Berkeley Model United Nations

What Berkeley Model United Nations does

Berkeley Model United Nations is a UC Berkeley student-run nonprofit founded in 1952 that organizes Model United Nations programming for high school students and their advisors. Its flagship annual conference is held at UC Berkeley and attracts over 2,000 high school students from around the world; the organization also runs Fall Conference, Delegate Workshop, outreach sessions, advisor and delegate resources, and a planned BMUN in Brasília conference in Brazil.

The core offering is event-based education: delegates participate in UN simulations, crisis committees, position-paper preparation, parliamentary procedure, policy debate, and public speaking exercises. BMUN uses web-based systems including Aldous for registration and delegation management and Huxley for position-paper submission, but the available data does not describe proprietary software, a public API, or technology-led monetization.

BMUN’s revenue model is nonprofit and event-driven. It generates revenue primarily through conference registration fees from high school delegations, supplemented by donations to its alumni scholarship fund and commercial partnerships or discounts with hotels, airlines, and other partners; specific registration pricing and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market relies on school outreach, delegate workshops, direct email, website registration, social media, and partnerships, with UC Berkeley undergraduate volunteers serving as committee chairs, staff, and organizers.

Name

Berkeley Model United Nations

Legal name

Berkeley Model United Nations

Website

https://bmun.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Berkeley Model United Nations is a UC Berkeley student-run nonprofit that organizes Model UN conferences, workshops, outreach sessions, and delegate resources for high school students and advisors, funded mainly through conference fees, donations, and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Simulation Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Model United Nations (MUN) (EDAMAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Model United Nations conferences
• Educational diplomacy simulations
• Youth leadership conferences
• Student-run nonprofit education
• International relations training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue generated from high school delegation registration fees for the annual BMUN conference and other events (Fall Conference, Delegate Workshop). These fees fund conference logistics, operations, and the alumni scholarship fund.
2. Donations and Partnerships: Financial support through donations to the alumni scholarship fund and business partnerships that provide discounted rates to delegates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Berkeley Model United Nations operates the world's oldest active Model United Nations conference, hosting 2,000+ high school students annually at UC Berkeley across General Assembly, specialized UN agency, crisis, and court committees. It complements the flagship annual conference with a Fall Conference, a free Delegate Workshop, free Outreach Sessions, and an international Brazil expansion (BMUN in Brasília) operated in partnership with Internationali Negotia.

