Rework training

What Rework training does

re:WORK TRAINING is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that runs a free, 12-week cohort-based career accelerator teaching a personal Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for entry into tech sales roles. The organization targets candidates from overlooked backgrounds including youth (17-24), unemployed individuals, returning citizens, veterans, moms and caregivers, and former athletes, screening applicants for coachability, work ethic, and resilience. The curriculum is delivered through MindTickle (learning management system) with supporting CRM tools (Huntr, Salesforce), Slack communications, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and comprises 10 modules: Personal Branding, Cold Calling/Conversations, Using AI, Handling Objections, Goal Setting, Follow-Up & Organization, Prospecting, Time Management, Outreach, and Closing. The proprietary P.E.O.P.L.E. Selling Methodology (Prepare, Engage, Offer, Probe, Listen, Evaluate) was launched in 2024 as an organizing sales framework for BDRs and job seekers.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than transactional. Corporate partners can sponsor individual candidates at $1,500 per seat or premier cohort sponsorships covering 15-20 individuals with brand integration and program-shaping rights. A separate Employee Engagement Program monetizes skills-based volunteering (1-on-1 mentorship, group workshops, interview coaching) for corporate employee development. Hiring is provided to employer partners at zero placement fee, and 70% of training is delivered by volunteer sales leaders from 100+ tech companies including LinkedIn, Salesforce, DocuSign, Groupon, Zscaler, and Sprout Social. Outcomes include 300-500+ candidates placed in full-time tech sales roles (sources differ; CEO-quoted figure is 500+) at an average base salary of $60,000+, up from $8,000 prior income, with a reported $5.69 social return per $1 invested. The organization earned the Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2025 and operates with a core staff of approximately 10 led by CEO Shelton Banks, with board representation from Sprout Social, TCV, Sun Capital Partners, and The Philanthropy Workshop.

Operating geographies are concentrated in the Midwest (Chicago and Indiana) and the organization is incorporated in Illinois as re:Work Inc. (EIN #81-2873425). Growth has been driven by deepening anchor partnerships with LinkedIn, DocuSign, and Sprout Social, broadening the volunteer leadership team across Google, GE HealthCare, FranklinCovey, and Ball State University, and embedding generative AI (ChatGPT) into both candidate-facing tools and curriculum content.

Name

Rework training

Legal name

re:Work Inc.

Website

https://reworktraining.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit running a free 12-week cohort-based tech sales career accelerator for candidates from overlooked backgrounds, placing graduates in BDR and sales roles at an average base salary of $60,000+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development / Career Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sales, Marketing & Customer Success (EDAAAPAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Learning & Development (L&D) & Training Management (EDABAIAC)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Tech sales training
• Career accelerator
• Job placement services
• Sales career readiness

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships & Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, re:WORK relies on corporate sponsorships and individual donations. Companies can sponsor candidates ($1,500 per candidate), events, or entire cohorts (15-20 individuals). Impact partners provide foundational financial support.
2. Employee Engagement Programs: Companies pay to engage their employees as volunteers through structured programs including 1-on-1 mentorship, group workshops, and interview coaching. This provides leadership development for corporate employees while supporting the community.
3. Hiring Partner Value-Add Services: While candidate placement is free for hiring partners, companies provide feedback on interviewed candidates which helps refine the curriculum. This creates a collaborative ecosystem benefit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

re:Work Training is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a free, intensive 12-week cohort-based career accelerator program teaching a personal Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for entry into tech sales careers. The curriculum is built around 10 core modules (personal branding, cold calling, AI usage, handling objections, goal setting, follow-up, prospecting, time management, outreach, and closing) and the proprietary P.E.O.P.L.E. selling methodology, with training delivered by volunteer sales leaders from 150+ tech companies. Supporting offerings include a corporate Employee Engagement Program and a zero-fee Hiring Partner talent pipeline.

Product overview

re:WORK TRAINING is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a free, intensive 12-week cohort-based career accelerator program focused on tech sales careers. The core product is the re:WORK Career Accelerator Program, which teaches a personal Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy built around 10 core curriculum modules: Personal Branding, Cold Calling/Conversations, Using AI/ChatGPT, Handling Objections, Goal Setting, Follow-Up & Organization, Prospecting, Time Management, Outreach, and Closing. The program also includes a proprietary P.E.O.P.L.E Selling Methodology. Supporting offerings include an Employee Engagement Program for corporate partners seeking skills-based volunteering opportunities and a Hiring Partnership providing zero-fee access to vetted GTM-ready talent. All training is delivered via MindTickle's learning management system, with candidates gaining access to CRM tools like Huntr or Salesforce for pipeline management practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• P.E.O.P.L.E Selling Methodology: A proprietary sales methodology developed by re:WORK to support BDRs and job seekers, standing for Prepare, Engage, Offer, Probe, Listen, Evaluate

