sitesALIVE!

What sitesALIVE! does

sitesALIVE! is a US-based 501c3 non-profit educational organization founded in 1993 by solo sailor Rich Wilson, operating through sitesALIVE Foundation, Inc. The organization's core product is a portfolio of live, interactive, semester-long educational programs that link real-world adventures and expeditions — anchored by Wilson's participation in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world yacht race (2008-9 and 2016-17) — to K-12 classrooms globally. Since inception, sitesALIVE! has produced 75+ full-semester programs spanning Ocean Challenge Live!, Class Afloat Live!, Rainforest Live!, Oceans Live!, U.S. History Live!, Wetlands & Fisheries Live!, and Math Live!.

The technical platform delivers content via satellite communications and web infrastructure, with the Vendée Globe 2016-17 program featuring round-the-clock updates in four languages (English, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese) including daily ship logs, podcasts, weather maps, expert essays, and a moderated Q&A system. Supporting infrastructure includes a panel of 15+ subject matter experts (MIT professors, physicians from Brigham & Women's Hospital, best-selling authors) and downloadable Teacher's Guides aligned with curriculum standards. Content is distributed through a self-serve website, a Newspaper in Education (NIE) network of 50+ US newspapers, international distribution partners (Fulaan Technology in China, United Daily News in Taiwan), the French Ministry of Education, and digital channels such as News-O-Matic.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven. The 501c3 foundation funds free educational programming through individual donations, corporate sponsorship of the racing yacht Great American IV, and ancillary revenue from Wilson's paid corporate/civic lectures and book sales. The most recent program cycle (VG 2016-17) reached 750,000 students across 55 countries, with secondary program tracks targeting the asthma community (leveraging Wilson's severe asthma) and seniors. There is no paid tier, no enterprise customer base, and no disclosed revenue figures.

Name

sitesALIVE!

Legal name

sitesALIVE Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://sitesalive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

sitesALIVE! is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in 1993, that links real-world sailing expeditions — anchored by founder Rich Wilson's Vendée Globe races — to K-12 classrooms worldwide through live, multi-language educational programs funded by donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Educational Content and Live Expedition Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

School, University & NGO Outdoor Programs (Curriculum/Program Delivery) (THAAAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural & Environmental Education Expeditions (Citizen Science, Conservation Volunteering) (THAAAOAH), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI)

Keywords

• K-12 educational programs
• Live expedition education
• Ocean sailing curriculum
• Multilingual classroom resources
• Nonprofit educational content

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: sitesALIVE Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All gifts are tax-deductible and support developing, executing, and distributing Education, Asthma & Seniors programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship of Great American IV (the racing yacht) and private support from individuals fund the programs.
3. Lecture and Speaking Fees: Rich Wilson is available for corporate, club, or civic event lectures as a revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

sitesALIVE! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that creates and delivers free, live, interactive educational programs connecting K–12 classrooms worldwide to real-world adventures and expeditions—most prominently ocean sailing races such as the Vendée Globe. Its core products are themed "Live!" learning programs (e.g., Ocean Challenge Live!, Rainforest Live!, Math Live!), supported by downloadable Teacher/Parent Guides, and distributed via its websites and the Newspaper in Education network.

