Ampere

What Ampere does

Ampere Association (formerly Pinnguaq Association) is a Canadian not-for-profit founded in 2013 in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, that delivers STEAM, digital, and AI-literacy education to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada. Its core delivery model combines a network of community Makerspaces (Lindsay/Kawartha Lakes ON, Iqaluit NU, Cambridge Bay NU, Curve Lake ON, and Bathurst NB) with a free online learning platform hosted on amp.ca (Uplifter-powered registration, WordPress/LearnDash-based LMS) and a portfolio of standards-aligned curriculum products (Coding Quest, CTRL + AI, Root & STEM, Akinomaage).

The organization engages learners across the full lifecycle — from early childhood STEAM camps through adult digital/AI skills workshops to workforce-readiness programs (DigitalWorks, GreenWorks, SkillWorks, Opportunities Initiative) — and co-designs programming with Indigenous partners using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principles. Its business model is a hybrid: government and foundation grants (notably CanNor, CanCode, Accessible Canada Fund, Digital Technology Supercluster) and donations channeled through the affiliated Pinnguaq Foundation fund the majority of free or Pay-What-You-Can programming, while The Ampere Agency (app development, LMS, curriculum review, community consultation) generates professional-services revenue that cross-subsidizes the non-profit mission. Adult workshops additionally issue IBM credentials (e.g., Generative AI Essentials, Cybersecurity).

Ampere's strategic footprint expanded materially in 2025–2026 with the acquisition of Canada Learning Code (September 2025), the launch of the Bathurst Makerspace, the release of the CTRL + AI interactive learning tool (with UBC MET) and the Eh I Podcast, the receipt of $1.31M from CanNor, and selection as the Canadian representative for the Code.org CodeAI Global Leaders Program. A Nordicity economic impact assessment covering 2021–2025 attributed $20M in GDP contribution, 239 FTE jobs, $16.6M in labour income, and $6.7M in tax revenues to Ampere's activities in the Kawartha Lakes region alone.

Name

Ampere

Legal name

Ampere Association

Website

https://amp.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ampere Association is a Canadian not-for-profit (formerly Pinnguaq) that delivers STEAM, digital-skills, and AI-literacy education to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities through six community Makerspaces and a free online learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEAM Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM), Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD), Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI), Productivity & Office Software Skills (EDAAAIAC)

Keywords

• STEAM education programs
• Digital skills training
• Community makerspaces
• AI literacy workshops
• Indigenous education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lindsay

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Ampere raises donations through the Pinnguaq Foundation (foundation.pinnguaq.com) to support delivery of digital skills education and workforce readiness to youth, adults and educators in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
2. Ampere Agency services revenue: The Ampere Agency offers paid services (app development, LMS, curriculum review, community consultation) with revenue cross-subsidizing the non-profit's education programs.
3. Pay-What-You-Can workshop fees: Adult digital/AI workshops are priced on a Pay-What-You-Can model with a recommended ticket price of $29 (based on approximate delivery costs); participants can choose to pay any amount they can afford.
4. Government and funder grants: Programs are largely funded by external government, foundation and partner funders; for example, the Accessible Canada Fund (Government of Canada) supports National AccessAbility Week programming, and Ampere's programming in Kawartha Lakes is delivered at no cost to learners thanks to funder support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Core offering

Ampere delivers STEAM education and digital/AI skills training through a network of community Makerspaces, a free online learning platform, and programs targeting rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada. Core offerings include in-person Makerspace programming (camps, after-school programs, workshops), self-paced online courses, the CTRL + AI interactive AI literacy tool, Coding Quest Scratch curriculum, adult Digital & AI Skills Workshops with IBM credentialing, and workforce-readiness programs (DigitalWorks, GreenWorks, SkillWorks, Opportunities Initiative). The Ampere Agency provides paid commercial services (app development, LMS, curriculum review, community consultation) whose revenue cross-subsidizes the non-profit's education mission.

Product overview

Ampere (formerly Pinnguaq Association) operates a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on a core website (amp.ca) and a network of community Makerspaces (Kawartha Lakes, Iqaluit, Bathurst, Cambridge Bay, Curve Lake) that anchor the Katinnganiq Makerspace Network (KMN). On top of this base, Ampere layers digital learning products including the STEAM School registration platform (powered by Uplifter Inc.), the CTRL + AI interactive learning tool (created with UBC MET), and the Coding Quest curriculum. Content and media products include the Root & STEM publication and the Eh I Podcast. Programmatic offerings encompass the Digital & AI Skills Workshops (with credentialing via IBM), Canada Learning Code Programs, the Lunar Rover Driving Academy (with Mission Control and the Canadian Space Agency), the Opportunities Initiative (DigitalWorks, GreenWorks, SkillWorks), Computers for Success Nunavut (CFSN), the Danielle Moore Scholarship, and the Akinomaage: Exploring Our Seasons teaching resource. The Pinnguaq Foundation provides the donation and fundraising layer supporting the entire portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Ampere Agency: Commercial services arm of Ampere offering world-class services (apps, LMS, curriculum review, community consultation) customized for communities; agency revenue powers Ampere's non-profit education services.
• Root & STEM
• EH I Podcast
• Coding Quest
• STEAM School
• Pinnguaq Foundation

