Project MFG
Project MFG is a private Kansas City-based workforce development organization that designs and runs national skilled trades competitions in CNC machining, welding, and additive manufacturing for high school and college students, funded by corporate sponsorships and a U.S. Department of Defense IBAS founding partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Project MFG does
Project MFG is a private, Kansas City-headquartered workforce development organization founded in 2019 that builds and operates national tournament-style competitions to train and credential students in CNC machining, welding, and additive manufacturing. The company runs six core competition products — the Advanced Manufacturing Competition Series (team-based, with a $100,000 grand prize), the National Machining League, the National Welding League, the Maritime Welding Competition Series, the Additive Manufacturing Competition, and a portfolio of Community Competitions including International Machining, SEC Machining, and Youth Welding Challenges. Its underlying "platform" is fundamentally a physical-events infrastructure (regional qualifying rounds, five Gene Haas Scoring Hubs at technical colleges, and host schools in 18+ states) rather than a software product; the technology layer is industry-standard equipment and CAD/CAM software from partners such as Haas Automation, Mastercam, Autodesk, Lincoln Electric, Miller, Zeiss, and Mitutoyo. A media component, the Clash of Trades reality series (now in its fifth season for Advanced Manufacturing and third for Welding), provides top-of-funnel distribution via YouTube and has earned a Webby Award and multiple Viddy Awards.
Project MFG serves four distinct customer segments: (1) high school and college students who participate free of charge and gain hands-on experience, scholarships, and direct recruiting exposure; (2) high schools, CTE programs, and community/technical colleges that host events, gain program visibility, and report enrollment increases after competing; (3) defense and maritime manufacturing employers (General Dynamics Electric Boat, HII Ingalls, Bollinger Shipyards, Boeing) that recruit skilled trades talent and align with U.S. Navy submarine industrial base needs; and (4) manufacturing equipment vendors (Haas, Mastercam, Lincoln Electric, Zeiss, Mitutoyo, Autodesk) that gain brand visibility and customer pipeline. The organization generated 2024-25 competition season engagement of roughly 350 welding students across 122 schools and 37 states, 205 advanced manufacturing students, and 174 maritime welding students.
The business model is sponsorship- and grant-funded, not transactional. There is no fee for student or school participation — registration is free and competition kits are provided. Revenue derives from tiered corporate sponsorship packages ranging from Foundation Partners at $35,000+ to Presenting Partners at $300,000+, plus the founding sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Defense Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. The organization reports 1-10 employees and no disclosed venture funding, indicating a lean operating model that outsources event production to host schools and relies on partner equipment and venues. Forward product expansion in 2025 added the Additive Manufacturing Competition Series and the Project MFG GO mobile learning trailer, and 2026 event planning covers first-time states including West Virginia, California, and Maine.
Project MFG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project MFG
- Legal name
- Project MFG
- Website
- https://projectmfg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Project MFG is a private Kansas City-based workforce development organization that designs and runs national skilled trades competitions in CNC machining, welding, and additive manufacturing for high school and college students, funded by corporate sponsorships and a U.S. Department of Defense IBAS founding partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project MFG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Skilled Trades Workforce Development
- NAICS
- Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX) (EDAMADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Competition Coaching & Training Programs (AMC/AIME/USAMO/MathCounts) (EDAMAEAA)
Keywords
Where Project MFG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project MFG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorships: Project MFG generates revenue through tiered corporate sponsorship packages. Sponsors include major manufacturing companies that pay for brand exposure, recruiting access, and recognition at national events. Sponsorship tiers range from Presenting Partners ($300,000+) to Foundation Partners ($35,000+).
- Government Partnership (DoD IBAS): The U.S. Department of Defense Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program (IBAS) is the founding sponsor of the Project MFG skilled trades competition series launched in Fall 2019.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free student and school registration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Project MFG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project MFG designs and operates national tournament-style skilled-trades competitions — including the Advanced Manufacturing Competition Series, National Machining League, National Welding League, Maritime Welding Series, and Additive Manufacturing Competition — that train and showcase high-school and college students in CNC machining, welding, and additive manufacturing. Participation for students and schools is free, with revenue generated from corporate sponsorships (e.g., Haas Automation, Lincoln Electric, Mastercam) and a founding partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense IBAS program. The competitions are amplified by the Clash of Trades reality video series distributed on YouTube and supported by the Project MFG GO mobile learning trailer for community outreach.
