AIESEC
AIESEC is a non-profit youth leadership organization operating in 146+ countries that facilitates international exchange programs (internships, volunteer, teaching) for 18-30 year olds, delivers youth-to-business corporate engagement services, and generates revenue through participant fees, tiered corporate sponsorships, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What AIESEC does
AIESEC is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1948 (Canada operations established in 1958) that facilitates international youth leadership development and cross-cultural exchange. The organization operates a portfolio of exchange programs — Global Talent (international internships, 9-78 weeks), Global Volunteer (6-8 week projects with NGOs contributing to UN SDGs), and Global Teacher (international classroom placements) — alongside a free Membership Program that engages 650+ Canadian youth aged 18-30 across 24+ university chapters, and the Youth to Business (Y2B) corporate engagement series. The organization's underlying technology is minimal: no proprietary platform, no mobile app, no API, and no AI/ML capabilities, with operations running on standard web platforms, Squarespace-hosted websites, and communication tools for matching participants with placements.
AIESEC generates revenue through three primary streams: per-participant exchange program fees (one-time payments of undisclosed amounts), tiered corporate partnerships (Silver $5-15K, Gold $15-30K, Platinum $30-60K, Champion $60K+), and donations supporting leadership positions and program development. Its customer base is split between individual youth consumers seeking international experience and corporate partners seeking talent pipeline access and CSR fulfillment; named corporate partners include RBC (Champion tier), Export Development Canada (Platinum), Cenovus Energy, BMO Canada, and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (Gold). Distribution runs through self-serve website signup, direct corporate sales, and the 146-country international AIESEC network acting as both channel partner and host organization.
The organization holds UN ECOSOC consultative status, UNESCO recognition, and ICMYO membership, and AIESEC Canada Inc. is registered as a Canadian not-for-profit with Charity Number 129835872RR0001. Governance is delivered by a professional Board of Directors drawn from RBC, TD Bank, ATB Financial, PETRONAS Canada, and other enterprises, while operations are executed by volunteer youth leadership. Since inception, AIESEC has facilitated over 230,000 exchange experiences across 146+ countries, with no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity.
AIESEC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AIESEC
- Legal name
- AIESEC Canada Inc.
- Website
- https://aiesec.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- AIESEC is a non-profit youth leadership organization operating in 146+ countries that facilitates international exchange programs (internships, volunteer, teaching) for 18-30 year olds, delivers youth-to-business corporate engagement services, and generates revenue through participant fees, tiered corporate sponsorships, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where AIESEC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
AIESEC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Exchange Program Fees: Participants pay exchange fees to join international internship, volunteer, and teaching programs. The fee covers program support, matching services, and logistics coordination. Specific amounts vary by program and duration.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor AIESEC at various tiers (AIESEC Champion $60,000+, Platinum $30,000-$59,999, Gold $15,000-$29,999, Silver $5,000-$14,999) to access young talent, fulfill CSR commitments, and gain insight into youth perspectives.
- Donations and Support: Donations support full-time leadership positions, program enhancements, platform development, and conference experiences for members. Donors can contribute to developing leadership opportunities for youth.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free membership for youth aged 18-30 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Exchange program participation fees |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate partnership tiers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
AIESEC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AIESEC is a non-governmental not-for-profit organization that runs international exchange programs for youth aged 18-30, including Global Talent (internships), Global Volunteer (abroad volunteering), and Global Teacher (teaching placements). It also operates a youth membership program through university chapters for leadership development, and provides corporate talent acquisition and partnership services via the Youth to Business (Y2B) series. Revenue is generated through participant exchange fees, corporate sponsorship tiers, and donations.
Product overview
AIESEC operates as a youth-led leadership development organization offering a portfolio of exchange programs (Global Talent for internships, Global Volunteer for volunteer work, and Global Teacher for teaching positions abroad) alongside membership opportunities for developing leadership skills within local chapters. The organization also provides business connection services through its Youth to Business (Y2B) series and Exchange for Organizations talent acquisition services, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for youth development and cross-cultural exchange experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Global Talent: International internship program for young professionals to gain cross-cultural work experience in fields like business, marketing, IT, and engineering
- Global Volunteer
- Global Teacher
- Youth to Business
Products and services
- Global Talent An international internship program that enables youth aged 18-30 to gain cross-cultural work experience abroad in fields such as business, marketing, IT, and engineering. Participants undertake 9-78 week projects with partner organizations globally.
- Global Volunteer A volunteer abroad program where participants contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals while working alongside international NGOs. Accommodation is provided with host families, with projects lasting 6-8 weeks.