Product overview

Berkeley Model United Nations is a student-run organization at UC Berkeley that operates the world's premier and oldest Model UN conference. The core product is the Annual Conference (BMUN LXXV/LXXIV), a multi-day UN simulation hosting over 2,000 high school students across diverse committees including General Assembly bodies, specialized UN agencies, crisis committees, and court committees. Supporting products include Fall Conference (crisis-focused programming), Delegate Workshop (in-person MUN training), Outreach Sessions (free sessions for high schools), and BMUN in Brasília (international expansion to Brazil). Core modules include Position Papers (delegate research submissions), Delegate Resources (procedural guides), Advisor Resources (MUN program development support), and Alumni Scholarship (financial aid). Internal platforms include Aldous (delegation management) and Huxley (position paper submission). The organization also enforces an AI Policy prohibiting AI-generated text in position papers while allowing AI for brainstorming outlines only.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BMUN Annual Conference Flagship annual Model United Nations simulation at UC Berkeley hosting 2,000+ high school students across multiple committees with parliamentary procedure debate.
• Fall Conference Smaller crisis-focused annual conference held at UC Berkeley Social Sciences Building for delegates of all skill levels across multiple crisis committees on historical and contemporary topics.
• Delegate Workshop Free in-person MUN training program at UC Berkeley Dwinelle Hall covering Novice, Advanced, Crisis, and Chair Training courses for prospective and current high school delegates.
• Outreach Sessions Free virtual or in-person presentations and simulations delivered to high schools covering public speaking, diplomacy, MUN procedure, and international relations.
• BMUN in Brasília BMUN's first international conference, held in Brazil in partnership with Internationali Negotia, featuring five committees for high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 high school students develop public speaking and policy debate skills annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Internationali NegotiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading organizer of Model United Nations conferences in Latin America for 26 years. Partnership to host BMUN in Brasília - BMUN's first international conference in Brazil (July 10-12, 2026). Combines academic excellence and global reach of both organizations.
• SCVMUN (Santa Clara Valley Model United Nation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMUN provides chairs to SCVMUN's novice conference annually in Santa Clara. SCVMUN has been a forum for MUN debate for 47 years.
• UN Thru MUNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMUN helps staff the annual Pacific Rim International Model UN Conference in Japan organized by UN Thru MUN.
• WELAND InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMUN helps staff the annual WE Model United Nations EXPO in China organized by WELAND International.
• United NationsflagshipOthersThe United Nations is an intergovernmental organization with 193 member states. BMUN simulates UN committees as an educational exercise.
• The Princeton ReviewminorOthersEducation services company providing tutoring, test preparation, and admission resources. Partnership provides resources for delegates.
• Holiday Inn Express and Suites BerkeleyminorOthersPreferred hotel partner offering $199/night rate for BMUN delegates attending the annual conference.
• Oakland Marriott City CenterminorOthersPreferred hotel partner offering $139/night rate for BMUN delegates.
• San Francisco Marriott MarquisminorOthersPreferred hotel partner offering $169/night rate for BMUN delegates.
• United AirlinesminorOthersOfficial airline partner offering discounted airfare for delegates traveling to SFO and SJC between March 1-10. Discount code: ZSQ3310220.
• Delta AirlinesminorOthersOfficial airline partner offering discounted airfare for delegates traveling to SFO, OAK, and SJC between February 27 - March 12. Discount code: NY4VS.
• Alaska AirlinesminorOthersOfficial airline partner offering discounted airfare for delegates traveling to SFO, OAK, and SJC between March 1-10. Discount code: ECMQ239.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Model United Nations: Student-run MUN conference hosted by Harvard undergraduates, attracting thousands of high school delegates annually. Closest direct peer to BMUN — same model (university-hosted, multi-committee UN simulation for high schoolers), same target customer, same conference-fee revenue model, and overlapping geographic draw.
• Georgetown Model United Nations: Georgetown University student-run MUN conference operating NAIMUN and other programs. Directly comparable to BMUN in being a flagship university-hosted MUN conference targeting high school delegates with paid registration and multi-committee formats.
• Stanford Model United Nations: Stanford's student-run MUN conference for high school delegates. A West Coast institutional peer to BMUN with similar committee breadth, university-host model, and high school delegate target market.
• Yale Model United Nations (YMUN): Yale-hosted student-run MUN conference attracting thousands of high school delegates. Direct peer competing for the same applicant pool and advisor mindshare with comparable committee variety and university-affiliated brand positioning.
• University of Pennsylvania Model UN Conference (UPMUNC): Ivy League, student-run MUN conference hosted at the University of Pennsylvania. Directly comparable to BMUN in format, target customer (high school delegates), and university-affiliated brand premium.
• Columbia Model United Nations (CMUNCE): Columbia University student-run MUN conference serving high school delegates. Direct peer with same conference-fee revenue model and overlapping delegate pool.
• Cornell Model United Nations: Cornell-hosted student-run MUN conference (via Cornell DTI) targeting high school delegates with multi-committee formats. Directly comparable operating model and customer base to BMUN.
• SCVMUN (Santa Clara Valley Model United Nations): Bay Area-based MUN conference in operation for 47 years, with BMUN supplying chairs to its novice conference. Regional direct peer with overlapping geography and shared human capital (BMUN chairs).

Emerging players

• Internationali Negotia: Latin America's leading MUN conference organizer with 26 years of operation. BMUN's strategic partner for BMUN in Brasília; comparable in core activity (running MUN conferences for high schoolers) but focused on Latin American markets and serving as the regional incumbent BMUN is entering through partnership.

Broad incumbents

• United Nations Association of the USA: National nonprofit advocating for UN engagement and supporting Model UN programs across the United States. Broader incumbent in the Model UN ecosystem that supports and curates MUN activity without operating a single flagship conference like BMUN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berkeleymun

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berkeley Model United Nations