Knowledge Impact Network

What Knowledge Impact Network does

Knowledge Impact Network (KIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 by four YPO members — Alain Chetrit, Pierce Dunn, Abhijit Pawar, and Scott Mordell — and headquartered in Virginia, USA. The organization operates a structured knowledge-sharing platform that convenes social-impact organizations, nonprofits, and impact-oriented startups with experienced executives, mentors, and domain experts to accelerate their missions. Its core offerings include Impact Circles (facilitated forums of 8-12 participants meeting across multiple sessions), 90-minute Catalyze Sessions, and multi-session Deep-Dive Working Groups, supported by a bench of Global Advisors and a 5-person core Operating Team.

The most technically distinctive component in the portfolio is the Nanoplastics Impact Circle, where KIN deployed a Large Quantitative Model to analyze 7,000+ research studies — a concrete example of AI-augmented knowledge synthesis within a domain-specific research cohort. The wider platform architecture is facilitation-driven rather than software-driven, with technology playing a supporting role in knowledge matching and session design.

Revenue is generated through a per-seat participation model — $1,950 per participant plus a $300 initiation fee — supplemented by donations and sponsorships channeled through "Adopt-a-Cause" and "Sponsor-a-Participant" programs. Customers span nonprofits such as Per Scholas, BroadFutures, Solve Education, and GCAA, alongside impact-oriented startups including Telosity and Gardyn. The organization maintains 11-50 total personnel, has registered trademarks for "Kin" and "Impact Circle," and operates an African Solutions Impact Circle (ACT-Z) as a geographic expansion vehicle.

Name

Knowledge Impact Network

Legal name

Knowledge Impact Network

Website

https://knowledgeimpactnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knowledge Impact Network (KIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs Impact Circles, Catalyze Sessions, and Deep-Dive Working Groups to connect social-impact nonprofits and impact startups with executive mentors, monetizing via per-seat fees and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact Advisory Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Interest-Based Communities & Forums (BPAMABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN), Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

Keywords

• Social impact consulting
• Nonprofit mentorship services
• Executive peer forums
• Knowledge sharing platforms
• Community facilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlean

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

Revenue model

1. Impact Circle Participation Fees: KIN charges participation fees for joining Impact Circles. The standard cost is $1,950 for participation plus a one-time $300 initiation fee. This is the primary recurring revenue stream for the nonprofit organization.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: KIN accepts donations through its 'Adopt-a-Cause' and 'Sponsor-a-Participant' programs. Companies or philanthropists can adopt causes or sponsor members. Donations support KIN's ability to operate Impact Circles globally and may be eligible for tax deductions as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Knowledge Impact Network (KIN) operates Impact Circles—intimate forums of 8-12 participants that pair social ventures and nonprofits with experienced executives to address specific social causes—and Catalyze Sessions, 90-minute facilitated knowledge exchanges between social impact leaders and mentors. Founded in 2020 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (originally as "The Knowledge Pledge"), the organization also runs the Knowledge Pledge Community in partnership with YPO and applies AI-driven analysis to social challenges such as nanoplastics.

Product overview

Knowledge Impact Network (KIN) is a nonprofit social impact organization that operates a platform of knowledge-sharing services focused on three impact pillars: Core Human Needs (food, water, health), Workforce Readiness, and Protecting the Planet. The core product is Impact Circles - intimate peer forums of 8-12 participants working on specific causes. These are supported by 90-minute Catalyze Sessions that bring together subject matter experts (Knowledge Partners) with project leaders. KIN also operates the YPO Knowledge Pledge Community in partnership with YPO, enabling access to a global network of chief executives. The services are delivered through the Circle.so-powered Knowledge Pledge platform. Participation in Impact Circles costs $1,950 plus a $300 initiation fee, with sponsorship options available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Impact Circles Intimate forums of 8-12 participants that pair social ventures and nonprofits with experienced executives to address specific social causes over a defined engagement cycle.
• Catalyze Sessions 90-minute facilitated knowledge-sharing sessions between social impact leaders and experienced mentors, designed for targeted issue resolution and expert introductions.
• Knowledge Pledge Community Curated community of YPO-affiliated executives engaged with social impact, operated in partnership with YPO to enable ongoing peer accountability and structured engagement with social ventures.
• AI-driven Large Quantitative Model for Nanoplastics Research An AI-augmented analytical model that has processed over 7,000 studies to surface insights for addressing the global nanoplastics crisis, applied within Knowledge Impact Network's research agenda.

