C-STEM
C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers accredited teacher training, standards-aligned STEM toolkits, challenge competitions, and internships, integrating communication skills with STEM learning for K-12 students and educators in Texas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What C-STEM does
C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 3226 Alabama Street, Houston, Texas, founded in 2002 to deliver STEM education programs with an integrated communication-skills methodology. Its core technology is a project-based STEM curriculum that explicitly requires students to present and teach what they have learned; this Communication + STEM framework is positioned as the differentiator versus traditional STEM-only programs. The curriculum is aligned to multiple educational standards (TEKS, Common Core, NGSS, Virginia SOL) and is delivered through teacher training (accredited for up to 2.7 CEUs via the Integrated C-STEM Training Institute), classroom toolkits, multi-age challenge competitions, and an internship program.
The organization monetizes through four streams: unit-priced teacher training bundled with toolkits, one-time toolkit and program-bundle sales via the shop.cstem.org e-commerce storefront, an annual recurring C-STEM Membership subscription, and tax-deductible donations anchored by the annual Stakeholder Breakfast fundraiser held at The Junior League of Houston. Distribution combines direct program delivery with district-level partnerships (notably Houston Independent School District's East Region and Fort Bend ISD) and a self-service Learning Management System at lms.cstem.org for educator course access. Customers are primarily K-12 public and private schools and districts in Texas, individual educators seeking accredited professional development, and students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM. The organization operates with 51-100 employees and has been continuously active for over 20 years, with annual program evaluations published since 2011.
C-STEM runs a community-led go-to-market motion: stakeholder events, school district partnerships, volunteer engagement, and direct classroom delivery. Marketing is multi-channel across organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube), email/newsletter, content (annual reports, summer camp reports), the annual Stakeholder Breakfast, and earned media coverage on NBC, ABC, Fox, CW, and CBS. The organization is privately held, founder-led, with no disclosed external institutional investors, parent company, or venture capital funding in the available sources.
C-STEM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- C-STEM
- Legal name
- C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc
- Website
- https://cstem.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers accredited teacher training, standards-aligned STEM toolkits, challenge competitions, and internships, integrating communication skills with STEM learning for K-12 students and educators in Texas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
C-STEM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- STEM Education Services
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- 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 Assessment, Badging & Competition Platforms (EDAFANAJ)
Keywords
Where C-STEM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
C-STEM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Teacher Training Programs: Revenue from accredited teacher training courses offering CEUs for educators. Each training package includes a toolkit.
- STEM Toolkits and Program Bundles: Sale of educational toolkits and bundled programs for STEM challenge activities used in classrooms.
- C-STEM Membership: Recurring membership access to program resources and support.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations as a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Primary fundraising event is the annual Stakeholder Breakfast.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Teacher Training with Toolkit |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | C-STEM Challenge Toolkits |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Program Bundles |
| Subscription | Annual | C-STEM Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
C-STEM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
C-STEM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a STEM education ecosystem consisting of accredited teacher training courses (up to 2.7 CEUs) paired with toolkits, standards-aligned Challenge Curriculum & Toolkits for project-based learning (aligned to TEKS, Common Core, NGSS, Virginia SOL), multi-age group Challenge Competitions, and internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The organization operates a hosted Learning Management System for course delivery and an e-commerce storefront selling training programs, toolkits, program bundles, memberships, and publications, with a unique methodology integrating communication skills as an integral part of STEM learning.
Product overview
C-STEM Teacher and Student Support Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive STEM education ecosystem comprising teacher training, curriculum toolkits, challenge competitions, and internship programs. The core offering includes accredited professional development courses (earning up to 2.7 CEUs) through an Integrated C-STEM Training Institute, paired with standards-aligned (TEKS, Common Core, NGSS, Virginia SOL) Challenge Curriculum & Toolkits for project-based learning. The organization operates a Learning Management System (Teacher Training Portal at lms.cstem.org) and an e-commerce platform (shop.cstem.org) for training programs, toolkits, and publications. Programs target students historically underrepresented in STEM fields, emphasizing communication skills integration alongside STEM mastery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Teacher Training Accredited STEM professional development courses for K-12 educators based on current workforce trends through the Integrated C-STEM Training Institute. Each training awards up to 2.7 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and comes paired with a toolkit for classroom use.
- C-STEM Challenge Curriculum & Toolkits Project-based learning materials that create an environment for K-12 students to work individually or collaboratively to identify, design, and build innovative solutions to real-world problems. Each challenge is inspired by industry professionals and aligned to TEKS, Common Core, NGSS, and Virginia SOL educational standards.
- C-STEM Challenge Competition Competition program that engages K-12 students in multi-age groups to collaboratively identify, design, and build innovative solutions for up to eight different Challenge modules. Modules are designed by industry professionals and aligned to national educational standards as project-based learning activities.
