Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC)

What Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) does

The Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) is a nonprofit technical assistance organization founded in 1992 and headquartered at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. NSRC delivers hands-on training and direct engineering assistance to research and education networks (RENs), universities, ccTLD registries, and network operator groups in developing regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Oceania. Its mission is to build sustainable Internet infrastructure by developing local technical capacity rather than selling commercial software.

NSRC's core products are services, not packaged software. These include multi-day technical workshops covering Campus Network Design and Operations (CNDO), BGP routing, DNS/DNSSEC deployment, Practical Cybersecurity for Internet Operators (PCIO), Routing Infrastructure & Security Operations (RISO), virtualization, and wireless networking. The Virtualized Training Platform supports hands-on labs using Dynamips, LXD/LXC containers, and KVM, while the LEARN site delivers asynchronous video content on perfSONAR, Science DMZ, and federated identity. A Connectivity Providers Database, an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) resource hub, and an interactive activities map round out the asset set. Train-the-Trainer programs are a deliberate multiplier, converting each workshop cohort into future local instructors.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. Services are delivered at no cost to participants; primary funding comes from the U.S. National Science Foundation's International Research Network Connections (IRNC) program under award #2029309, supplemented by a cumulative $5M from Google plus hardware donations. Go-to-market is community- and event-driven: NSRC leads MasterClass workshops at regional NOG conferences (APRICOT, AfNOG, SANOG, PacNOG, NZNOG, mnNOG, btNOG) and partners with local RENs, government science institutes (e.g., DOST-ASTI), telecom regulators (e.g., TCRA), and ICANN to host trainings. Headcount is reported at 1–10, indicating a lean core team that scales delivery through a deep volunteer practitioner network drawn from ISOC, APNIC, ICANN, and the regional NOG community.

Name

Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC)

Legal name

Network Startup Resource Center

Website

https://nsrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC), founded in 1992 and based at the University of Oregon, delivers hands-on technical training and engineering assistance to research and education networks, universities, and network operator groups to build sustainable Internet infrastructure in developing regions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Network Infrastructure Training Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Networking & Telecommunications (Routing/Switching, Wireless, VoIP) (EDABAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Networking & Systems Administration Training (BPAEANAJ), Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Network infrastructure training
• Internet engineering assistance
• Research education networks
• DNS BGP workshops
• Network operations training

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NSF IRNC Grant: Primary funding from the National Science Foundation's International Research Network Connections (IRNC) program, Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC), via NSF grant award# 2029309.
2. Google Funding and Donations: Google has supported NSRC with $5 million in funding and additional donations of hardware.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NSRC provides technical training workshops and direct engineering assistance to build sustainable Internet infrastructure, primarily in developing regions. Its offerings span DNS/DNSSEC, BGP, campus network design, cybersecurity for Internet operators, network monitoring, virtualization, and wireless networking. Services are delivered free of charge to participants through regional Network Operator Group conferences and partnerships with research and education networks and universities worldwide.

Product overview

The Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC) is a technical training and assistance organization affiliated with the University of Oregon that does not operate as a traditional software product company. NSRC's offerings consist primarily of in-person and virtual technical training workshops covering networking topics (CNDO, BGP, DNS/DNSSEC, Cybersecurity, RISO, Virtualization), an online LEARN platform with video content, a Connectivity Providers Database documenting global Internet infrastructure, the Virtualized Training Platform for delivering hands-on network training, published technical resources and case studies, IXP resources, and a Train the Trainer program. These services support the development of research and education networks globally, particularly in emerging regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LEARN site: Online learning platform with videos covering perfSONAR toolkit, Science DMZ network architecture, and Federated Identity Management.

