What Moonshot edVentures does

Moonshot edVentures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Denver, Colorado, founded in 2016 (incorporated 2017) to grow community-rooted leaders who design solutions disrupting systemic inequities affecting youth in Colorado. The organization's core product is the Moonshot Innovation Space, a 9-month fellowship serving three leader profiles: Launchers building new organizations, Catalyzers implementing solutions within existing organizations, and Designers developing resources or products. Fellows receive funding, coaching, weekly workshops, hands-on learning, and a peer network; a School Launcher Residency program offers an additional full-time track. Post-fellowship, the Moonshot Alumni Network provides lifelong support including workshops, Expert Bench consultants, wellness services, 1:1 guidance, mini-grants, and messaging forums. The Station by Moonshot, a Denver coworking space, anchors the ecosystem for youth-serving organizations.

Moonshot's business model is multi-stream nonprofit funding rather than product revenue. Streams include individual donations (tiered from $50 to $5,000), foundation grants (including a $1M March 2024 award from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving via Lever for Change), and corporate sponsorships for events such as the Cohort 7 Showcase (1st Bank, 5280 Magazine, Crocs, Colorado Health Foundation, Colorado Trust, Carson Foundation, and others). The organization has processed its revenue independently of any platform layer, and there is no proprietary technology product; primary "channels" are the fellowship application pipeline, alumni word-of-mouth referrals, the website, social media, podcast appearances, and earned regional media. Donations are accepted online, by mail, by wire, and through DAFpay and Colorado Gives Day.

Customer segments are clearly differentiated: (1) the primary persona is BIPOC and historically marginalized community-rooted leaders in Colorado launching or scaling youth-serving ventures; (2) secondary is Colorado youth ages 0-24 served by Fellow-created programs; and (3) tertiary is youth-serving organizations using The Station coworking space. Headcount is estimated at 1-10, including the CEO, Chief of Staff, Program Director, Program Operations Manager, Managing Director of Operations, Alumni & Partnerships Director, Managing Director of Schools & Programs, and a Finance & Operations Director, plus contractors. Cumulatively since 2016 the program has supported 130+ leaders, reached 7,300+ youth through alumni ventures, generated over $6M in annual economic impact, and created 165+ youth-sector jobs.

Name

Moonshot edVentures

Legal name

Moonshot edVentures

Website

https://moonshotedventures.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Moonshot edVentures is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a 9-month fellowship plus alumni network and coworking space, equipping BIPOC and historically marginalized leaders in Colorado to launch youth-serving solutions across education, health, housing, and related systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development Fellowship

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Youth services nonprofit
• Fellowship programs
• Community development grants
• Nonprofit coworking spaces

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals at various tiers ($50-$5,000+). Supports fellowship programs, alumni services, and operational costs.
2. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations including a $1 million grant from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving program. Additional support from Colorado Health Foundation, The Colorado Trust, and other regional funders.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorships for events like the Cohort 7 Showcase from companies including 1st Bank, 5280 Magazine, Carson Foundation, Crocs Inc, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Moonshot edVentures operates the Moonshot Innovation Space, a 9-month fellowship program that provides funding, coaching, weekly workshops, and a peer network to BIPOC and historically marginalized leaders designing solutions for youth in Colorado. The fellowship is complemented by the Moonshot Alumni Network offering ongoing support including consulting, wellness services, and mini-grants, and by The Station, a Denver-based coworking space for youth-serving organizations and mission-driven leaders.

Product overview

Moonshot edVentures operates as a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on developing community-rooted equity-driven leaders to transform youth-serving systems in Colorado. The core offering is the Moonshot Innovation Space (formerly Moonshot Fellowship), a 9-month fellowship providing funding, coaching, and peer networking. This is supported by the Moonshot Alumni Network for ongoing leader development post-fellowship, and The Station, a Denver-based coworking space for youth-serving organizations. Additional offerings include the Direct to Fellows Learning Fund (micro-grants for pilot programs) and the School Launcher Residency. Together, these programs support leaders across multiple pathways including launching new organizations, catalyzing change within existing organizations, and designing new resources/products for youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Moonshot Innovation Space: The flagship fellowship program offering 9-month fellowship with weekly workshops, hands-on learning, funding, coaching, and peer network for community-rooted leaders.
• The Station by Moonshot
• The Moonshot Alumni Network

Products and services

• Moonshot Innovation Space (Fellowship Program) A 9-month fellowship program that provides funding, coaching, and peer network support for equity-driven leaders to design, test, and scale innovative solutions that disrupt systemic inequities impacting youth in Colorado. The program serves Launchers (building new organizations), Catalyzers (implementing solutions within existing organizations), and Designers (creating resources or products).
• Moonshot Alumni Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ leaders supported since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BIZ New OrleansminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Media coverage about entrepreneurial support hub digital platform mentioning Moonshot's model.
• RCG TalentminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSearch firm used for hiring processes at Moonshot. RCG Talent led or supported searches for CEO, Managing Director of Programs, and other key roles with expertise in equitable hiring processes and diverse recruitment.
• 5280 Freedom SchoolminorOthersMoonshot Fellow Branta Lockett founded 5280 Freedom School, focused on safe, affirming education for Black students in Denver.
• Prospect AcademyminorOthersMoonshot Fellow Mia Coffing founded Prospect Academy, a charter school in Arvada serving students with learning differences.
• 1st BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Moonshot Cohort 7 Showcase event.
• Denver Families for Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of Moonshot Cohort 7 Showcase event. Shared mission around improving public education in Denver.
• YAMZ WORLDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Denver business and artist Brayan Montes-Terrazas who created colorful rocket illustrations used in Moonshot branding. Tony Lucero manages The Station partnerships with YAMZ WORLD.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Echoing Green: Fellowship and leadership development organization for social entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. Directly comparable to Moonshot's fellowship model, multi-year coaching, and alumni network structure.
• Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT): National leadership development organization that prepares underrepresented talent for leadership roles across sectors. Compares to Moonshot's fellowship focus on BIPOC leaders and coaching-based advancement; Moonshot's Chief of Staff is a former MLT executive.
• New Profit: Venture philanthropy fund that supports social entrepreneurs through unrestricted funding, coaching, and network building. Already named in Moonshot's partnerships and a national peer pursuing a similar 'community of social entrepreneurs' thesis.
• 4.0 Schools: Fellowship program supporting education entrepreneurs designing and launching innovative learning models. Highly comparable to Moonshot's School Launcher Residency and Innovation Space for education-focused founders.
• Camelback Ventures: Fellowship and accelerator program supporting BIPOC and women entrepreneurs building ventures in education and community wealth. Closely aligned with Moonshot's focus on BIPOC founders and youth-serving solutions.

Emerging players

• All Raise: Nonprofit building a community for underrepresented founders and venture investors. Comparable to Moonshot in developing community-rooted talent and supporting launch of equity-driven ventures, though oriented to tech investing.

Regional players

• Mile High United Way: Denver-based nonprofit funding and convening youth-serving organizations across Colorado. Operates in the same geographic and funder ecosystem as Moonshot and supports many of the same downstream beneficiaries.
• The Denver Foundation: Community foundation serving the Denver metro area with grantmaking across youth, education, and equity. Regional peer that overlaps with Moonshot in funder relationships and beneficiary communities.

Broad incumbents

• NewSchools Venture Fund: EdTech- and education-focused venture philanthropy that funds and supports innovative school leaders and education entrepreneurs. Broader national scope than Moonshot but addresses the same leadership pipeline into youth-serving education.

Others

• BABSON Collaborative / Sigma Phi Epsilon: Not directly comparable as a peer; including a placeholder informational peer. Skipped in favor of more relevant local peers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/moonshotEV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moonshot-edventures
• Instagraminstagram.com/moonshotev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Moonshot edVentures