Kid Wind Project
KidWind Project is a Saint Paul-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers K-12 clean energy education through standards-aligned WindWise curriculum, hands-on teacher workshops, and design competitions. It serves educators and students globally via its REcharge Network and the annual World KidWind Challenge.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kid Wind Project does
KidWind Project is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (operating as a program of Gale Force Education) that delivers K-12 clean energy education to teachers and students in the United States and selected international markets. Founded in 2004, the organization maintains 11-50 employees and has, per its own materials, served thousands of educators over 20 years through a bundled offering of standards-aligned curriculum (WindWise), free classroom activities, professional development workshops, and a tiered competition ecosystem (regional KidWind Challenges feeding into the annual World KidWind Challenge). The 2026 World Challenge convened 125 student teams from 21 U.S. states plus Estonia, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Its core technology stack centers on three pillars: (1) the WindWise curriculum and supporting activity library, with a refreshed edition slated for end-of-year launch; (2) the WhiteBox Learning simulation software (partnered with Flinn Scientific), which lets students design and test virtual turbine blades and wind farms for the National Simulation Challenge; and (3) Vernier-built physical wind tunnel testing systems (Low/Medium/High/Super speed variants) and solar testing rigs (Solar Blast, Solar Tracker) used for in-person competition evaluation. Supporting tools include Wolfram Player 13.0 for a Data Analytics Instant Challenge (with Trane) and Kahoot for quizbowls. The REcharge Network of trained instructors delivers 100+ training and outreach events per year, including the week-long REcharge Academy.
The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure. The dominant funding source is corporate sponsorship from major energy and technology firms (Google, AES, Invenergy, RWE, Vestas, Enel, Sol Systems, Apex Clean Energy, Generac, Trane, EDP, Cobb EMC, Gas South). Secondary streams include direct e-commerce sales of educational gear and Vernier wind tunnels ($3,499 purchase / $600 rental), Simulation Challenge registration fees ($25 per educator account covering up to 25 students, $1 per additional student), and individual donations. Workshops and regional challenges are offered free to educators and students, monetized indirectly via sponsorship and downstream product sales.
Kid Wind Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kid Wind Project
- Legal name
- Gale Force Education
- Website
- https://kidwind.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KidWind Project is a Saint Paul-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers K-12 clean energy education through standards-aligned WindWise curriculum, hands-on teacher workshops, and design competitions. It serves educators and students globally via its REcharge Network and the annual World KidWind Challenge.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kid Wind Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Clean Energy Education
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- STEM & Coding Readiness for Early Learners (EDACANAF), Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios (MPAFAAAI)
Keywords
Where Kid Wind Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kid Wind Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Sale of KidWind gear including wind turbines, kits, tools, and merchandise through the online shop. Also includes wind tunnel rental ($600) and purchase options ($3,499)
- Simulation Challenge Registration: Registration fees for National Simulation Challenge: $25 per educator account (up to 25 students), $1 per additional student beyond 25
- Sponsorship and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under Gale Force Education, KidWind relies on corporate sponsorships from clean energy companies (Google, AES, Invenergy, etc.) and individual donations to fund programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free educator workshops |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free challenge participation |
| Subscription | Annual | Simulation Challenge educator account |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wind tunnel rental |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Wind tunnel purchase |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kid Wind Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KidWind Project designs and delivers clean energy education programs for K-12 teachers and students, centered on the KidWind Challenge competition ecosystem (regional, online, simulation, art variants, and the annual World KidWind Challenge), the WindWise wind energy curriculum, free standards-aligned classroom activities, professional development workshops, and the week-long REcharge Academy. It also sells hands-on educational kits, wind tunnels, and related equipment through the KidWind Gear shop, and partners with Vernier and Flinn Scientific to provide simulation and testing infrastructure.
Product overview
KidWind Project is an education-focused nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of clean energy learning products and programs for K-12 students and educators. The core offerings include the flagship KidWind Challenges (in-person regional and World competitions), Online Wind Turbine Challenge, Simulation Challenge, and Art Challenge - all centered on wind and solar energy topics. Supporting these competitions is a robust training ecosystem: Teacher Training Workshops, REcharge Academy (week-long intensive), and the WindWise Curriculum (award-winning). The organization also provides free Classroom Activities aligned with standards and sells educational gear through its Shop. The challenges test students on wind tunnel performance, solar device design, presentations to judges, instant challenges, and quizbowls, while the training programs help educators gain knowledge, tools, and confidence to bring clean energy STEM concepts into classrooms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KidWind Challenges
- World KidWind Challenge Annual international competition where top performers from regional KidWind Challenges compete, featuring wind turbine and solar structure testing in wind tunnels and solar rigs, judging, instant challenges, and quizbowl components.
- Teacher Training Workshops Free professional development for K-12 educators covering wind, solar, and hydropower topics, offered in half-day, full-day, multi-day, and week-long formats at locations nationwide through the REcharge Network.
- REcharge Academy Week-long, in-person, intensive clean energy training deep-dive for educators, providing content knowledge and classroom-ready activities and materials.
- Classroom Activities Free, hands-on, standards-aligned lessons for K-12 classrooms covering clean energy topics such as wind and solar power.
- WindWise Curriculum Award-winning wind energy curriculum designed for P-12 educators, with a new edition launching at the end of 2026.
- Simulation Challenge National online challenge using Flinn Scientific's WhiteBox Learning simulation software, where students design simulated turbine blades and wind farms. $25 per educator account for up to 25 students.
