What Charles River Analytics does

Charles River Analytics is a privately held human-centered artificial intelligence research and development firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company operates as a government R&D contractor, developing and delivering intelligent systems primarily for U.S. defense and intelligence agencies (DARPA, NAVSEA, MDA, DLA, IARPA), civilian agencies (NIH/NIDA, CDC), and NASA, with a secondary effort to commercialize technology into healthcare, mining, construction, and space sectors. It is a subsidiary of GRVTY, a holding company, and employs 101-250 people.

The company's technical core rests on proprietary probabilistic programming languages (Figaro and Scruff), hybrid AI architectures combining symbolic reasoning with probabilistic logic and machine learning, and an open prototyping platform (SHERLOCK) for physiological, neurological, and behavioral state assessment. Its product portfolio is unusually broad for a mid-sized contractor: maritime AI detection (Awarion, ASIMOV, MAGNETO, PAVE), multi-robot collaborative autonomy (ASTER), predictive maintenance and logistics (SNAPPR, RAPS, STAPLES, KAML, JUPITER), explainable AI toolkits (EXTRA, RELAX, ALPACA, SPNN), medical triage and training (KWYN EFECTIVE, POINTER, EPIC3, ARC3), digital therapeutics (TheraVerse suite: SURVIVE, CESSATION, NO VAPE), wearable cognitive sensors (fNIRS Pioneer and Explorer in partnership with PLUX), and cyber defense tools (CIRCE, CyLearn, CANDID, CYMOD). The firm currently runs more than 200 active R&D projects and holds CMMC Level 2 certification.

Revenue is generated primarily through professional services contracts awarded via competitive procurement and SBIR/STTR grant mechanisms, supplemented by licensing and royalties on a small set of commercialized products (fNIRS hardware, VR therapy applications available on Meta Quest Store, ASTER software). Pricing is contract-determined and not publicly disclosed; contracts are typically multi-year. Marketing relies on content, conference presence (AUVSI XPONENTIAL, GEOINT, IEEE, SXSW), earned media in defense and technology outlets, and podcast appearances.

Name

Charles River Analytics

Legal name

Charles River Analytics, Inc.

Website

https://cra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Charles River Analytics is a Cambridge, MA-based human-centered AI R&D firm, founded 1983, that develops intelligent systems primarily for U.S. defense and intelligence agencies (DARPA, NAVSEA, MDA, NASA) and secondarily for healthcare and commercial markets, using proprietary probabilistic programming and hybrid AI across 200+ active projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense AI Software and Human-Centered Computing

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

Keywords

• Human-centered AI
• Defense AI software
• Probabilistic programming
• Autonomous systems
• Predictive maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government R&D Contracts: Primary revenue stream from direct government contracts with DoD agencies (DARPA, NAVSEA, MDA, DLA), intelligence agencies, and civilian agencies (NIH, CDC). Contracts include SBIR Phase I/II/III awards and direct procurement for R&D services.
2. Commercial Solutions: Secondary revenue from applying government-developed innovations to commercial problems in healthcare, mining, construction, and other industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Charles River Analytics develops and delivers human-centered AI intelligent systems for government, defense, and commercial customers. Its core offerings include custom AI/ML R&D services delivered through SBIR and direct contracts, plus a portfolio of proprietary software platforms, AI tools, autonomous systems, predictive maintenance solutions, and VR-based medical training and therapy products. The company packages these capabilities under sub-brands such as TheraVerse (VR therapy), Awarion (autonomous lookout), KWYN (virtual training), SparkCare (clinical workflows), and Sherlock (physiological/neurological state prototyping).

