NextGenU

What NextGenU does

NextGenU is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operated by The Ulrich & Ruth Frank Foundation for International Health (The Frank Foundation). Founded in 2011, it runs what it describes as the world's first free health science learning platform, delivering open-access, peer-reviewed, competency-based courses across public health, medicine, nursing, health sciences, and professional development. Course delivery runs on a Moodle-based learning management system hosted at courses.nextgenu.org, with curriculum designs adapted from professional organizations and peer-reviewed sources including the WHO, CDC, and UN. The platform's technology stack also incorporates third-party generative AI tooling — Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, and others — for content and communication operations, with mandatory human review of all AI-generated output, and ElevenLabs voice AI for multilingual accessibility.

The organization's business model is non-commercial. All courses, learning materials, and certificates of completion are provided at no cost to learners worldwide, with no tuition, subscription, hidden fees, or pay-to-earn mechanics. Operations are funded through donations and charitable contributions routed to the parent foundation (EIN 23-2571610). Distribution is entirely self-serve and direct-to-learner through nextgenu.org, with no paid acquisition channels; learner acquisition is driven by organic SEO, content marketing (blog, Mailchimp newsletter), the Ambassador Program, and referrals from the University Network.

The customer base spans individual health-sciences students and professionals, academic institutions participating in the University Network, governments and NGOs using courses for workforce capacity building, and educators joining the Faculty Circle. NextGenU operates globally with academic partnerships including the University of Gezira and the University of Haifa, and co-development relationships with organizations such as IPPNW, the European Medical Peace Work Network, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Humanitarian U, and Peoples-uni. Certification has been extended through the National Board of Public Health Examiners, HPass, and NAADAC. The organization is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a registered contact address in Clear Lake, Washington, and reports 51-100 employees.

Name

NextGenU

Legal name

Ulrich & Ruth Frank Foundation for International Health

Website

https://nextgenu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NextGenU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the world's first free health sciences learning platform. It delivers peer-reviewed, competency-based courses in medicine, nursing, public health, and health sciences via Moodle, funded entirely through donations to its parent Frank Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Health Sciences Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHALAF

Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Distance & Online Universities

SECONDARYEDAHALAA

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Distance & Online Universities

SECONDARYEDAFACAA

Core Digital Curriculum & Courseware (Full Programs & Units)

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Digital Curriculum, Courseware & Interactive Learning Content

SECONDARYEDAAAEAA

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

Keywords

• Online health education
• Public health training
• Medical education courses
• Nursing education platform
• Free health sciences

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, NextGenU is entirely funded through donations and charitable contributions from funders and supporters. All courses and certificates are provided free to learners worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NextGenU delivers free, peer-reviewed, competency-based online courses and academic programs in public health, medicine, nursing, health sciences, and professional development through a Moodle-based learning management system. Learners receive free certificates upon course completion, with optional integration into degree programs via institutional partnerships within the University Network.

Product overview

NextGenU.org is the world's first free, health science learning platform operated by The Frank Foundation. The platform offers a comprehensive portfolio of competency-based online courses and academic programs across five main categories: Public Health Courses, Medicine Courses, Nursing Courses, Health Sciences Courses, and Professional Development Courses. These are delivered through a Moodle-based learning management system and include both individual certificate courses (such as War and Health, Refugee Health, and Public Health - The Basics) and full academic programs (Free Master's of Public Health and MCAT Prep). The platform supports individual learners, academic institutions, and governments worldwide through features including the University Network, Faculty Circle, and Ambassador's Program. All courses and programs are free with peer-reviewed, evidence-based curricula.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Health Courses

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% free access to all courses and certificates with no tuition or hidden fees
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPPNW co-developed the War and Health course, providing expertise in peace-building, nuclear weapons prevention, and health professional advocacy. As a Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, IPPNW brings credibility and subject matter expertise in conflict-related health issues.
• European Medical Peace Work NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided competency frameworks for the War and Health course, contributing evidence-based methodologies for peace through health initiatives and health worker training in conflict zones.
• Physicians for Social ResponsibilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in course development for War and Health, contributing resources on public health impacts of nuclear weapons, environmental health, and social justice in medicine.
• University of GeziracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in developing the War and Health course, representing collaboration with institutions in Sudan to provide global health perspectives.
• University of HaifacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to the War and Health course development, offering expertise in public health and humanitarian action from an Israeli institution.
• Humanitarian UcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the War and Health course and the Humanitarian Action Program, providing certification through HPass for humanitarian training credentials.
• Peoples-unicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextGenU adopted and further developed Open Online Courses originally created by Peoples-uni, including Refugee Health and Public Health - The Basics courses, continuing the mission of affordable global health education.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourse resources draw from CDC materials for evidence-based public health guidance, including outbreak investigation, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness content.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO resources are incorporated into courses including War and Health, providing authoritative guidance on health systems, humanitarian response, and global health policy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FutureLearn: FutureLearn is a UK-based social learning MOOC platform offering health-related courses from universities and institutions. It targets a similar self-serve healthcare learner audience as NextGenU.
• Coursera: Coursera is the leading MOOC platform offering health sciences, public health, and nursing specializations from accredited universities with paid certificates and degrees. It directly competes with NextGenU for self-serve health learners globally.
• edX: edX is a major MOOC provider founded by Harvard and MIT, offering health science, global health, and epidemiology courses plus MicroMasters credentials. It competes with NextGenU in competency-based online health education.
• Alison: Alison is a free online learning platform offering free courses and certificates across healthcare, nursing, and public health categories. Its free-certificate model closely mirrors NextGenU's value proposition for global health learners.
• Peoples-uni: Peoples-uni is a UK charity providing low-cost open online education in public health globally; NextGenU adopted and further developed its courses (e.g., Refugee Health, Public Health - The Basics), making it the most direct comparable in mission and historical lineage.
• Humanitarian U: Humanitarian U is a free humanitarian e-learning platform co-sponsoring NextGenU's War and Health and Humanitarian Action programs with HPass certification. It is a direct co-development partner and shares the free credentialing model.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a large-scale nonprofit free education platform. While broader than health sciences, its MCAT prep and basic science content overlap with NextGenU's Foundations of Health Sciences and MCAT Prep offerings.
• OpenWHO: OpenWHO is WHO's free interactive online learning platform for health emergencies, disease outbreaks, and public health. As a WHO-aligned free health learning resource, it competes in the same donor-funded global health education space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NextGenUOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/nextgenuorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nextgenuorg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 NextGenU