- Internship Program Internship opportunities offered to undergraduate and graduate level students as part of C-STEM's mission to make STEM accessible to all students. Interns support C-STEM operations while gaining valuable professional mentorship in their area of study.
- C-STEM Membership Annual recurring membership providing ongoing access to C-STEM program resources, tools, and support for educators, schools, and supporters.
- State of STEM Education Reports Annual reports and program evaluations on the state of STEM education, including stakeholder reports and historical C-STEM Challenge Program evaluations dating back to 2011.
Companies that use C-STEM
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
C-STEM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
C-STEM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Gold SponsorscoreTop-tier corporate sponsors providing major financial support for C-STEM operations and programming. Gold sponsors are featured prominently in the 14th Annual Stakeholder Breakfast and annual reports.
- Silver SponsorssupportingMid-tier corporate sponsors supporting C-STEM educational initiatives and annual events.
- Bronze SponsorsminorEntry-level sponsors contributing to C-STEM mission and programs.
- Houston Independent School DistrictcoreMajor school district partner implementing C-STEM programs across East Region schools with dedicated Science Specialist support.
- Fort Bend ISDcoreSchool district partner with District Social Worker providing volunteer support for C-STEM programs.
- The Junior League of HoustoncoreHost venue partner for the 13th Annual State of STEM Education Stakeholder Breakfast fundraiser.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
C-STEM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LEGO Education: LEGO Education is a major STEM/STEAM curriculum and toolkit provider for K-12 classrooms globally — overlapping with C-STEM's toolkit and challenge curriculum but with a corporate-backed brand, broader product catalog, and global distribution.
- Discovery Education: Discovery Education is a large, established K-12 digital content provider offering STEM video, curriculum, and teacher resources as part of a broader subject portfolio — overlapping with C-STEM's curriculum and teacher resources but at much greater national scale.
- PBS Education: PBS Education provides free standards-aligned K-12 STEM content, videos, and teacher resources as part of a broader educational media portfolio — overlapping with C-STEM's standards-aligned curriculum approach but free to schools and at nationwide scale.
Direct peers
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): FIRST operates K-12 STEM and robotics competitions, educator resources, and team-based challenge programs through a nonprofit model — directly comparable to C-STEM's Challenge Competition product and project-based learning approach.
- Code.org: Code.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering K-12 computer science and STEM curriculum, teacher professional development, and learning resources free or at low cost — directly comparable in nonprofit mission, K-12 STEM audience, and teacher training model.
- STEM.org: STEM.org is an education nonprofit that accredits STEM programs and credentials schools, educators, and curriculum providers — comparable as a nonprofit operating in the K-12 STEM credibility/standards space adjacent to C-STEM's mission.
- Project Lead The Way: Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a major national nonprofit providing standards-aligned STEM curriculum, teacher training, and pathway programs for K-12 schools and districts — directly comparable to C-STEM's curriculum + teacher-training + toolkit model, but at significantly greater national scale.
- MIND Research Institute: MIND Research Institute is a nonprofit providing math/STEM curriculum, teacher training, and game-based learning tools to K-12 schools — overlapping with C-STEM on nonprofit STEM mission, teacher professional development, and K-12 district sales motion.
Others
- STEM Education Coalition: STEM Education Coalition is an advocacy organization promoting STEM education policy and federal funding — adjacent to C-STEM's mission as an ecosystem/advocacy counterpart rather than a direct curriculum competitor.
Emerging players
- iRobot Education: iRobot Education offers K-12 robotics and STEM coding tools, lesson plans, and competitions — comparable to C-STEM's toolkits and Challenge Competitions but narrower in product focus and emerging as a standalone education vertical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
C-STEM social profiles
Digital presenceC-STEM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
C-STEM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
C-STEM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
C-STEM 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 C-STEM
What does C-STEM do?
C-STEM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a STEM education ecosystem consisting of accredited teacher training courses (up to 2.7 CEUs) paired with toolkits, standards-aligned Challenge Curriculum & Toolkits for project-based learning (aligned to TEKS, Common Core, NGSS, Virginia SOL), multi-age group Challenge Competitions, and internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The organization operates a hosted Learning Management System for course delivery and an e-commerce storefront selling training programs, toolkits, program bundles, memberships, and publications, with a unique methodology integrating communication skills as an integral part of STEM learning.
Is C-STEM a public or private company?
C-STEM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was C-STEM founded?
C-STEM was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is C-STEM based?
C-STEM is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does C-STEM make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Teacher Training Programs are the primary driver. The others are STEM Toolkits and Program Bundles, C-STEM Membership and donations and Fundraising.
Who are C-STEM's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LEGO Education, Discovery Education and PBS Education. Direct peers are FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Code.org, STEM.org, Project Lead The Way and MIND Research Institute. STEM Education Coalition is listed as an others. iRobot Education is listed as an emerging player.
Does C-STEM have an API?
No public API is recorded for C-STEM.
What industry is C-STEM in?
C-STEM's product category is STEM Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAJAFAH, Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered). Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.