Products and services

• re:WORK Career Accelerator Program A free, intensive 12-week cohort-based career training program that teaches a personal Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for entry into tech sales careers. Includes 10 core curriculum modules (Personal Branding, Cold Calling/Conversations, Using AI, Handling Objections, Goal Setting, Follow-Up & Organization, Prospecting, Time Management, Outreach, Closing) and the proprietary P.E.O.P.L.E. Selling Methodology. Candidates are screened for coachability, work ethic, and resilience, and receive a stipend during training plus a signing bonus upon hire. Training is delivered by volunteer sales leaders from 150+ tech companies via MindTickle LMS. For: diverse job seekers from overlooked communities (youth 17-24, unemployed, returning citizens, veterans, moms/caregivers, former athletes).
• Employee Engagement Program A corporate employee engagement solution that provides skills-based volunteering opportunities including 1-on-1 mentorship, group workshops, and high-stakes interview coaching. Develops corporate employees' leadership, coaching, and communication skills while creating community impact. 92% of corporate volunteers report an increase in coaching and communication confidence. For: enterprise companies seeking structured employee volunteer programs tied to DEI and workforce development goals.
• Hiring Partnership (Talent Pipeline) A zero-fee talent acquisition solution providing access to vetted, GTM-ready sales professionals trained through the re:WORK Career Accelerator. Employers can hire candidates at no cost, with no placement fees and no long-term contracts; partners are invited to provide interview feedback that helps refine the curriculum. Named hiring partners include Salesforce, LinkedIn, Sprout Social, DocuSign, Groupon, and Zscaler. For: enterprise employers (primarily B2B tech companies) seeking entry-level and early-career sales talent with verified soft skills.
• P.E.O.P.L.E. Selling Methodology A proprietary sales methodology developed by re:Work to support BDRs and job seekers. P.E.O.P.L.E. stands for Prepare, Engage, Offer, Probe, Listen, Evaluate, and the methodology emphasizes community, networking, and relationship skills. It underpins re:WORK's 10-module curriculum and is taught by volunteer sales leaders to candidates as a repeatable framework for both job search and professional selling.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ candidates placed in full-time tech sales roles with average base salary of $60,000+
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LinkedIncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership and investment. LinkedIn volunteers serve as trainers and subject matter experts. The partnership includes newsletter sponsorship and co-marketing efforts. Destiny McClain from LinkedIn serves on the volunteer leadership team.
• DocuSigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewsletter sponsorship and strategic partnership. DocuSign supports re:WORK's mission through investment and visibility initiatives.
• ZscalerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the workforce development mission. Zscaler collaborates on creating diverse workplaces and participates in co-marketing efforts.
• The Philanthropy WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Renee Kaplan serves on re:WORK's Board of Directors since 2019. She is former chief strategy officer at Skoll Foundation.
• BenevityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegistered and vetted partner on the Benevity corporate giving platform, enabling employees to donate and companies to run matching gift programs.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEricka Brown, Program Manager at Google, serves on the volunteer leadership team contributing training expertise.
• GE HealthCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteve Goebbert, Sales Enablement Leader at GE HealthCare, serves on the volunteer leadership team.
• FranklinCoveyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKelly Marberry, Managing Director at FranklinCovey, serves on the volunteer leadership team.
• Ball State University Center for Professional SellingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChris Wiley, Director of the Center for Professional Selling, serves on the volunteer leadership team, providing academic partnership and student pathways.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce development nonprofit providing free training and corporate internships to young adults from underserved communities; comparable to re:WORK in mission, talent-pipeline model, and corporate-partner funding structure.
• Per Scholas: Per Scholas provides no-cost technology training and career placement for adults facing barriers to employment; directly comparable as a free, cohort-based, employer-funded workforce training nonprofit.
• Generation: Generation is a global nonprofit providing free, employer-aligned training for entry-level roles; comparable cohort model, employer partnership structure, and free-to-candidate curriculum.
• SV Academy: SV Academy runs a free tech sales fellowship specifically targeting diverse candidates into SDR/BDR roles; the closest direct peer to re:WORK's tech-sales-only focus and corporate talent-pipeline model.
• NPower: NPower delivers free IT and tech training with career services to veterans and young adults from underserved communities; closely comparable nonprofit, cohort-based model with employer partnership.
• Pursuit: Pursuit trains adult learners for technical roles including sales engineering and customer success; similar cohort-based, sponsor-funded model and shared mission of upward mobility for non-traditional talent.

Broad incumbents

• General Assembly: General Assembly provides bootcamps and corporate training in tech, data, and sales; comparable corporate training delivery model but operates as a for-profit with paid tuition versus re:WORK's free nonprofit model.
• CareerBuilder (Workforce Solutions): CareerBuilder offers training, assessments, and talent placement at scale for sales and other roles; relevant broad incumbent offering a wider portfolio of workforce services where re:WORK focuses on tech sales.
• Sales Talent Agency: Sales Talent Agency places sales professionals into tech companies with a recruiting-fee model; a comparable sales-focused talent pipeline to employers, but fee-based and not free-to-candidate.

Emerging players

• Coursera for Business: Coursera for Business provides online professional development including sales and career skills modules to enterprise L&D buyers; an emerging enterprise L&D platform that could overlap on corporate upskilling modules re:WORK offers to volunteer partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/reworktraining
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmdmmJGAtn-ByBHxa3wAwEw
• Facebookfacebook.com/reworktraininghq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/re-work-training
• Instagraminstagram.com/reworktraining

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Rework training