GPI US

What GPI US does

GPI US, Inc. is a US-incorporated non-profit educational organization founded in 2012 that operates international study abroad and cultural exchange programs between the United States and Japan. The company is an affiliate of ISA (International Student Association), its parent company based in Japan, and manages all US-side operations including recruitment of American Group Leaders and delivery of US-based programming. GPI US serves two primary customer segments: Japanese middle school, high school, and university students who travel to the US for immersive programs (US-Based Programs, Global Studies Program), and US college students who serve as Group Leaders, Facilitators, and Fellows in both US and Japan programs. The organization also recruits US host families (currently in the Greater Seattle Area) and runs a College Campus Fellowship for US student ambassadors at top universities including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Stanford, and CalTech.

The core technology layer combines synchronous live virtual sessions with asynchronous delivery through consumer education tools such as Flipgrid and Padlet, supporting two proprietary curricula — the Global Empowerment Mindset (GEM) and Discovering New Perspectives (DNP) series — alongside Connect Sessions featuring guest speakers and facilitators from multiple geographies. Programs are delivered across 30+ US cities and all 47 Japanese prefectures, with content reaching 12,000+ students cumulatively since founding through a network of 100+ mentors and 500+ partner schools. There is no disclosed use of proprietary AI/ML systems, no public funding rounds, and no app product; the technology footprint is intentionally lightweight.

GPI US's business model is non-profit and primarily fee-based with heavy cost absorption: the only explicitly disclosed price is a USD $10 non-refundable application fee for the Global Studies Program, while GPI US itself covers most major expenses (airfare, accommodations, meals, in-country transportation) for Group Leaders traveling to Japan. Revenue streams derive from study abroad program fees, host family program coordination, and group leader program delivery. Marketing and recruitment rely on organic social (Instagram @gpi_us, Facebook), website-based inquiry forms powered by Airtable, college campus outreach, and referral partnerships through Japanese school networks. The organization has disclosed no revenue, no outside investment, and operates with a lean 11–50 person team supported by a contractor/mentor network.

Name

GPI US

Legal name

GPI US, Inc.

Website

https://gpius.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GPI US is a non-profit educational organization founded in 2012 and affiliated with Japan's ISA, operating study abroad and cultural exchange programs that connect Japanese students with US college campuses, host families, and mentors across 30+ US cities and all 47 Japanese prefectures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faculty-Led & Custom Group Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inbound Exchange Hosting & Visiting Student Administration (EDAIABAK), International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE)

Keywords

• Study abroad programs
• International education
• Cultural exchange
• Homestay programs
• Youth education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Application Fees: USD $10 non-refundable application fee for Global Studies Program participants to help cover operating costs
2. Study Abroad Program Fees: Fees from international students (primarily from Japan) participating in US-based programs, with most major expenses (airfare, accommodations, meals, transportation) covered by the organization
3. Host Family Program Coordination: Coordination services for homestay programs connecting international students with US host families in the Greater Seattle Area
4. Group Leader Program: Volunteer-based teaching program where US college students and recent graduates lead discussions at Japanese educational institutions, with travel expenses covered

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GPI US operates international education and study abroad exchange programs between the US and Japan. The organization delivers US-based in-person programs hosting Japanese students, a Japan-based Global Studies Program for US college students to serve as volunteer Group Leaders, a College Campus Fellowship, virtual online curricula (GEM and DNP series), and a Host Family homestay program connecting US families with international students.