Product overview

sitesALIVE! is an educational platform operated by the sitesALIVE Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The platform offers a portfolio of live, interactive, semester-long educational programs that connect real-world adventures and expeditions to K-12 classrooms. The core platform provides live content delivery including ship logs, videos, podcasts, expert essays, and student Q&A. The main programs include Ocean Challenge Live! (Vendée Globe races), Class Afloat Live!, Rainforest Live!, Oceans Live!, U.S. History Live!, Wetlands & Fisheries Live!, and Math Live!. Supporting resources include Teacher's Guides aligned with academic standards, a Newspaper in Education distribution program, and a Team of Experts panel. The company has produced 75 full semester programs since 1993, reaching students globally in multiple languages. Rich Wilson's books and lecture services supplement the educational offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Challenge Live! A live, interactive K–12 educational program tied to solo ocean racing expeditions, primarily the Vendée Globe, providing real-time updates, lessons, and resources for classrooms and homes worldwide.
• Class Afloat Live! An educational program that brings at-sea learning content to K–12 classrooms via live expedition-style content.
• Rainforest Live! A themed live educational program focused on rainforest ecosystems, designed for K–12 classrooms and home learners.
• Oceans Live! An ocean-themed live educational program delivering interactive ocean literacy content to K–12 classrooms and homes.
• U.S. History Live! A live educational program focused on U.S. history, delivering curriculum-aligned content to K–12 classrooms.
• Wetlands & Fisheries Live! A themed live educational program on wetlands and fisheries, designed for K–12 classrooms and home learners.
• Math Live! A math-themed live educational program that uses expedition content to teach mathematical concepts to K–12 students.
• Books: "Race France to France" and "Racing a Ghost Ship" Books by founder/skipper Rich Wilson chronicling ocean racing campaigns, sold to support the foundation's mission and as a standalone reading resource.
• Paid Lectures and Speaking Engagements Paid lectures and speaking engagements by the foundation's leadership, generating revenue to support its K–12 educational mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 750,000 students in 55 countries participated in VG2016-17 program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fulaan TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in China that helped bring sitesALIVE! content to Chinese schools and distributed the program internationally.
• United Daily News (Taiwan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSteven Chen brought United Daily News in as a distribution partner in Taiwan.
• FastracKids (Nancy Faunce)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal schools partner distributing sitesALIVE! educational content through their network.
• News-O-MaticminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital news platform for kids serving as a distribution channel for educational content.
• AAAS/ScienceNetLinksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScience education resource partner linking sitesALIVE! content to their educational tools.
• Seattle TimesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewspaper in Education partner distributing Vendée Globe educational series to classrooms.
• Denver PostminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewspaper in Education partner distributing educational content to classrooms.
• Sacramento BeeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNewspaper in Education partner distributing educational content to classrooms.
• Missouri Newspapers (17 papers)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 17 newspapers in Missouri participating in Newspaper in Education program (coordinated by Dawn Kitchell).
• US Embassy/Paris (Fabienne Molle)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerConnected sitesALIVE! to the French Ministry of Education, bringing them onboard as a partner for the Vendée Globe 2016 program.
• French Ministry of EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment education partner in France for the Vendée Globe 2016 program, facilitated by US Embassy Paris.
• Prof. Dava Newman (MIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics contributed essays and served on Team of Experts for Vendée Globe 2008 program.
• Dr. Chris Fanta (Brigham & Women's Hospital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsthma specialist who serves as Rich Wilson's doctor and contributed essays on asthma management at sea.
• Dr. Chuck Czeisler (Brigham & Women's Hospital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief of Sleep Medicine contributed essays and guidance on sleep management during solo sailing.
• Dava Sobel (Author)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest-selling author of 'Longitude' and 'Galileo's Daughter' contributed essays on navigation and history.
• Dr. Brien Barnewolt (Tufts Medical Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief of Emergency Medicine served as Rich's remote doctor at sea during Vendée Globe.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tall Ship Semester for Girls: Maritime-based educational program for high school girls, listed as a sitesALIVE! content partner. Operates the same sailing-as-classroom model.
• The School for Field Studies: Field-based environmental and cultural education programs for undergraduates, listed as a sitesALIVE! content partner. Comparable in connecting real-world expedition-style learning to formal curriculum.
• Class Afloat (West Island College): Semester-at-sea educational program for high school students. Listed as a sitesALIVE! content partner and operates a near-identical model combining maritime voyages with classroom curriculum delivery.
• Ocean Classroom Foundation: Sailing-based experiential education program for high school students, listed as a sitesALIVE! content partner. Shares the core premise of using ocean voyages to deliver academic curriculum.
• Cape Eleuthera Island School: Bahamas-based experiential education semester program for high schoolers, listed as a sitesALIVE! content partner. Shares the model of using remote natural settings for academic instruction.

Others

• Facing History and Ourselves: Non-profit educational organization delivering curriculum and professional development to schools. Comparable as a mission-driven K-12 educational non-profit reliant on donations, though focused on history/civics rather than adventure.

Broad incumbents

• Discovery Education: Major K-12 digital education content provider serving millions of students. Overlaps with sitesALIVE! in delivering curated, curriculum-aligned educational media to schools at scale, but lacks the live-expedition hook.
• Outward Bound USA: Established non-profit delivering outdoor adventure education programs to youth. Operates at much larger scale but shares the mission of using real-world adventure expeditions for character and educational development.
• National Geographic Society Education: Education arm of National Geographic producing explorer-led curriculum resources for K-12. Comparable in tying classroom learning to real-world exploration, but at much larger institutional scale.

Emerging players

• Adventure Scientists: Non-profit that equips outdoor adventurers with scientific instruments to gather data while exploring. Shares sitesALIVE!'s model of linking adventure expeditions to broader educational and scientific outcomes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Rich_Wilson
• YouTubeyoutube.com/sitesalive
• Facebookfacebook.com/sitesALIVE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/pub/rich-wilson/3/999/309

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 sitesALIVE!