Project N95

What Project N95 does

Project N95 was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to address acute shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the United States. The organization functioned as a national clearinghouse that vetted N95, KN95, KF94, and other high-filtration mask suppliers for authenticity (notably during a period when an estimated 60% of KN95s in the US were counterfeit) and operated an online marketplace where consumers, healthcare workers, and institutions could purchase verified products at unit prices of approximately $1 per N95 and $2-5 per KN95/KF94 mask. The website remains active solely as a curated reference guide with third-party supplier links.

The organization's underlying technology stack was standard nonprofit e-commerce infrastructure rather than a proprietary platform: Onport provided ecommerce and distribution infrastructure, Contentful managed web content, Netlify hosted the site, Airtable housed operational data, Zendesk handled customer inquiries, and JupiterOne supported security and compliance. Legal counsel was provided by Ropes and Gray and Maslon LLP. There were no patents, proprietary AI/ML assets, or unique technical systems disclosed; the core intellectual property was the supplier vetting playbook and accumulated buyer-trust reputation earned through media coverage in outlets including the New York Times, CNN, NPR, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, and Scientific American.

Commercially, Project N95 ran two revenue streams: transactional sales through the online marketplace and tax-deductible donor contributions supporting free mask distribution. Its go-to-market combined a direct-to-consumer marketplace listing with community-led distribution channeled through partner organizations such as Michigan United, Valley Improvement Projects, and La Colaborativa, alongside coordinated relationships with major healthcare associations (ACP, AMA, AAFP, ACHA) and government entities. By the close of operations at the end of 2023, the organization had distributed more than 42 million pieces of PPE to over 1.1 million people, but concluded that proceeds from sales and donations were insufficient to sustain the charitable mission and wound down operations.

Name

Project N95

Legal name

Project N95

Website

https://projectn95.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Project N95 was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit clearinghouse, founded in 2020 and wound down at the end of 2023, that vetted and distributed over 42 million pieces of authentic N95, KN95, and KF94 masks to consumers, healthcare workers, and underserved U.S. communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Protective Equipment Distribution

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets) (CRADALAJ), PPE, Safety & Infection Control Supplies Distribution (JanSan-adjacent) (CRAOAGAK)

Keywords

• Vetted PPE distribution
• Nonprofit PPE marketplace
• Respirator authentication services
• Mask donation programs
• Respiratory protection education

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PPE Sales: Project N95 sold vetted N95 masks, KN95 masks, KF94 masks, and other PPE through their online marketplace. They purchased bulk orders and broke them into smaller packages for household purchases. Proceeds from sales supported their charitable mission.
2. Donations: The organization accepted tax-deductible donations to fund their nonprofit mission of providing high-quality respiratory protection to everyone who needed it. Donated PPE items were distributed to vulnerable communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Project N95 was a nonprofit clearinghouse and online marketplace that vetted mask suppliers, verified product authenticity against regulatory standards, and facilitated distribution of high-filtration respiratory protection (N95, KN95, KF94, and other PPE) to consumers, healthcare institutions, and underserved communities. The organization bulk-purchased PPE, retailed it in household-sized packages, donated supplies to vulnerable populations, and produced educational guides on mask standards and counterfeit identification. Operations wound down at the end of 2023, and the website now operates as a reference catalog with links to previously vetted third-party sellers.

Product overview

Project N95 was a nonprofit PPE marketplace and resource hub that operated as a clearinghouse for vetted, authentic respiratory protection during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization provided a curated online marketplace (now closed as of end 2023), maintaining a catalog of previously vetted products with third-party supplier links, educational mask guides covering N95, KN95, KF94, and children's masks, mask coalition community programs, and free mask distribution for vulnerable populations. The core offering was the combination of product vetting services, an e-commerce marketplace, and educational resources to help consumers identify and access authentic, high-filtration masks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vetted PPE Marketplace Nonprofit online marketplace that vetted and sold authentic N95, KN95, KF94, and other high-filtration masks and PPE to consumers and institutions, leveraging Project N95's supplier verification process to ensure compliance with NIOSH, GB2626-2019, and FDA EUA standards. Shop closed at end of 2023.
• Previously Vetted Products Catalog Maintained list of products previously vetted by Project N95, with links to third-party supplier websites where consumers can purchase authentic N95, KN95, KF94, and other masks. Links were current as of January 31st, 2024.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ropes and GrayminorOthersLegal services partner providing counsel for regulatory compliance and organizational matters.
• Maslon LLPminorOthersLegal services partner providing counsel for organizational and compliance matters.
• Michigan UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner committed to expanding access to COVID-19 support resources, vaccine education, and vaccines to BIPOC, immigrant, low-income, and working families across Michigan.
• Valley Improvement Projects (VIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner distributing masks to reduce COVID-19 spread in Latino and poor communities, reduce pesticide exposure to farmworkers, and protect those with respiratory conditions during poor air quality days.
• American College of PhysicianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare association partnership to ensure clinicians have sufficient PPE supplies through Project N95's collaboration.
• La ColaborativacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization in Chelsea, MA that received 8,500 masks as part of Project N95's donation program to underserved communities.
• When To TestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOVID testing partner for coordinated testing and mask distribution efforts.
• Connect to TestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOVID testing partner for coordinated testing and mask distribution initiatives.
• Healthcare AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with healthcare associations including ACP, AMA, AAFP, ACHA, and others to understand and address members' critical equipment and sourcing needs.
• Governments at All LevelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with federal, state, and local government entities to support communities' PPE and critical medical supply needs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Direct Relief: Large humanitarian medical-aid nonprofit distributing PPE, medications, and supplies to vulnerable populations. Comparable nonprofit mission and community-distribution playbook at substantially larger scale.
• AmeriCares: Disaster-response and global health nonprofit that distributes donated medical supplies including PPE. Overlapping nonprofit medical-supply distribution model serving underserved populations.
• MAP International: Nonprofit that procures and distributes medicines and medical supplies globally to underserved communities. Comparable mission-driven model of vetted medical supply distribution to vulnerable end users.
• Vital Strategies: Global public-health nonprofit working on respiratory health, tobacco, and pandemic response. Comparable mission-driven organization operating where grant funding and public health expertise intersect.
• Prestige Ameritech: Major US N95 surgical respirator manufacturer that scaled rapidly during COVID to address shortages. Comparable domestic PPE producer serving the institutional buyers Project N95 supported.
• 3M (Personal Safety Division): Largest global N95 respirator manufacturer, including the 3M 9205+ Aura carried via Project N95. Direct upstream incumbent whose supply adequacy effectively determined the need for a nonprofit clearinghouse.

Direct peers

• Bonafide Health / Bonafide Masks: Authorized US distributor of Powecom KN95 masks; listed on Project N95's vetted catalog. Comparable as a direct-to-consumer vetted mask marketplace serving similar buyer needs for authentic respirators.
• DemeTECH: US-based N95 respirator manufacturer whose DT-N95-FH was carried on Project N95's marketplace. Comparable as a vetted PPE producer supplying the same consumer and institutional buyer set during the pandemic shortage.
• Protective Health Gear (PHG): US N95 manufacturer (NIOSH-approved 6150 model) distributed through Project N95. Comparable domestic PPE producer operating in the same vetted-respirator category.
• Planet Halo Health: Online retailer of N95, KN95, and KF94 masks from vetted brands. Listed as a Project N95 third-party partner and serves an overlapping consumer base seeking authentic respirators outside mainstream channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Project N95