Quantifiable outcome

• Telosity Ventures impacted 1 million lives to date, seeking to expand to 5 million
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026KIN was selected as the platform partner for the YPO Knowledge Pledge Community, bringing knowledge sharing services inside YPO's global network of 38,000+ chief executives and business leaders across 150 countries. The partnership enables YPO members to participate in 90-minute Sprint Sessions and multi-session Deep-Dive Working Groups with vetted social impact organizations. Alain Chetrit, KIN co-founder, noted this brings impact work back to YPO with renewed focus and momentum.
• 5th Element GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Network Partner on KIN's partners page. 5th Element Group is described as a global impact consultancy recognized by Forbes as an outstanding global brain trust network.
• Telosity VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN partnered with Telosity Ventures by hosting a Catalyze Session where they brought together leaders with venture fund, sales, and marketing experience to help enhance Telosity's pitch materials and identify limited partners.
• Per ScholasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN facilitated a 90-minute Catalyze Session to provide feedback on Per Scholas' new cybersecurity apprenticeship program design and value proposition for employers.
• BroadFuturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN launched partnership with BroadFutures by hosting a Catalyze Session where Knowledge Partners strategized on scaling their model for creating employment for young neurodivergent people.
• GardynminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN hosted a Catalyze Session for Gardyn's founder to identify potential partnerships with nonprofits that could benefit from their indoor growing technology for food security in underserved communities.
• Solve Education!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN facilitated a Catalyze Session to help Solve Education! explore opportunities to repurpose their mobile game education technology for hospitality industry training.
• Global Commons Alliance Accountability AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN hosted a Catalyze Session with five Knowledge Partners to help GCAA tackle questions about unlocking funding options for nature-related corporate accountability initiatives.
• Weather ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIN connected ACT-Z (Zimbabwe) with Weather Impact, an organization in the Netherlands that provides agribusinesses with easy-to-access, reliable weather forecasts and climate information.
• STS CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSTS Capital is listed as a corporate partner. Managing Director Shamil Hargovan stated that the best part of being KIN's corporate partner is meeting and learning from its large family of purposeful leaders committed to sharing knowledge.
• Palladium / Bamboo Capital PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorian Kemmerich, Managing Director at Palladium and Managing Partner at Bamboo Capital Partners, became excited by KIN's model after participating in a 90-Minute Catalyze Session and looks forward to helping KIN expand its services to impact investors.
• UN World Food Programme Innovation AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead of UN World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator, Bernhard Kowatsch, provided testimonial noting KIN's ability to bring in high-level mentors as an amazing resource for social impact startups and innovative non-profits.
• Atlantic Council's GeoTech CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Bray, Director of Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center, provided testimonial about the importance of knowledge-based collaborations and KIN's role in assembling global experts in data and tech.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Skoll Foundation: Foundation backing leading social entrepreneurs and producing the Skoll Forum ecosystem that convenes impact leaders. Directly comparable in connecting high-profile executives with social-venture founders.
• Ashoka: Largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs, supporting fellows and convening communities across impact areas. Directly comparable to KIN in serving social ventures with knowledge, networks, and convening support.
• Echoing Green: Fellowship and leadership network for emerging social entrepreneurs, providing seed funding and a peer community. Competes for the same social-venture audience as KIN's Impact Circles.
• NetHope: Member-driven nonprofit network of ~60 international NGOs that convenes peers, shares best practices, and runs capacity-building programs. Operates a similar member-forum-plus-knowledge-sharing model across global social-impact organizations.
• SOCAP (Social Capital Markets): Convenes investors, entrepreneurs, and foundations at the intersection of money and meaning. Comparable as an events-driven community that matches capital and expertise with social ventures, similar to KIN's Catalyze Sessions.
• Acumen: Global impact investor and social-enterprise accelerator supporting entrepreneurs tackling poverty. Provides advisory and convening services comparable to KIN's Knowledge Partner model, though focused on portfolio companies.

Broad incumbents

• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): Global membership organization of 38,000+ chief executives with established peer-learning forums. KIN is the platform partner for YPO's Knowledge Pledge Community, and YPO operates analogous peer-circle programming - a powerful but adjacent incumbent.
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): Independent sustainability-standards organization with a global multi-stakeholder community. Shares KIN's boardroom lineage (former GRI CEO Michael Meehan is on KIN's board) and overlaps in convening accountability infrastructure for impact.

Emerging players

• Toniic: Global network of impact investors facilitating peer learning and co-investment. Similar membership/community model with curated peer engagement, but focused on the investor side rather than the social-venture side.
• Nexus Global Youth Network: Global network of young impact leaders and philanthropists convened in peer-based, cause-focused cohorts. Comparable in operating intimate forums around specific social issues, with similar founder-age demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/knowledgeimpact
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knowledgeimpactnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Knowledge Impact Network