- Global Teacher An international teaching opportunity program connecting Canadian youth with teaching positions abroad. Participants can teach languages, STEM subjects, or sports while gaining hands-on classroom experience living abroad.
- Youth to Business (Y2B) A series of corporate-engagement initiatives bridging young people and businesses, including the Y2B Forum (largest youth-led leadership event), Y2B Summit (seasonal summits with local AIESEC presidents), and Y2B Survey (youth market research and insights).
- Exchange for Organizations A talent acquisition service helping companies hire international interns. AIESEC supports work permit processing, provides accommodation logistics, and matches companies with candidates from their global talent pipeline across 100+ countries.
- Membership Program A free youth leadership development program allowing members aged 18-30 to join local AIESEC chapters at 24+ Canadian universities. Members gain skills through roles in Exchange Experience, Corporate Relations, Talent Management, Marketing, and Finance while contributing 5-10 hours per week.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 230,000 total experiences delivered since inception
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AIESEC
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AIESEC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AIESEC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- AIESEC in NIBM Sri LankasupportingLocal AIESEC entity organizing collaborative events such as Sales 101 workshop on sales fundamentals for students and young professionals, featuring industry panels and practical exercises.
- Host Organizations (International)coreNGOs, schools, and businesses in 146+ countries that host AIESEC exchange participants. Partners include opportunities in Chile, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AIESEC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- EF Education First: Global education company offering language training, study abroad, academic degrees, and cultural exchange programs. Comparable to AIESEC in delivering cross-cultural learning experiences for youth, but with a much broader commercial portfolio and proprietary digital platforms.
- World Learning (School for International Training): Global non-profit operating international exchange, training, and development programs including SIT Study Abroad. Comparable to AIESEC's cross-cultural mission at larger scale, with deeper institutional partnerships and degree-granting authority.
Direct peers
- InterExchange: Non-profit facilitating cultural exchange and au pair/work programs for young people and host organizations in the US and abroad. Comparable to AIESEC in mission and target user, with overlapping host-organization relationships.
- Projects Abroad: For-profit provider of international volunteer, intern, and teaching placements for youth. Directly competes with AIESEC's Global Volunteer and Global Teacher programs, with a more commercial, professionally-staffed delivery model.
- IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience): Global non-profit facilitating paid technical internships for students across 80+ countries. Closely mirrors AIESEC's Global Talent program in mission, cross-border matching model, and reliance on institutional partnerships.
- CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Non-profit organization operating international exchange and study abroad programs for students and young professionals. Directly comparable to AIESEC's Global Talent and Global Volunteer offerings, with similar university partnerships and fee-based participation model.
- BUNAC: Organization offering international work, volunteer, and travel programs for students and recent graduates in multiple destinations. Directly comparable to AIESEC's exchange portfolio with a comparable target demographic and fee structure.
- Rotary Youth Exchange: Service organization running a long-running international student exchange program for high-school and university-aged youth. Directly comparable to AIESEC on global youth exchange mission, with a decentralized chapter-based delivery model similar to AIESEC's structure.
Emerging players
- GoOverseas: Online marketplace and reviews platform connecting youth with international volunteer, teach, and work abroad programs. Acts as a discovery layer above AIESEC and peers, surfacing exchange opportunities to participants who might otherwise apply directly through AIESEC.
- Global Citizen Year: Non-profit running a fellowship-based gap year program for high school graduates focused on leadership development. Comparable to AIESEC's leadership/membership proposition but with a narrower US-centric participant base and a single flagship program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AIESEC social profiles
Digital presenceAIESEC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AIESEC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
AIESEC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AIESEC 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 AIESEC
What does AIESEC do?
AIESEC is a non-governmental not-for-profit organization that runs international exchange programs for youth aged 18-30, including Global Talent (internships), Global Volunteer (abroad volunteering), and Global Teacher (teaching placements). It also operates a youth membership program through university chapters for leadership development, and provides corporate talent acquisition and partnership services via the Youth to Business (Y2B) series. Revenue is generated through participant exchange fees, corporate sponsorship tiers, and donations.
Is AIESEC a public or private company?
AIESEC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AIESEC founded?
AIESEC was founded in 1958. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is AIESEC based?
AIESEC is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does AIESEC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Exchange Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and donations and Support.
Who are AIESEC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are EF Education First and World Learning (School for International Training). Direct peers are InterExchange, Projects Abroad, IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience), CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), BUNAC and Rotary Youth Exchange. Emerging players are GoOverseas and Global Citizen Year.
Does AIESEC have an API?
No public API is recorded for AIESEC.