Rural Innovation Strategies

What Rural Innovation Strategies does

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI) is a Vermont-based social impact nonprofit consulting firm founded in 2017 that supports rural American communities in advancing tech-based economic development. The firm delivers four core services: tech-based economic development consulting (asset/gap analysis and strategy development), broadband consulting (fiber-to-the-home feasibility, engineering, business plans, and grant strategy), entrepreneurship consulting (program design, incubator/accelerator feasibility), and grant writing/funding support (identification, application development, administration, and training). Its flagship Rural Innovation Initiative, launched in 2019 under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Economic Development Administration, has engaged 50 rural communities across 28 states and helped clients raise more than $29.9 million in federal and matching funds.

The firm operates with a multidisciplinary team of 18 strategists, advocates, and capacity builders, many of whom live in or come from rural America, lending credibility with local and state government clients. Underlying capabilities include geospatial mapping and data visualization tools developed in-house for broadband planning, proprietary rural tech economy assessment frameworks, and financial modeling for fiber network capital stacks. RISI partners closely with its sibling organization Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) and the Rural Innovation Network, and maintains strategic relationships with federal agencies (EDA, USDA), state agencies (ADECA, Vermont Community Broadband Board), foundations (The Ayers Foundation), and corporate partners (Google).

RISI generates revenue primarily through professional services engagements — long-term consulting contracts, grant strategy and administration, and cooperative agreements with government agencies. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; engagements are typically multi-year and evolve with client priorities. Revenue is largely grant-funded or government-contracted, which aligns the firm with federal broadband funding cycles (notably BEAD) but also introduces funding-cycle dependency. The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, foundations outside its operating partners, or acquisition activity.

Name

Rural Innovation Strategies

Legal name

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc.

Website

https://ruralinnovationstrategies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rural Innovation Strategies is a Vermont-based nonprofit consulting firm that helps rural U.S. communities build tech economies through broadband planning, tech-based economic development, entrepreneurship program design, and grant writing services for government and foundation clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting engagements providing technical assistance to rural community leaders for tech-based economic development, broadband consulting, entrepreneurship consulting, and grant writing support. Engagements are long-term and collaborative, evolving as client needs change.
2. Grant Strategy and Administration: Grant writing, strategy development, and administration services for federal and state funding programs. Includes identifying opportunities, developing applications, and managing grant-funded projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI) is a social impact nonprofit consulting firm that partners with rural community leaders to advance tech-based economic development. The firm delivers professional consulting across four core capabilities: tech-based economic development, broadband consulting, entrepreneurship consulting, and grant writing and funding support, all delivered through long-term strategic engagements.

Product overview

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI) is a social impact nonprofit consulting firm offering a portfolio of professional consulting services focused on advancing rural America's tech economy. The company provides four core consulting services: Tech-based Economic Development Consulting, Broadband Consulting, Entrepreneurship Consulting, and Grant Writing and Funding Support. These services are delivered through their flagship Rural Innovation Initiative program, which works with rural communities across the country as they build tech economies supporting scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation. The firm also provides mapping and data analytics capabilities, impact consulting, and federal grants support, all focused on helping rural communities develop digital economy strategies, secure funding, and implement programs to unlock economic potential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rural Innovation Initiative: A program launched in 2019 to help rural communities build tech economy ecosystems, working with cohorts of communities to create place-based strategies and supporting applications to the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Build to Scale program.
• Tennessee Rural Broadband Project

Products and services

• Tech-based Economic Development Consulting
• Broadband Consulting
• Entrepreneurship Consulting
• Grant Writing and Funding Support
• Rural Innovation Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 rural communities across 28 states have participated in the Rural Innovation Initiative
• +4 more outcomes

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Google partnered with Storey County, Nevada and RISI to bring broadband access along a 12-plus mile route to 657 locations. RISI provided strategic guidance for the public-private partnership.
• The Ayers FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner on the Tennessee Rural Broadband Project. The Ayers Foundation is dedicated to improving quality of life for rural Tennesseans, with broadband connectivity being a key focus through the Ayers Scholars Program. RISI delivered wide-ranging broadband technical assistance to rural leaders across at-risk and distressed counties.
• Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORI is RISI's collaborating organization that launched the Rural Innovation Initiative in 2019. CORI created the Rural Innovation Network, a nationwide community of change agents and local leaders. RISI and CORI share an optimistic vision for the economic future of rural hometowns and work in close partnership.
• CTC Technology & EnergyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored Vermont's 10-Year Telecommunications Plan with RISI in 2021. CTC is a technology and energy consulting firm providing expertise in telecommunications planning.
• America AchievesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with RISI to create a broadband workforce report and playbook to guide prospective BEAD applicants. The report recommends six steps for workforce development to support broadband deployment.
• Churchill County CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISP partner selected for Storey County, Nevada broadband deployment project. Worked with RISI and the county to negotiate a public-private partnership agreement for fiber network deployment.
• CC CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISP partner involved in Storey County, Nevada broadband improvement project alongside Google and RISI.
• Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerADECA is the state agency tasked with execution of Alabama's broadband plans. RISI has provided broadband technical assistance and strategic guidance to the agency for statewide digital expansion initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CTC Technology & Energy: Telecommunications and broadband consulting firm that co-authored Vermont's 10-Year Telecommunications Plan with RISI in 2021. Direct peer in fiber network feasibility, broadband planning, and state-level telecom advisory services.
• TIP Strategies: Economic development strategy consulting firm providing site selection, workforce development, and competitive analysis services to local and regional clients. Among the closest comparables in scope of community-level strategic consulting for rural and mid-sized regions.
• FSG: Mission-driven strategy consulting firm serving foundations, nonprofits, and corporations on social impact strategy. Comparable in focus on place-based impact, community advancement, and social sector advisory work.
• Headwaters Economics: Independent nonprofit research organization focused on rural economic and community development. Directly comparable in rural economic analysis, broadband access research, and policy advisory services to rural communities and local governments.
• Fourth Economy: Economic development consulting firm providing strategy, planning, and implementation support to communities and regions. Comparable in scope of regional tech economy strategy, broadband initiatives, and implementation services.

Broad incumbents

• ICF International: Large global consulting and digital services firm with a substantial public-sector practice covering broadband and economic development. Competes for similar state and federal contracts at significantly larger scale than RISI.
• Deloitte: Global professional services firm with extensive government and public services practice covering economic development, broadband, and infrastructure. Competes with RISI on large statewide BEAD implementation contracts.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Major management and technology consulting firm with a federal public sector focus. Engages with federal agencies including USDA and EDA on rural infrastructure and economic development programs where RISI also operates.
• RTI International: Research and consulting nonprofit with practice areas in social, economic, and environmental policy including rural and community development. Similar mission-driven structure with much larger scale and federal research presence.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large applied science and technology research nonprofit that operates as a consulting and contract research provider for federal and state government. Comparable in operating as a science/research-driven nonprofit serving public sector clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RISI_Consulting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-innovation-strategies-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Rural Innovation Strategies