First Place

Cultural Exchange and Overseas Work-Study Programsfirstplaceinc.org

First Place Inc. is a Philippine-based, privately held career and education counseling organization founded in 1999 that facilitates Work and Travel, Internship/Career Training, Special Interest, and Canada Study and Work programs for Filipino college students and graduates, placing them with US, UK, Australian, and Canadian employers via authorized J-1 visa sponsors.

Company typePrivate
Founded1999
HeadquartersElkhart, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What First Place does

First Place Inc. (FPI) is a Philippine-based, privately held career and education counseling organization founded in 1999 that facilitates cultural exchange and overseas work-study programs for Filipino college students and recent graduates. The company operates four core programs: a Work and Travel summer program placing first-to-third-year college students in US seasonal jobs from March to June; an Internship/Career Training (ICT) program offering 6-18 month placements for graduates in the US, Australia, UK, and other countries; Special Interest Programs (culinary tours, summer camps, fashion/design programs); and a Canada Study and Work Program delivered with online Zoom orientations. Participants are recruited from more than 80 Philippine colleges and universities, counseled at FPI's Manila (UP Diliman) and Cebu offices, and placed with US hospitality and tourism employers including Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and Baltimore Country Club.

FPI's underlying technology is minimal: the company does not appear to operate a proprietary platform, relying instead on manual counseling, document processing, and a self-serve online application portal supported by standard communications tools (Zoom, Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, Facebook, Viber). Revenue is generated through per-participant program fees paid by individual students (professional services model), with deposits collected upon application submission and balances due before embassy processing. Demand is intermediated through a channel structure comprising two physical offices, nationwide general assemblies, school-based recruitment, face-to-face hiring events hosted by US partner sponsors, and Facebook-driven community engagement (6,000+ followers).

The business depends on long-tenured relationships with a small set of US State Department-designated J-1 visa sponsors (Alliance Abroad Group since 2002, CIEE, CCI Greenheart, Cultural Homestay International, Janus International, World Wide Cultural Exchange) for visa sponsorship and program coordination. FPI is the first and only private organization in the Philippines accepted as a voting member of the WYSE Work Abroad Association and holds sector association membership in the World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation (WYSETC). The company is fully Filipino-owned, with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, parent company, or controlling external interests, and operates at a headcount of 11-50 employees across its two Philippine offices.

First Place firmographics

Firmographics

Name: First Place
Legal name: First Place Inc.
Website: https://firstplaceinc.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1999
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: First Place Inc. is a Philippine-based, privately held career and education counseling organization founded in 1999 that facilitates Work and Travel, Internship/Career Training, Special Interest, and Canada Study and Work programs for Filipino college students and graduates, placing them with US, UK, Australian, and Canadian employers via authorized J-1 visa sponsors.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

First Place industry classification

Industry

Product category: Cultural Exchange and Overseas Work-Study Programs
NAICS: Educational Services (611)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
akta.pro primary industry: Outbound Exchange Advising, Placement & Nomination Services (EDAIABAL)
akta.pro secondary industries: Pre-Departure Orientation, Re-Entry & Intercultural Training for Study Abroad (EDAIAAAH), Thematic & Discipline-Specific Study Abroad Programs (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAAAC)

Keywords

Cultural exchange programs
Work and travel
International internships
Career training abroad
Student counseling

Where First Place is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Elkhart
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

First Place business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Program Fees: Fees charged to participants for Work and Travel programs, Internship programs, and Career Training programs. A deposit is required upon submission of initial requirements, with balance due before embassy processing begins.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Multi-year contract	Work and Travel Program
Other	Multi-year contract	Internship/Career Training Program

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

First Place product offering

Product offering

Core offering

First Place Inc. is a Philippine-based career and education counseling organization that facilitates cultural exchange and overseas work-study programs for Filipino students and young professionals. It coordinates Work and Travel, Internship/Career Training, Special Interest, and Canada Study and Work programs through partnerships with US State Department-designated visa sponsors, host companies, and partner schools across more than 80 Philippine colleges and universities.

