Golden Path Solutions
Golden Path Solutions operates Compass, a cloud-based workforce development platform that uses Holland Codes to match K-12 and post-secondary students with regional employers via career profiles, work-based learning, sponsorships, and placements, monetizing through tiered employer memberships across the upper Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersFargo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Golden Path Solutions does
Golden Path Solutions is a Fargo, North Dakota-based software company, founded in 2019, that operates Compass, a cloud-based workforce development and career exploration platform connecting K-12 and post-secondary students with regional employers. The platform ingests student profile inputs — classes, activities, hobbies, interests, and personality assessment results — and applies the Holland Codes (RASIEC) methodology to match students to employer Career Profiles, work-based learning opportunities, sponsorships, and placements. Compass is delivered as a SaaS web platform with a companion mobile app, and includes an integrated work-based learning management system covering approvals, documentation, applications, electronic signatures, and time tracking.
The company's products span a Career Profile library describing real regional jobs, a College Pilot module for higher-education program discovery, and a specialized configuration for justice-involved students. Its core technology stack combines a rules-based Holland Codes matching engine with generative AI assistants (including a ChatGPT-based agent) used to accelerate employer onboarding and to draft Career Profile content from company websites and basic inputs.
Golden Path Solutions monetizes Compass primarily through tiered annual employer memberships — Basic (free), Awareness, Connections, and Premium — while schools and students access the platform at no cost via state, chamber, and XAP/RUReady.ND.gov partnerships. Distribution is partnership-led rather than direct-sales-led: Compass reaches every North Dakota high school student through the RUReady.ND.gov integration and the ND Career & Technical Education relationship, has been extended to all 11 ND University System institutions and five tribal colleges under an MHEC grant, and is being activated through the FMWF and Cherokee County chambers of commerce. The customer base is anchored by a small set of visible employers across healthcare (Sanford Health), construction (Kava Construction, Fisher Industries, Delta Constructors), energy services (Creedence Energy Services), and government (North Dakota Department of Transportation).
Golden Path Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Golden Path Solutions
- Legal name
- Golden Path Solutions
- Website
- https://goldenpath.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Golden Path Solutions operates Compass, a cloud-based workforce development platform that uses Holland Codes to match K-12 and post-secondary students with regional employers via career profiles, work-based learning, sponsorships, and placements, monetizing through tiered employer memberships across the upper Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Golden Path Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Software
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Career & College Readiness Platforms (Guidance, Planning, Scholarships) (EDAJAMAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Career Exploration, Interest/Skills Assessment & Pathway Planning (EDAFAMAK), Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL)
Keywords
Where Golden Path Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fargo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Golden Path Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Employer Memberships: Paid tiered membership subscriptions for employers providing access to Compass features including Career Profiles, WBL management, matching, and employer connections database. Tiers include Basic (free), Awareness, Connections, and Premium memberships.
- School Access: Schools access Compass at no cost through partnerships with ND Career & Technical Education and XAP integration for North Dakota students.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Basic membership - free tier with limited features |
| Subscription | Annual | Awareness Membership - unlimited Career Profiles written by employer |
| Subscription | Annual | Connections Membership - Career Profiles plus matching services |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Membership - full service with strategy support |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Golden Path Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Golden Path Solutions offers Compass, a cloud-based workforce development and career exploration platform that matches K-12 and post-secondary students with local employers using Holland Codes assessment methodology. The platform provides Career Profiles, work-based learning management, employer sponsorship programs, and placement services, connecting schools, students, and employers across North Dakota and Minnesota.
Product overview
Golden Path Solutions offers Compass, a unified workforce development platform that connects students with employers through multiple integrated modules. The platform centers on student and career profile matching using Holland Codes, supported by work-based learning experiences, sponsorships (tuition reimbursement in exchange for work commitments), and placements (job matching services). Additional features include an Employer Connections Database for school partnerships, four-year plan management, a mobile app, and college program integration. The company also provides tiered employer membership programs that scale access to Compass features and student reach across schools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Compass Cloud-based workforce development and career exploration platform connecting students, schools, and employers through Holland Codes-based matching, Career Profiles, work-based learning, sponsorships, and placements.
- Career Profiles Detailed portrayals of real local jobs including day-in-the-life narratives, required skills, education paths, salary and benefits, and suggested high school experiences, matched to students based on their profile data.
- Work-Based Learning (WBL) Suite of work-based learning experiences including cooperative work experiences, internships, mentorships, apprenticeships, part-time or summer jobs, service learning, practicums, and job shadows, with full program administration, approvals, electronic signatures, and time tracking.
- Sponsorships Agreements between employers and high school students where employers cover tuition costs in exchange for a work commitment, including connections to post-secondary education pathways.