Products and services

• Technical Training Workshops In-person and virtual workshops covering networking topics including DNS/DNSSEC, Campus Network Design and Operations (CNDO), BGP, Network Monitoring and Management, Cybersecurity for Internet Operators, Routing Infrastructure and Security Operations (RISO), Virtualization and Cloud Computing, and Wireless Networking. Delivered to network engineers and technicians at RENs, universities, and ISPs.
• LEARN Site Online learning platform featuring videos covering perfSONAR toolkit, Science DMZ network architecture, and Federated Identity Management for network engineers and technical staff.
• Connectivity Providers Database Database of international networking developments and Internet connectivity providers, with emphasis on Asia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, and Oceania regions. Used by network operators and researchers tracking global Internet infrastructure.
• Virtualized Training Platform Virtualized training and materials development platform enabling sustainable technical expertise delivery, supporting Dynamips, Dynagen, KVM, and LXD/LXC container management for network simulation and hands-on learning. Trainers use it to deliver workshop lab environments.
• Publications and Case Studies Technical publications including Country-Code Top-Level Domain Best Current Practices, Internet history case studies (Senegal, Thailand), RFC 2901 Guide, Security Mind Map, TV White Spaces handbook, and Wireless Networking in the Developing World book.
• Internet Exchange Points (IXP) Resources Resources and documentation supporting the establishment and operation of Internet Exchange Points globally. Used by network operators and regulators in emerging regions establishing peering infrastructure.
• Train the Trainer Program Pedagogical training program teaching methods for delivering technical network training, including virtualized training platform usage and materials development. Targets instructors from RENs, universities, and NOGs to build local teaching capacity.
• Interactive Activity Map Interactive world map showing NSRC Internet development and deployment activities across global regions, providing public visibility into workshop locations and engagements.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSRC is hosted at the University of Oregon and maintains its headquarters there. The organization benefits from university infrastructure and academic affiliation.
• DOST-ASTI (Philippines)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of Science and Technology - Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines hosts NSRC training events and collaborates on capacity building initiatives for regional academic partners.
• TERNET (Tanzania)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTanzania Education and Research Network partners with NSRC for workshops on Campus Network Design and Operations and Routing Infrastructure & Security Operations, supported by TCRA and TISPA.
• ICANNmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICANN collaborates with NSRC on training events, including DNS/DNSSEC workshops and KINDNS training. NSRC participated in ICANN meetings for planning and regional workshops.
• Asi@ConnectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsi@Connect supports NSRC training activities in Asia, including workshops with DrukREN in Bhutan and PREGINET in the Philippines.
• TCRA (Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCRA supports NSRC workshops in Tanzania alongside TERNET and TZNOG for regulatory coordination and network development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ICANN: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers operates global DNS, DNSSEC, and KINDNS training programs for ccTLD operators and network engineers - a directly overlapping technical training domain, though ICANN is a broader standards/governance incumbent that also collaborates with NSRC on training delivery.
• GÉANT: Europe's pan-European research and education networking organization operates the GÉANT network and runs training for NREN engineers across Europe. It is comparable to NSRC as a REN ecosystem builder but is a much larger, infrastructure-operating incumbent rather than a training-focused entity.
• Internet2: US-based research and education network that supports advanced networking for higher education and conducts community training. Comparable to NSRC in serving the REN community, but Internet2 is a domestic US infrastructure and policy incumbent rather than a global training specialist.

Direct peers

• NetHope: Global nonprofit that delivers technology capacity building, connectivity programs, and digital training for humanitarian and development organizations in low-resource settings. NetHope is a comparable mission-aligned capacity-building nonprofit, overlapping NSRC in emerging-market digital skills work.
• APNIC: Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre runs extensive technical training (BGP, DNS, IPv6, network security) for network operators across the Asia-Pacific region - the same training-and-capacity-building mission NSRC performs globally, often with overlapping instructors at APRICOT and regional NOGs.
• AfriNIC: African Network Information Centre provides Internet number resource management and runs training programs for African network engineers. AfriNIC is a natural peer in the same capacity-building niche, frequently co-located with NSRC activities at AfNOG events.
• RIPE NCC: Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia delivers hands-on routing, DNS, and network operations training to operators in its service region. RIPE's training academy is the closest functional peer to NSRC's workshop program, just anchored in a different geography.
• Internet Society (ISOC): Global nonprofit focused on building and defending an open Internet, with significant training, community grants, and Internet infrastructure capacity-building programs for emerging regions. ISOC personnel (e.g., Warren Finch) actively co-teach at NSRC workshops such as NZNOG.
• ARIN: American Registry for Internet Numbers offers technical training on routing, DNS, and network policies to operators in its service region. ARIN's training program is functionally similar to NSRC's workshops, focused on a different (largely North American) audience.
• LACNIC: Latin American and Caribbean Network Information Centre delivers operator training and capacity building for the LAC region. Its training program mirrors NSRC's mission in a defined geography and addresses the same emerging-market REN and ISP audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NSRCworld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/network-startup-resource-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/nsrcworld
• Xx.com/nsrcworld
• Facebookfacebook.com/timeline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Network Startup Resource Center (NSRC)