Product overview
Project MFG is a workforce development platform built around national competition series for skilled trades education. The core portfolio consists of six major competition products: Advanced Manufacturing Competition Series (team-based integrated manufacturing with CNC, additive, and metrology), National Machining League (individual CNC machining), National Welding League (individual welding), Maritime Welding Competition Series (maritime-focused welding), and Additive Manufacturing Competition (3D printing teams). Supporting products include community-level events like International Machining Competitions, SEC Machining Competitions, and Youth Welding Challenges for younger students. The company also produces media entertainment through the 'Clash of Trades' reality video series covering advanced manufacturing and welding competitions, and operates Project MFG GO, a mobile learning trailer for community outreach. The platform connects students, educators, industry, and government to elevate manufacturing careers through hands-on competitive experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Clash of Trades: Project MFG's reality competition TV series featuring skilled trades competitions with teams competing for national championships and prizes up to $100,000.
- Advanced Manufacturing Competition
- National Machining League
- National Welding League
- Maritime Welding Series
- Additive Competitions
- Community Competitions
- Project MFG GO
Products and services
- Advanced Manufacturing Competition Series Team competition testing integrated manufacturing processes including 5-axis CNC/Machining, Additive Manufacturing, and Metrology. Teams of 2-6 students compete through qualifying, regional, and national championship rounds for prize money up to $100,000.
- National Machining League High-school level individual CNC machining competition testing skills up to 3-axis surfacing. Schools can submit up to 3 students who compete in qualifying rounds and a national championship for prizes up to $10,000.
- National Welding League Individual welding competition with two qualifying rounds and a national championship. Students demonstrate proficiency in fit-up, joint preparation, and weld quality, competing for a $10,000 grand prize.
- Maritime Welding Competition Series Welding competitions focused on maritime and shipbuilding industry workforce needs. Community-based qualifying events lead to a national championship where students weld model Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles and compete for $10,000.
- Additive Manufacturing Competition Competition testing additive manufacturing skills from design, economics, and change orders to slicing, post-processing, and assembly. Teams mirror real workplace dynamics competing in 3D printing challenges.
- International Machining Competitions CNC machining competitions executed in partnership with Haas Automation for international teams, including events at EMO Hannover and European locations in France and Portugal.
- SEC Machining Competitions Collegiate machining competitions for SEC university teams competing in manufacturing challenges at institutions like Mississippi State University and University of Tennessee.
- Youth Welding Challenges Youth welding competitions for students ages 10-17 hosted with partners like Weld Like a Girl in Yuma, Arizona, introducing younger students to welding and skilled trades careers.
- Clash of Trades Reality competition video series featuring advanced manufacturing teams competing head-to-head. Season 5 showcases teams at regional competitions and a national championship with a $100,000 grand prize.
- Clash of Trades: Welding Edition Reality competition series focused on welding competitions. Season 3 featured 350 students from 122 schools competing at Ferris State University for national title and $10,000 prize.
- Project MFG GO Mobile learning trailer bringing advanced manufacturing education directly to students and communities through interactive, hands-on experiences showcasing skilled trades careers.
- Community Competitions Tournament-style competitions across the country demonstrating abilities of new manufacturing talent. Includes single and integrated technology competitions in welding and additive manufacturing.
Quantifiable outcome
- The New York Times highlighted that Yuba College's championship win led to program expansion, and Southwestern Illinois College expanded its precision machining program after its 2022 victory.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Project MFG
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Project MFG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project MFG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and regional.
- Haas AutomationcoreProvides CNC machine equipment and support for competitions. Partnered for International Machining Competitions and hosts Haas Scoring Hubs.
- MastercamcoreProvides free software and support to students competing in Project MFG competitions. Supporting sponsor for Advanced Manufacturing and National Machining League.
- Miller (Miller Welds)supportingWelding equipment sponsor providing support for National Welding League and Maritime Welding competitions.
- Lincoln ElectricsupportingWelding equipment and education sponsor supporting welding competitions and education initiatives.
- ZeisssupportingPrecision measurement equipment sponsor supporting machining competitions and SEC Machining Competition.
- MitutoyosupportingPrecision measurement tools sponsor supporting machining and advanced manufacturing competitions.
- AutodesksupportingCAD/CAM software sponsor supporting advanced manufacturing and machining competitions.
- BuildSubmarines.comcoreMaritime partner focused on submarine industry workforce development and skilled trades promotion.
- General Dynamics Electric BoatcorePartner for Maritime Welding competitions. Partner schools compete in welding competitions with industry exposure to submarine shipbuilding.
- HII Ingalls ShipbuildingcorePresident Brian Blanchette spoke at Maritime Welding Competition highlighting U.S. Navy's growing demand for skilled trades.
- Bollinger ShipyardssupportingMaritime partner with Stephanie Murray speaking at Maritime Welding Competition highlighting shipbuilding workforce needs.
- TMG (Virginia Talent Pipeline Project)coreU.S. Navy-led initiative in partnership with TMG Inc. to help defense manufacturers recruit, train, and retain skilled workforce. Has facilitated over 9,550 hires to support national defense.
- Workshops for WarriorscoreSan Diego-based organization hosting National Welding League Championship and Maritime Welding National Championship in 2026.
- Weld Like a GirlsupportingYuma, Arizona-based welding school that hosts Youth Welding Challenges in partnership with Project MFG for students ages 10-17.
- Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis (AMICSTL)regionalLocal organization hosting Additive Manufacturing Competition at Saint Louis University with regional high school teams.
- Tidewater Community CollegeregionalHosts Maritime Welding Competition and TMG Career Discovery Day at Skilled Trades Academy in Portsmouth, Virginia.
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeregionalHosted maritime welding competition and career discovery day at Jackson County Campus in Gautier, Mississippi.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Project MFG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SkillsUSA: National nonprofit running student competitions across skilled trades including machining, welding, and manufacturing. Directly comparable model — competitive events for high school and college students sponsored by industry, with national championships and employer recruitment funnels.
- WorldSkills International: International organization hosting elite skilled trades competitions across manufacturing, welding, and additive manufacturing disciplines. Comparable as a global competition platform for trade skills with industry sponsorship and national-championship-to-world-stage pipelines.
Others
- Amatrol: Supplies technical-education curriculum, eLearning, and lab equipment for CTE programs in manufacturing, welding, and industrial trades. Comparable as an enabling ecosystem participant whose products support the same CTE instructors and students Project MFG activates through competitions.
- Haas Technical Education Centers: Network of Haas Automation-funded CNC training centers embedded in community colleges. Directly comparable as a Haas-affiliated (Project MFG core sponsor) workforce-training network operating at the same intersection of schools, students, and CNC industry.
Emerging players
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): Runs team-based STEM competitions (FLL/FTC/FRC) for K-12 students. Adjacent competition-based STEM education model but focused on robotics; relevant analogue for media-led, sponsor-driven student competition platforms targeting the same demographic.
Broad incumbents
- American Welding Society (AWS): Long-established professional society setting welding standards, certifications, and educational programming. Comparable as the incumbent welding-education authority whose certifications intersect with Project MFG's National Welding League.
- National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS): Industry-recognized certifying body for metalworking trades including CNC machining and welding. Comparable as the standards/credential backbone of the U.S. machining workforce pipeline that Project MFG competitions feed into.
- The Manufacturing Institute: Workforce development and research arm of the NAM, focused on closing the U.S. manufacturing skills gap. Comparable as a large, established player in the same workforce-development narrative and policy space Project MFG operates within.
- Tooling U-SME (AMT): Provides online manufacturing workforce training and certification content for machining, welding, and additive manufacturing. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the manufacturing-skills training market that Project MFG complements rather than directly competes with.
Regional players
- Workshops for Warriors: San Diego-based nonprofit providing accelerated training and certifications in welding and machining for veterans; hosts Project MFG's 2026 National Welding League Championship. Comparable as a regional training organization with similar veteran/skilled-trades mission and a co-marketing relationship with Project MFG.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project MFG social profiles
Digital presenceProject MFG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project MFG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Project MFG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project MFG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Project MFG
What does Project MFG do?
Project MFG designs and operates national tournament-style skilled-trades competitions — including the Advanced Manufacturing Competition Series, National Machining League, National Welding League, Maritime Welding Series, and Additive Manufacturing Competition — that train and showcase high-school and college students in CNC machining, welding, and additive manufacturing. Participation for students and schools is free, with revenue generated from corporate sponsorships (e.g., Haas Automation, Lincoln Electric, Mastercam) and a founding partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense IBAS program. The competitions are amplified by the Clash of Trades reality video series distributed on YouTube and supported by the Project MFG GO mobile learning trailer for community outreach.
Is Project MFG a public or private company?
Project MFG is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Project MFG founded?
Project MFG was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Project MFG based?
Project MFG is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project MFG make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are government Partnership (DoD IBAS).
Who are Project MFG's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SkillsUSA and WorldSkills International. Others are Amatrol and Haas Technical Education Centers. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are American Welding Society (AWS), National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), The Manufacturing Institute and Tooling U-SME (AMT). Workshops for Warriors is listed as a regional player.
Does Project MFG have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project MFG.
What industry is Project MFG in?
Project MFG's product category is Skilled Trades Workforce Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAE, Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX), with a secondary code of EDAMAEAA, Competition Coaching & Training Programs (AMC/AIME/USAMO/MathCounts). Its NAICS code is 611519 and its SIC code is 3550.