum, professional development, and pathways for K-12 schools. Highly comparable to TIES in mission, customer base (K-12 districts), and consulting/PD-driven revenue model.
• Fab Foundation: Operates the global Fab Lab network and supports digital fabrication labs similar to TIES's core Digital Fabrication Labs & Makerspaces offering. Direct peer in fab lab design, equipment, and maker education services.
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): STEM education nonprofit operating K-12 robotics and STEM programs with extensive partnership networks, similar funding sources (including DoD), and a comparable national coordination model.
• Code.org: Nonprofit focused on expanding access to computer science education in K-12 schools. Comparable in mission, K-12 focus, large-scale learner reach, and reliance on philanthropic and corporate funding.
• STEMconnector: Organization that convenes STEM stakeholders across industry, education, and government to coordinate workforce development—closely paralleling TIES's STEM ecosystem coordination model.
• Million Girls Moonshot: STEM equity-focused initiative funded by the Pahara Institute and others, focused on K-12 STEM programming and educator support—closely aligned with TIES's K-12 STEM equity mission.
• MIND Research Institute: Nonprofit providing K-12 math and STEM programs, professional development, and educator resources—comparable consulting and curriculum-driven nonprofit model.

Emerging players

• International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA): Professional association supporting STEM/technology educators with curriculum standards and PD—adjacent to TIES's K-12 STEM curriculum and professional development services.

Broad incumbents

• Citizen Schools: Education nonprofit partnering with schools and employers to expand learning opportunities for under-resourced students—comparable audience (under-resourced K-12 learners) and partnership-driven operating model.
• Digital Promise: Nonprofit focused on equitable access to learning technology and innovation in education—overlapping with TIES's emerging tech integration, AI literacy, and equity-focused STEM missions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tiesteach
• Facebookfacebook.com/tiesteach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ties-teaching-institute-for-excellence-in-stem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM