Project Cyber

What Project Cyber does

Project Cyber is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Its mission is to close the gender gap in the cybersecurity workforce by inspiring girls from elementary school through college to pursue careers in the field. The organization addresses a documented shortage of approximately 3.5 million cybersecurity professionals globally and the persistent underrepresentation of women, who comprise roughly 24% of the cybersecurity workforce.

The organization's core offerings are educational programs rather than software products. These include Information Sessions introducing cybersecurity fundamentals and cyber hygiene; hands-on Workshops with modules covering Cryptography, Social Engineering, Insider Threat, and Anatomy of a Hack (an escape-room-inspired exercise); a Mentoring Program pairing university students with cybersecurity professionals; and Career Exploration resources built around the NICE Framework, which profiles entry-level cybersecurity roles, median salaries, and educational requirements. The technology underlying these programs is essentially curriculum and instructional design, delivered through in-person workshops at partner sites (schools, Girl Scout councils, community centers) and virtual sessions. The supporting digital infrastructure is a standard Webflow-hosted website with basic contact and donation functionality.

Project Cyber operates on a community-led, donation-funded model. It is led by three co-founders—Cora Quon (Executive Director), Rachel Bierner (Board Member), and Regina Cadavid (Board Member)—each with 20-25+ years in cybersecurity leadership at major institutions, plus a fourth team member handling Program Development. The organization generates no commercial revenue; programs are offered free of charge to participants, funded by individual donations and corporate sponsorship (notably Bank of America). Go-to-market is entirely partnership-driven: the organization delivers through alliances with Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, Girls Who Code, NCWIT (where Project Cyber serves as official Los Angeles Affiliate), MOSTe, SIILK, Regalettes, DIY Girls, Frisco Education Foundation, and CYBER.ORG, reaching participants in California, Texas, North Carolina, and nationwide through virtual programming.

Name

Project Cyber

Legal name

Project Cyber

Website

https://projectcyber.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project Cyber is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs workshops, mentorship, and career exploration programs to inspire girls from elementary school through college to pursue cybersecurity careers, delivered through partnerships with Girl Scouts, Girls Who Code, NCWIT, and other community organizations in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cybersecurity (Digital Safety, Ethical Hacking Basics) (EDAMACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs (BPAEANAF), Cybersecurity (EDAAAPAC)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity education
• STEM workforce development
• Women in cybersecurity
• Mentorship programs
• Nonprofit education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Project Cyber relies on donations and potentially grants to fund its operations and programs. The organization accepts check donations made payable to 'Project Cyber'.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Project Cyber is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers educational programs and resources designed to inspire and empower girls from elementary school through college to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Its offerings include information sessions, hands-on workshops covering topics like Cryptography, Social Engineering, Insider Threat, and Anatomy of a Hack, a mentoring program (including the Cyber Pathways Mentorship Program), and career exploration resources aligned with the NICE Framework. All programs are offered free of charge to participants and delivered through partnerships with schools, community organizations, and corporate sponsors.

Product overview

Project Cyber is a non-profit educational organization that does not offer a traditional software product but instead provides a portfolio of educational programs and services designed to inspire and empower girls to pursue careers in cybersecurity. The core offerings include Information Sessions for introducing cybersecurity fundamentals, Workshops (Cryptography, Social Engineering, Insider Threat, and Anatomy of a Hack) for hands-on experiential learning, Mentoring Programs including the Cyber Pathways Mentorship Program connecting university students with industry professionals, and Career Exploration resources featuring career profiles aligned with the NICE Framework. These programs are tailored to different age groups from elementary school through college.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Information Sessions Introductory sessions where students are introduced to cybersecurity fundamentals, common terms and threats, different careers in cybersecurity, and cyber hygiene through fun, interactive means. Designed for girls from elementary school through college.
• Cryptography Workshop Students learn about cryptography and encryption, how data is protected, and experience a day in the life of a cryptanalyst through challenges that utilize critical thinking and collaboration skills. Designed for girls exploring cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Social Engineering Workshop Students learn about social engineering attacks that use psychological strategies to manipulate targets, and experience being a social engineer by developing creative ideas to recognize such attacks. Designed for girls exploring cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Insider Threat Workshop Students experience racing against time to find a corporate insider by analyzing suspicious employee profiles and solving puzzles to identify the threat actor through teamwork and investigative skills. Designed for girls exploring cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Anatomy of a Hack Workshop An escape room-inspired activity where students explore the anatomy of a cybersecurity attack, learning how hackers think and gain access to sensitive information. Designed for girls exploring cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Mentoring Program University students are paired with cybersecurity professionals for guided mentorship, real-world learning, career planning, resume building, and interview preparation through interactive sessions. Designed for college students pursuing cybersecurity careers.
• Cyber Pathways Mentorship Program Connects students from universities across the United States with experienced cybersecurity professionals, making mentorship and career exposure accessible regardless of location. Designed for university students nationwide.
• Career Exploration Career profiles and resources exploring the wide range of opportunities in cybersecurity based on the NICE Framework, highlighting entry-level work roles with median salaries and educational requirements. Designed for girls and young women considering cybersecurity careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached nearly 800 Girl Scouts in 2020, 180 in 2021 GWC program, and continues expanding reach annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

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 core and minor.

• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2020Sponsored Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program. Provided volunteer support for virtual sessions. Partnership enabled reaching 60 girls in 2020 and 180 in 2021.
• Girl Scouts of Greater Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership to deliver cybersecurity workshops helping Girl Scouts earn their Cybersecurity badge. Reached nearly 800 Girl Scouts in 2020 and ~60 in 2024. Workshops cover topics like cryptography, phishing recognition, and cyber hygiene.
• MOSTecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based mentoring, scholarship, and college-access organization encouraging young women's education and success. Multiple events since 2019 including workshops at Johnnie L. Cochran Middle School (53 girls) and career fair (50 girls).
• SIILK (Sisters Involved in Linking Knowledge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit creating forum to bring women of diverse backgrounds together and support educational endeavors of underserved youth. Partnered for Teen Leadership Conference workshops on cybersecurity.
• Regalettes, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit supporting educational endeavors of underserved youth, mentorship, and community initiatives. Co-hosted Teen Leadership Conference with SIILK for African American girls ages 11-17.
• DIY GirlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles non-profit increasing girls' interest in technology through innovative educational experiences. Workshop delivered for GALS middle-school learners at Panorama High School campus.
• Frisco Education Foundation (Mindbender Academy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEAM-focused summer camp introducing students to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Virtual cybersecurity workshop reaching over 200 students in 8 sessions.
• Girls Who CodecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit closing gender gap in technology. Annual Summer Immersion Program partnership delivering cybersecurity activities. Reached 60 girls in 2020 and 180 in 2021.
• National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of change leaders advancing innovation by correcting underrepresentation in computing. Project Cyber serves as official Los Angeles Affiliate for NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (89 recipients in 2020, 103 in 2021).
• CYBER.ORGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cybersecurity education resources to students and educators. Project Cyber co-founder participated in panel discussion during Cyber Career Week on K-12 to workforce transition.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Code.org: Non-profit expanding access to computer science in K-12 schools; comparable as a STEM-education delivery organization targeting youth, though with a broader CS focus rather than cybersecurity-specific.
• AnitaB.org: Non-profit focused on women in technology with pipeline programs; comparable in mission to grow the representation of women in tech, with a broader technology focus rather than cybersecurity-specific.

Direct peers

• DIY Girls: LA-based non-profit increasing girls' interest in technology through educational experiences; Project Cyber partners with DIY Girls to deliver cybersecurity workshops, making them a closely comparable peer in size, geography, and target demographic.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: National organization delivering youth programming including a Cybersecurity badge program; Project Cyber delivers cybersecurity workshops that help Girl Scouts earn these badges, making them a directly comparable peer in delivering STEM programming to girls.
• Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS): Non-profit dedicated to bringing women together in cybersecurity through programs, conferences, and mentorship; comparable to Project Cyber's mentorship and career-pipeline approach for women in cybersecurity.
• Girls Who Code: Non-profit focused on closing the gender gap in technology; Project Cyber partners with Girls Who Code for Summer Immersion Programs delivering cybersecurity activities, making them a directly comparable peer in mission and target audience.
• NCWIT (National Center for Women & Information Technology): National non-profit advancing innovation by correcting underrepresentation in computing; Project Cyber serves as the official LA Affiliate for NCWIT's Award for Aspirations in Computing, making them a directly comparable peer organization.
• CYBER.ORG: Non-profit providing cybersecurity education to K-12 students and educators; Project Cyber co-founders have participated in CYBER.ORG panels and the organizations serve overlapping K-12 cybersecurity education audiences.
• Black Girls Code: Non-profit introducing girls of color to technology and computer science; comparable to Project Cyber in mission, target demographic (girls in STEM), and non-profit delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: Largest provider of cybersecurity training and certification globally; comparable in cybersecurity education delivery but serves a primarily professional/adult audience rather than K-12 girls.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/projectcyberorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/projectcyberorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/projectcyberorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectcyberorg
• TikToktiktok.com/@projectcyberorg

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 Project Cyber