Product overview

Charles River Analytics is a human-centered AI research and development company offering a comprehensive portfolio of AI-driven solutions organized across multiple technology domains. The company provides both foundational platforms (SHERLOCK for physiological/neurological/behavioral state assessment, Figaro and Scruff probabilistic programming languages) and domain-specific products spanning healthcare (TheraVerse VR therapy suite including SURVIVE, CESSATION, NO VAPE; medical training tools like KWYN EFECTIVE; clinical systems like SparkCare), defense (ASTER multi-robot autonomy, Awarion/ASIMOV detection systems, CIRCE cybersecurity tools, predictive maintenance systems like RAPS), and enterprise AI (natural language processing tools like COCKTAIL and AUTHOR, explainable AI frameworks like EXTRA and RELAX, optimization systems like PLATO and JUPITER). The portfolio includes sensor hardware (fNIRS Pioneer and Explorer), software development tools (SLICK compliance verification), and specialized platforms for human state assessment, autonomy, and decision support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TheraVerse: A group of technology-based therapeutic tools using VR to address addiction, including SURVIVE, CESSATION, and NO VAPE products.
• Awarion
• KWYN
• SparkCare
• Sherlock
• fNIRS Sensors (Pioneer, Explorer)

Products and services

• Sherlock Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Predictive maintenance systems for naval ship systems transitioning from research to operational use after 8+ years of development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability15 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Ohio State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Partnership with Ohio State University on the ENHANCE-IB solution for DARPA ERIS Marketplace. The team was recognized among competitive applicants demonstrating innovation and potential impact on DoD missions.
• University of Rochester Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership with Dr. Lisham Ashrafioun at University of Rochester Medical Center for Phase I usability testing of the SURVIVE VR tool for stimulant use disorder treatment. Dr. Ashrafioun conducted clinical testing with 15 adult participants.
• PLUX (Portugal)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Joint development and launch of miniaturized fNIRS sensors (Pioneer and Explorer) for measuring cognitive state. PLUX, a biomedical engineering company based in Portugal, serves as the commercial distribution partner for these sensors.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WPI on the ASTER project for developing multi-robot collaborative autonomy. WPI's laboratory facilities were used for physical rover demonstrations of collaborative autonomy capabilities featuring three autonomous rovers with different simulated skillsets.
• Massachusetts General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Massachusetts General Hospital for designing the APRICOT health information technology tool to facilitate electronic transmission of pregnancy outcomes from ART patients to fertility clinics.
• NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinal briefing and demonstration of ASTER collaborative autonomy system conducted at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The project supports NASA's Artemis program for sustained lunar presence requiring robotic exploration and construction.
• Rickard Consulting GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with pilot subject matter experts from Rickard Consulting Group to integrate and test the PHARAOH sensor suite in rotary and fixed-wing platform cockpit settings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Leidos: Major federal systems integrator and prime contractor with significant defense AI and autonomy portfolios; competes for the same large-scale DoD programs as Charles River Analytics.
• SAIC: Large federal IT and engineering services prime with material AI, autonomy, and analytics offerings for DoD and intelligence customers — a broad-based incumbent that overlaps in many of CRA's core bid spaces.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Large federal services and consulting prime with a deep AI practice serving DoD and intelligence customers; overlaps with CRA on DARPA and DoD AI bids but at much greater scale and breadth.

Direct peers

• RAND Corporation: Nonprofit research institution providing analytic and AI-enabled research services to defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies; comparable as a long-tenured government R&D contractor with a multidisciplinary portfolio.
• SRI International: Independent, nonprofit R&D organization performing contract research for government and commercial clients across AI, robotics, and national security — the closest analog to Charles River Analytics in scope, customer base, and human-centered AI focus.
• Draper Laboratory: Not-for-profit R&D lab delivering advanced engineering solutions for defense, space, and intelligence customers; directly comparable on autonomous systems, sensors, and mission-critical AI for federal agencies.
• Applied Research Associates: Employee-owned R&D firm delivering engineering and applied science solutions to defense, intelligence, and commercial customers; comparable in size, ownership structure, and breadth of federal R&D work.
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: Federally funded R&D center focused on national security problems in sensors, autonomy, cyber, and communications — competing for the same DARPA/DoD program offices and talent pool as CRA.

Emerging players

• BigBear.ai: Public, AI-focused defense and intelligence analytics vendor with overlapping products in decision support, computer vision, and predictive analytics; directly competes for many of CRA's federal AI programs.
• Anduril Industries: Well-funded defense-technology company building autonomy, sensing, and AI products for DoD; overlaps with Charles River Analytics in autonomous systems (e.g., ASTER) and sensor-fusion work for federal customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/charlesriveranalytic
• Facebookfacebook.com/charlesriveranalytics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charles-river-analytics
• Xx.com/ShawJLZ

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Charles River Analytics