Products and services

• Ampere Makerspaces Physical community hubs delivering STEAM education, digital skills training, and access to robotics, maker kits, computers and other STEAM technology for learners of all ages; current locations include Kawartha Lakes (Lindsay, ON), Iqaluit (NU), Bathurst (NB), Cambridge Bay (NU) and Curve Lake (ON). Free to access for learners.
• Digital & AI Skills Workshops Adult-focused workshops covering AI literacy, how LLMs work, prompt engineering, responsible AI use at work, data fundamentals, and cybersecurity; participants earn IBM credentials. Delivered in person and online; Pay-What-You-Can pricing (recommended $29, Stripe card payment, no one turned away for inability to pay).
• CTRL + AI: Next-Level Digital Citizens Interactive AI literacy learning experience structured as a series of missions that teach learners what AI is, how it works, prompting, ethics, risk, and critical thinking, including a branching-narrative game with 16 endings in Mission 5. Developed by Sunny Huang in partnership with Ampere and UBC's Master of Educational Technology (MET) program.
• Ampere Agency Commercial services arm of Ampere offering custom app development, learning management system (LMS) development, curriculum review, and community consultation for organizations, communities, and government; agency revenue cross-subsidizes the non-profit's education programs. Quote-based pricing, multi-year contracts.
• STEAM School Ampere-affiliated learning technology platform and registration system offering online STEAM courses, expert guest speakers, and unique learning experiences, with the first STEAM School launched in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Registration is powered by Uplifter Inc.
• Coding Quest Free, end-to-end Scratch coding curriculum for educators and learners that is aligned with all provincial and territorial curriculum guidelines in Canada. Free to use; not free to plagiarize per Ampere's Terms of Service.
• EH I Podcast Podcast exploring the promises, pitfalls, and practical applications of AI in Canadian education, featuring candid conversations with educators, administrators, and AI experts about Canadian contexts, policy landscapes, and community realities.
• Root & STEM Educator-focused STEAM publication and podcast featuring challenging perspectives, curriculum and stories of innovation from rural, remote and Indigenous communities; distributed free to educators.
• Lunar Rover Driving Academy Educational program developed in partnership with Mission Control and the Canadian Space Agency giving grade 6-9 students the chance to drive a lunar rover and use space exploration equipment.
• Opportunities Initiative Paid, job-specific training programs (DigitalWorks, GreenWorks, SkillWorks) that prepare learners for in-demand careers in the digital and clean economy. Includes the Danielle Moore Scholarship supporting Nunavummiut youth pursuing post-secondary STEAM education.
• Computers for Success Nunavut (CFSN) Program that refurbishes and distributes computers to communities across Nunavut to expand access to technology and digital learning.
• Akinomaage: Exploring Our Seasons Place-based, culturally responsive STEAM teaching resource integrating land-based Indigenous knowledge and Western science; co-developed with Sage and Sunshine Culture-Based School and available to educators and community helpers at no cost upon request.