- Placements
Quantifiable outcome
- Less than 15% of ND high school students leave the state for post-secondary education, creating local talent retention opportunity
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Golden Path Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Golden Path Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
Golden Path Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and supporting.
- Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of CommercemajorPartnership to drive regional work-based learning participation. Hosted 'Insider Access: Work-Based Learning' employer event in April 2026. Joint goals include 25% of high school seniors engaged in WBL and 650 businesses actively engaged by July 2027.
- Cherokee County Chamber of CommerceminorPartnership expanding Golden Path's reach into Cherokee County, GA region for workforce development connections between employers and students.
- XAP CorporationcoreStrategic partnership integrating Compass with XAP's RUReady.ND.gov platform. This integration provides all North Dakota high school students access to Compass through the statewide career readiness solution. Golden Path partnered with XAP to deliver a Work-Based Learning Module for RUReady.ND.
- ND Career & Technical EducationcoreState agency partnership enabling Compass access for all North Dakota high school students. NDCTE works with XAP and Golden Path to deliver work-based learning tools for ND educators and students.
- ND Career BuilderssupportingWorkforce development program providing up to $8,500 in matching funds per student scholarship for employers offering sponsorships. Golden Path helps employers identify and access these funds.
- North Dakota University SystemmajorAll 11 NDUS institutions plus five tribal colleges have Compass access to support career exploration for prospective and current students, employer connections, and program awareness.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Golden Path Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Naviance (PowerSchool): The dominant K-12 college, career, and life readiness platform, owned by PowerSchool. Serves thousands of US school districts with college and career planning, assessment, and alumni outcome tracking — overlapping directly with Compass's K-12 career readiness positioning.
- SchooLinks: K-12 college and career planning platform with profile-driven matching between students and post-secondary opportunities. Comparable product surface area and target buyer (high school counselors and CTE coordinators).
- Xello: K-12 career exploration and planning platform that helps students build profiles and match to careers and post-secondary pathways. Closest direct competitor to Compass in methodology (interest/aptitude assessment-driven matching) and target audience (high school students).
- Kuder: Career planning system including interest/ability assessment (Kuder Career Planning System) and work-based learning tools. Directly comparable to Compass on assessment methodology, career exploration, and WBL management features for K-12 and adult learners.
- YouScience: Aptitude-based career matching platform for high school students that combines psychometric assessments with career recommendations. Directly comparable to Compass's Holland Codes assessment and matching approach, serving the same student and school customer segments.
- SCOIR: College and career planning platform for high schools, focused on student profiles, college applications, and career exploration. Targets the same K-12 buyer with overlapping features around four-year planning and post-secondary navigation.
- iCEV: CTE curriculum and career exploration platform for K-12 and post-secondary. Overlaps with Compass's CTE career pathways positioning and shares the same K-12 CTE coordinator buyer.
- MajorClarity: K-12 college, career, and military readiness platform with work-based learning management. Competes directly with Compass's WBL and career profile features in the same school district buyer segment.
Emerging players
- Handshake: Student-employer matching network, primarily for college students and recent graduates. Shares Compass's student-to-employer matching model and target buyer type (talent acquisition teams) but at a different educational stage.
- WayUp: Job matching platform focused on students and early-career talent connecting with employers for internships and entry-level roles. Partial overlap with Compass's employer matching and placement services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Golden Path Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceGolden Path Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Golden Path Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Golden Path Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Golden Path Solutions 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 Golden Path Solutions
What does Golden Path Solutions do?
Golden Path Solutions offers Compass, a cloud-based workforce development and career exploration platform that matches K-12 and post-secondary students with local employers using Holland Codes assessment methodology. The platform provides Career Profiles, work-based learning management, employer sponsorship programs, and placement services, connecting schools, students, and employers across North Dakota and Minnesota.
Is Golden Path Solutions a public or private company?
Golden Path Solutions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Golden Path Solutions founded?
Golden Path Solutions was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Golden Path Solutions based?
Golden Path Solutions is headquartered in Fargo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Golden Path Solutions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Employer Memberships are the primary driver. The others are school Access.
Who are Golden Path Solutions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Naviance (PowerSchool), SchooLinks, Xello, Kuder, YouScience, SCOIR, iCEV and MajorClarity. Emerging players are Handshake and WayUp.
Does Golden Path Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Golden Path Solutions.
What industry is Golden Path Solutions in?
Golden Path Solutions's product category is Workforce Development Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAMAO, Career & College Readiness Platforms (Guidance, Planning, Scholarships), with a secondary code of EDAFAMAK, Career Exploration, Interest/Skills Assessment & Pathway Planning. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.