Product overview

GPI US is an educational organization operating study abroad and cultural exchange programs connecting students, families, and educators across the US and Japan. The company offers a portfolio of programs: US-Based Programs hosting Japanese students in American cities with curriculum-based activities; the Global Studies Program (GSP) sending US participants to Japan as volunteer Group Leaders; College Campus Fellowship for campus ambassadors; Online Programs delivering the same curricula (Discovering New Perspectives and Global Empowerment Mindset) virtually; and a Host Family Program matching US families with international students. Programs are operated across 30+ US cities with partnerships with 500+ Japanese schools. The company's parent company is ISA based in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• US-Based Programs Educational programs hosting Japanese middle school, high school, and university students in cities across the US, with curriculum-based activities (Global Empowerment Mindset and Discovering New Perspectives), and accommodation options including dorms, hotels, and homestays. Delivered in Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and college campuses.
• Global Studies Program (GSP) A 3-week volunteer program in Japan where US college students and recent graduates serve as Group Leaders at educational institutions, leading English discussion sessions with Japanese students while living with host families. Placements occur at schools across Japan in 3 different locations over 3 weeks.
• College Campus Fellowship A 1-year selective fellowship program for college students who serve as campus ambassadors, planning events and spreading GPI US mission. Fellows receive guaranteed acceptance to the Global Studies Program in Japan upon completion.
• Online Programs Virtual educational offerings providing the same curricula as in-person programs (Discovering New Perspectives series and Global Empowerment Mindset) for audiences in both the US and Japan, featuring both synchronous live sessions and asynchronous components using tools like Flipgrid and Padlet.
• Host Family Program Homestay program connecting US families with international students (primarily from Japan) for 1-3 week cultural exchange stays. Host families provide room, meals, and transportation while international students learn about American culture. Currently accepting host family applications in the Greater Seattle Area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,000+ students have participated in GPI US programs since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ISA (International Student Association)coreOthersISA is GPI US's parent company based in Japan. GPI US operates as an affiliate and is responsible for US-based operations, recruiting American Group Leaders, and managing US programs. The relationship is described as GPI US complying with rules and regulations established by ISA.
• US Universities (Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Dartmouth, etc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with top US universities including Harvard, MIT, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, Stanford, CalTech, University of Washington, and others. These campuses host GPI US programs including Campus Tour & Fellowship sessions, summer programs, and facilitate recruitment of student mentors and group leaders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aspect Foundation: Non-profit international student exchange organization running high school exchange programs primarily between Asia (including Japan) and the US. Closely comparable as a non-profit bilateral Asia-US exchange operator with similar student demographic focus.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU): Long-standing non-profit international student exchange organization running semester, year-long, and short-term programs for high school students. Directly comparable as a non-profit bilateral exchange operator with homestay components, though YFU operates globally versus GPI US's US-Japan bilateral model.
• Greenheart Exchange: Non-profit cultural exchange organization operating high school exchange, au pair, and intern programs between the US and multiple countries. Comparable as a non-profit homestay-based exchange provider with similar program structures to GPI US's Host Family Program.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: Global non-profit intercultural exchange organization running high school and young adult exchange programs in 50+ countries. Closely comparable as a non-profit youth exchange operator with bilateral student mobility, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach than GPI US.
• CET Academic Programs: Study abroad program provider specializing in China, Japan, and other Asian destinations for US university students. Highly comparable as a US-outbound study abroad provider with Japan-focused programming and curriculum-led group programs, though for-profit and US-outbound-focused versus GPI US's bidirectional model.
• Experiment in International Living (World Learning): Non-profit organization running homestay-based youth exchange programs across multiple countries, including Japan. Directly comparable as a non-profit experiential learning and cultural exchange operator with similar program philosophy and homestay infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest US-based international educational exchange operators, running study abroad, work exchange, and teacher exchange programs globally. Comparable as a direct peer in study abroad program delivery, but with vastly broader country coverage and a for-profit operating model versus GPI US's non-profit bilateral US-Japan focus.
• ISA (International Studies Abroad): US-headquartered study abroad program provider offering programs in dozens of countries with a portfolio model. Comparable as a multi-country study abroad provider serving US college students, though with broader geographic scope and a for-profit commercial structure than GPI US's nonprofit Japan-focused niche.

Emerging players

• Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme: Government-sponsored program placing foreign nationals (including Americans) as Assistant Language Teachers in Japanese schools. Comparable in that it sends US participants to Japan for cross-cultural education work similar to GPI US's Global Studies Program, though it is government-administered and much larger in scale.

Others

• Nacel International:

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gpiusinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/gpi_us/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 GPI US