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Code.org (CodeAI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Ampere was selected as the Canadian representative for the CodeAI Global Leaders Program, one of the world's leading computer science education organizations reaching millions of learners.
• IBMflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026IBM is a flagship partner in Ampere's adult digital and AI skills workshop series. Each workshop grants participants access to an IBM credential (e.g., Generative AI Essentials, Cybersecurity, AI for Sustainability, Data Analytics). The partnership is co-branded in workshop marketing and program delivery.
• University of British Columbia (MET program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Ampere has partnered with UBC's Master of Educational Technology (MET) program since 2023, hosting 13 graduate students for semester-long practicums. The practicum model begins with a discovery phase and co-designs projects aligned to student interests and Ampere's organizational needs.
• Canada Learning CodeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCanada Learning Code co-hosts adult Digital & AI Skills Workshops (e.g., Using AI Responsibly at Work) with Ampere. Canada Learning Code's founder Melissa Sariffodeen also co-hosts the Eh I podcast with Ampere CEO Ryan Oliver.
• Canadian Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith Mission Control and the Canadian Space Agency, Ampere offers the Lunar Rover Driving Academy, giving grade 6-9 students the chance to drive a lunar rover and use space exploration equipment.
• Mission ControlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission Control is a co-developer of the Lunar Rover Driving Academy special program alongside the Canadian Space Agency and Ampere.
• Curve Lake First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurve Lake First Nation is a foundational partner in the Curve Lake Makerspace (launched 2022), with the space co-designed to intersect STEAM learning with everyday living, language and culture.
• Hamlet of Cambridge BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hamlet of Cambridge Bay partners with Ampere and the Cambridge Bay Makerspace to deliver STEAM learning and digital skills programming for children, youth and adults.
• Katinnganiq Makerspace Network (KMN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmpere is part of KMN, a network of digital and physical Makerspaces in up to 25 communities in Nunavut offering opportunities for youth to connect, share knowledge and learn skills through culturally sustaining activities.
• Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICTC is a partner in CyberTitan, Canada's largest cyberdefence student competition, with over 5,000 students having participated over six years including 85 all-female teams. ICTC also offers asynchronous Cybersecurity Fundamentals courses.
• Sage and Sunshine Culture-Based SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeterborough, Ontario-based Indigenous culture-based school that partnered with Pinnguaq to co-create the place-based Akinomaage: Exploring Our Seasons learning resource.
• Inclusion ArcademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusion Arcade delivers two no-cost adaptive gaming and disability advocacy workshops at Ampere's Kawartha Lakes Makerspace & Skills Hub as part of National AccessAbility Week.
• BeaYOUtifulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmpere supports BeaYOUtiful in their work to instill value in young people, as part of Ampere's effort to support communities of hope and belonging.
• Uplifter Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationUplifter Inc. powers the registrations.amp.ca platform used for STEAM School, Kawartha Lakes, Bathurst and virtual programming registration.
• EventbritecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEventbrite handles registration for Ampere's Iqaluit after-school and Saturday programs, as well as adult programming discovery.
• STEAM School (steamschools.ca)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEAM School is an Ampere-affiliated initiative offering the latest learning technology, expert guest speakers and unique learning experiences, with Ampere launching the first STEAM School in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
• Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSCWIST is referenced as a host of indoor STEM outreach events that Ampere supports in delivering STEAM activities to children and families.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Actua: Canada's largest STEM outreach non-profit engaging 350,000+ youth annually across 40+ university and college partners. Comparable as a national STEAM education non-profit serving diverse Canadian communities; broader footprint but less specialized in rural/remote/Indigenous delivery than Ampere.
• Code.org: US-headquartered global CS education non-profit running Hour of Code and CodeAI Global Leaders Program; selected Ampere as Canada's representative. Comparable in CS education mission; vastly larger global scale, fewer community/Indigenous programs.
• Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC): Canadian non-profit advancing digital economy skills through research, CyberTitan cyberdefence competition, and training programs. Comparable as digital-skills non-profit partner (ICTC is Ampere's CyberTitan partner); broader policy/research scope.
• Science World / TELUS World of Science: British Columbia-based science centre running province-wide STEAM outreach, school programs and a mobile outreach fleet. Comparable in K-12 STEAM education and outreach programs; broader institutional scope, less Indigenous/rural focus.

Direct peers

• Kids Code Jeunesse: Canadian non-profit providing coding and digital literacy education to K-12 students and educators, with bilingual delivery and teacher training focus. Closely comparable in target audience (Canadian K-12) and non-profit workshop model; overlapping content areas but smaller footprint.
• Canada Learning Code: Canadian non-profit delivering digital literacy and coding workshops for adults, youth, and educators; acquired by Ampere in September 2025. Directly comparable mission, learner base (women, girls, underrepresented groups), and workshop-based delivery model; now operates under Ampere's umbrella.
• Brilliant Labs: Atlantic-Canadian non-profit offering STEAM and maker-based learning experiences to K-12 students. Comparable in maker/STEAM focus and community workshop delivery; geographic overlap through Ampere's Bathurst (New Brunswick) location.

Others

• Pinnguaq Foundation: Ampere's affiliated fundraising charity that channels donations into STEAM programming in rural/remote/Indigenous communities. Not a competitor but a directly connected ecosystem entity that determines Ampere's donor-funded growth ceiling.
• CyberTitan (ICTC program): ICTC's flagship national cyberdefence student competition (5,000+ students, 85 all-female teams over six years) in which Ampere is a partner. Comparable in Canadian K-12 digital-skills competition delivery and national STEAM/digital-skills event model.

Emerging players

• STEAMLabs: Toronto-based non-profit makerspace offering STEAM programs for youth, educators and community members. Comparable in physical maker-based STEAM education and community workshop delivery, but urban-focused versus Ampere's rural/remote/Indigenous mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pinnguaq
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pinnguaq
• Instagraminstagram.com/pinnguaq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amperecanada

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ampere