- Online Wind Turbine Challenge Quarterly online competition where student teams build small wind turbines to produce maximum power, judged on performance, creativity, quality, and demonstrated knowledge, with winners invited to the World KidWind Challenge.
- Art Challenge Annual K-12 art competition where students create artwork on clean energy themes such as 'Solar POWERED' (3rd Annual Energy Art Challenge, 2026).
- KidWind Gear Shop E-commerce storefront selling educational kits, tools, wind turbines, solar panels, wind tunnels (purchase $3,499, rental $600), and KidWind merchandise for clean energy classroom use.
- KWC Organizer Resources Comprehensive guide and resource library for hosting KidWind Challenges, including downloadable files, printables, tips, and step-by-step resources for planning workshops and challenge events.
Companies that use Kid Wind Project
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kid Wind Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Kid Wind Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.
- Flinn ScientificcorePartnership with Flinn Scientific's WhiteBox Learning software for the annual Simulation Challenge, where students use simulation software to construct and test virtual wind turbines and wind farms
- Vernier Software & TechnologycoreWind tunnel equipment sold through KidWind uses Vernier technology; data collection hardware and energy sensors used in challenge testing
- Trane TechnologiesmajorTrane sponsors and runs the Data Analytics Instant Challenge at World KidWind Challenge, providing practice guides and data sets for students to analyze
- Wisconsin Energy Institute at University of Wisconsin-MadisonflagshipHost venue for 2026 World KidWind Challenge; teams stayed in university dorms and ate in dining halls, providing college experience for student competitors
- Texas Tech University (TTU) Renewable EnergyflagshipHost partner for TTU Regional KidWind Challenge and educator workshops in Lubbock, TX; supports local clean energy education ecosystem
- Western Michigan University College of Engineering and Applied SciencesmajorHost partner for KidWind Educator Workshop in Kalamazoo, MI; university venue and support for teacher professional development
- Collegiate Edu-NationminorSponsor and supporter of TTU KidWind Challenge, helping fund and promote regional clean energy education events
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kid Wind Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Science Olympiad: National STEM competition organization for K-12 students with regional, state, and national tournaments. Comparable event-driven, teacher-coached, hands-on STEM competition format serving overlapping student and educator segments.
- Engineering Tomorrow: Nonprofit providing engineering-focused programming and professional development for high school students and teachers. Comparable mission, target audience, and direct-to-educator delivery model to KidWind's REcharge Academy.
- Project Lead The Way (PLTW): Provider of STEM curriculum and teacher professional development for K-12 schools. Comparable to KidWind as a supplemental STEM curriculum and educator training organization, though broader in topic scope (engineering, biomedical, computer science).
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): Operates K-12 STEM competitions (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics Competition). Directly comparable to KidWind's competition-driven engagement model and tiered event structure culminating in a world championship.
- National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project: K-12 energy education nonprofit offering curriculum, teacher training, and student programs on energy topics. Directly comparable to KidWind as a similarly structured nonprofit operating in K-12 energy literacy, with overlapping sponsor base and program formats.
Emerging players
- Generation Genius: K-12 STEM video-based curriculum and teacher resource platform with hands-on kits. Comparable audience and curriculum-plus-kit distribution model, though broader STEM scope and more digital-first delivery than KidWind.
- Windustry: Nonprofit focused on community-based wind energy education and advocacy. Comparable topical focus on wind energy education but narrower scope and less K-12 curriculum depth than KidWind.
Broad incumbents
- Vernier Software & Technology: Established provider of data-collection hardware, sensors, and STEM lab equipment for K-12 and higher education. Comparable as a core technology and equipment partner powering KidWind challenges, and a broader incumbent in school STEM labs.
- Flinn Scientific: Supplier of science lab equipment, kits, and WhiteBox Learning simulation software for K-12. Comparable as a curriculum-content and simulation partner, and a broader incumbent in science classroom materials.
- NSTA (National Science Teaching Association): Largest U.S. organization for science educators, providing professional development, curriculum resources, and conferences. Comparable audience of K-12 science teachers and overlapping professional development model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kid Wind Project social profiles
Digital presenceKid Wind Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kid Wind Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kid Wind Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kid Wind Project 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 Kid Wind Project
What does Kid Wind Project do?
KidWind Project designs and delivers clean energy education programs for K-12 teachers and students, centered on the KidWind Challenge competition ecosystem (regional, online, simulation, art variants, and the annual World KidWind Challenge), the WindWise wind energy curriculum, free standards-aligned classroom activities, professional development workshops, and the week-long REcharge Academy. It also sells hands-on educational kits, wind tunnels, and related equipment through the KidWind Gear shop, and partners with Vernier and Flinn Scientific to provide simulation and testing infrastructure.
Is Kid Wind Project a public or private company?
Kid Wind Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Kid Wind Project founded?
Kid Wind Project was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kid Wind Project based?
Kid Wind Project is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kid Wind Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are simulation Challenge Registration and sponsorship and Donations.
Who are Kid Wind Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Science Olympiad, Engineering Tomorrow, Project Lead The Way (PLTW), FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project. Emerging players are Generation Genius and Windustry. Broad incumbents are Vernier Software & Technology, Flinn Scientific and NSTA (National Science Teaching Association).
Does Kid Wind Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kid Wind Project.
What industry is Kid Wind Project in?
Kid Wind Project's product category is K-12 Clean Energy Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAE, Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps, with a secondary code of EDACANAF, STEM & Coding Readiness for Early Learners. Its NAICS code is 61169.