Gusto Labs

What Gusto Labs does

Gustolab International (operating as "GLi") is a privately held educational organization founded in 2006 by Dr. Pier Alberto Merli and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with operating offices in Rome, Italy. The company designs and delivers study abroad programs centered on Critical Food Studies and sustainability, combining academic coursework with field-based immersive experiences such as cooking classes, market tours, manufacturer visits, and cultural excursions. Its core product is the Food Studies Program, delivered through regional program locations branded GLi Italy (Rome), GLi Japan (Osaka), and GLi Vietnam, with historical offerings also referenced in China. A wholly-owned subsidiary, the Borromini Institute in Rome — described as the first school of sustainability in Rome — extends the portfolio into four academic clusters beyond food: Sustainable Urban Studies, Human Rights and Social Justice, and Technology/Media/Design, staffed with 12 PhD-level faculty and collaborating with approximately 50 universities worldwide.

The company's underlying technology stack is modest and oriented toward marketing and intake rather than core delivery: the company relies on HubSpot application forms on its website (gustolab.com), downloadable program brochures, and content marketing for student acquisition. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile app, and no API surface; the moat is operational and academic rather than technological.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from one-time study abroad enrollment fees of $4,250 to $6,000 USD per participant depending on program length and enrollment timing, supplemented by a $600 transcript fee channeled through Portland State University for credit transfer. The go-to-market model is sales-led, leveraging relationships with university study abroad offices and faculty who refer students; program partnerships function as referral channels. Customer segments include primarily university undergraduates and graduate students, with secondary outreach to independent scholars and professionals. Founded alongside University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007 with 12 students, the business has grown to serve 300-400 students annually at the Rome campus alone, across 1-10 direct employees and no external institutional investment.

Name

Gusto Labs

Legal name

Gustolab International LLC

Website

https://gustolab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gustolab International (GLi) is a privately held educational organization that delivers immersive study abroad programs in Critical Food Studies and sustainability across Italy, Japan, and Vietnam, serving university undergraduates, graduate students, and independent learners through partnerships with approximately 50 universities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Study Abroad Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAAAC

Thematic & Discipline-Specific Study Abroad Programs (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAAAD

Experiential & Field-Based Study Abroad (Research, Field Schools, Practicums)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAAAF

Short-Term & Summer/Winter Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• Food studies education
• Sustainability education
• Academic study abroad
• Experiential learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Rome

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Study Abroad Program Enrollment Fees: Students pay enrollment fees for study abroad programs in Vietnam, Japan, and Italy. Fees range from $4,250 to $6,000 USD depending on program duration and enrollment timing (early vs regular). Additional transcript fees of $600 apply for credit transfer through Portland State University.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gustolab International is an educational organization that designs and delivers study abroad programs in Critical Food Studies and Sustainability, with immersive field-based learning in Italy, Japan, Vietnam, and China. Programs combine academic coursework with hands-on experiences including field visits, cooking classes, market tours, and cultural excursions, awarding transferable university credits through partner institutions.

Product overview

Gustolab International is an educational organization offering a unified portfolio of study abroad programs centered on Critical Food Studies and Sustainability. The core offering is the Food Studies Program, which is delivered through regional program locations in Italy (GLi Italy), Japan (GLi Japan), and Vietnam (GLi Vietnam), all operating under the Borromini Institute umbrella in Rome. Programs combine academic coursework with immersive field experiences, cooking classes, and cultural activities in each location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Established first Food and Culture Program with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007 with 12 students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Japan Food Studies CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Japan Food Studies College is Japan's first research and educational institution dedicated to the scientific study and dissemination of information on food and food culture. Led by Chairperson Aiko Tanaka, the college is guided by the philosophy of 'The Philosophy on the Dining Table.' Gustolab partners with this institution for its Osaka, Japan programs, offering students insights through guided field visits, cultural workshops, and industry engagements.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007The first Food and Culture Program was established in Rome with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007, with 12 students participating. This founding partnership established Gustolab's model of academic food studies programs abroad.
• Borromini InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Gustolab International LLC is the company behind Borromini Institute, the first school of sustainability in Rome. Borromini Institute offers academic clusters in Food Studies, Sustainable Urban Studies, Human Rights and Social Justice, and Technology, Media and Design. It has 12 PhD-level professors and collaborates with 50 universities worldwide.
• Portland State UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortland State University provides transfer credit transcripts for Gustolab program participants. Students earn university credits upon completion of all course obligations by passing the final assessment, with transcripts available through Portland State for a $600 transcript fee.
• 50 Partner Universities WorldwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBorromini Institute collaborates with 50 universities worldwide. Every year, between 300 and 400 students from around the world visit Rome for training programs through these university partnerships.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WorldStrides: WorldStrides is a large global education provider with study abroad, cultural exchange, and experiential learning programs. While broader in scope and far larger in scale, it competes in adjacent experiential education categories.
• IES Abroad: One of the largest US study abroad providers, IES operates programs in 30+ cities with thematic clusters including sustainability and food studies. While much larger and broader in scope, IES competes for the same university-referred student pipeline.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is the largest US-focused study abroad organization with programs in 40+ cities. Its broad portfolio includes food and sustainability tracks that compete with Gustolab for university partnerships and student referrals.

Others

• Food Tank: Food Tank is a nonprofit think tank focused on sustainable food systems education, research, and global convening. While not a direct program competitor, it operates in the same food studies education ecosystem and shapes the institutional demand Gustolab serves.

Direct peers

• CEA Study Abroad: CEA offers multi-city study abroad programs in Europe and Asia with academic tracks in food, culture, and sustainability. Comparable to Gustolab in targeting US undergraduates seeking credit-bearing international experiences.
• Academic Travel Abroad (ATA): ATA specializes in academically rigorous, faculty-led short-term study abroad programs focused on cultural and thematic immersion. Its model of small-group, expert-led thematic programs closely parallels Gustolab's GLi format.
• USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium): USAC operates multi-country study abroad programs with diverse thematic offerings including food and culture studies. Comparable in offering university-affiliated, credit-transferring, short-term programs across multiple international sites.
• CAPA The Global Education Network: CAPA runs city-based study abroad programs with strong food, culture, and social science tracks in cities including Florence and London. Its food-studies curricula and field-experiential model closely mirror Gustolab's value proposition.
• SAI Programs: SAI Programs operates Italy-focused study abroad programs including food, wine, and cultural studies tracks at multiple universities. It directly competes with Gustolab's GLi Italy offerings for US undergraduate food studies students seeking Florence/Rome-based experiential programs.
• API (Academic Programs International): API delivers multi-country study abroad programs across Europe and Asia with thematic tracks including food, culture, and sustainability. Comparable to Gustolab in offering credit-bearing, short-term, field-based programs targeted at US undergraduates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gustolabinst
• Facebookfacebook.com/147141478721959

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Gusto Labs