Product overview

First Place Inc. operates as a cultural exchange and career counseling organization offering three primary programs: the Work and Travel Program (a summer cultural exchange for college students providing US work experience from March to June), the Internship/Career Training Program (professional placements lasting 6-18 months for graduates in US, Australia, UK and other countries), and Special Interest Programs (customized cultural, culinary, and sports enrichment offerings). The company also facilitates the Canada Study and Work Program. These programs are authorized by US State Department, UK Home Office, Australian DIAC, and other government agencies, and are coordinated through partnerships with visa sponsors and host companies worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Work and Travel Program A summer cultural exchange program for first to third year college students of any course, allowing participants to work in the US from March to June while earning an allowance, with a 30-day post-program travel opportunity. Authorized under the US State Department's J-1 visa framework.
Internship/Career Training Program A professional development program for college graduates (within one year for internships, two or more years for career training) providing 6-18 month placements in the US, Australia, UK, and other countries with paid, subsidized, or unpaid positions across hospitality, culinary arts, and other fields. Authorized by US State Department, UK Home Office, and Australian DIAC.
Special Interest Programs Customized cultural, intellectual, or sports enrichment programs including summer camps for children, culinary tours, fashion and hair design programs, and other specialized offerings designed for individuals or groups.
Canada Study and Work Program Orientation and application program for studying and working in Canada, with free online Zoom sessions and applications open year-round for Filipino students and applicants.

Companies that use First Place

Customer profile

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

First Place technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

First Place partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

WYSE Work Abroad AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst and only private organization in the Philippines accepted as a voting member of the WYSE Work Abroad Association, a merger of the Global Work Experience Association (GWEA) and the International Association for Educational Work Exchange Programs (IAEWEP).
World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation (WYSETC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector association member of the prestigious World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation based in the Netherlands, providing global network access and industry credibility.
Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines (COHREP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal affiliation with Philippine hospitality education association.
Association of Administrators in Hospitality, Hotel, and Restaurant Management Educational Institutions (AAHRMEI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal affiliation with Philippine hospitality management education association.
Union of Filipino Tourism Educators (UFTE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal affiliation with Philippine tourism education association.
Alliance Abroad Group (AAG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorU.S. Department of State-designated program sponsor for the J-1 visa Work/Travel since 2002 and the Intern/Trainee and Teacher programs since 2009. Provides visa sponsorship and program coordination for FPI participants.
CCI GreenheartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit international educational exchange organization based in Chicago, IL, organizing summer work travel programs. Sends close to 10,000 participants annually. Operates the Greenheart Travel division.
Cultural Homestay International (CHI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit educational organization founded in 1980 to promote international understanding through people-to-people exchanges. Designated J-1 visa sponsor for Work/Travel program.
CIEEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgram sponsor providing the Ann Rainbird Scholarship for exceptional FPI students. Long-time partner in cultural exchange programs.
Janus InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeader in international recruitment and major staffing resource for companies. Designated Work/Travel visa sponsor by U.S. Department of State. Builds relationships with established partners in over 30 countries.
Australian InternshipscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarket leader in career development programs for international candidates. Programs include Professional Internships, Paid Hospitality Program, and Professional Year Program.
American Scandinavian Student Exchange (ASSE)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOriginally founded in Sweden in 1938. Not-for-profit organization designated as sponsor of secondary academic year programs. Expanded to include most of Western Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Latin America.
Pan Atlantic International Training (PAIT)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaine, USA-based organization placing qualified international candidates in top American companies. Provides J-1 visa sponsorship for training and internship programs.
World Wide Cultural Exchange (WWCE)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeader in International Recruitment providing custom tailored J1 Visa programs for host companies and participants. Specializes in custom programs for hotels, stores, restaurants, resorts and amusement parks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

First Place competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

CCI Greenheart: Nonprofit international educational exchange organization based in Chicago, IL, sending close to 10,000 participants annually on summer work travel programs. A designated J-1 visa sponsor and core FPI channel partner.
American Scandinavian Student Exchange (ASSE): Not-for-profit organization originally founded in Sweden in 1938, designated sponsor of secondary academic year and exchange programs across Western Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. A minor FPI channel partner with directly comparable student exchange offerings.
Janus International: Designated Work/Travel J-1 visa sponsor and international recruitment leader building relationships in over 30 countries. A core FPI channel partner operating in the same cultural exchange placement space.
InterExchange: US-designated J-1 visa sponsor offering Work/Travel, Au Pair, and Career Training programs. Operates in the same outbound cultural exchange space as FPI with comparable target demographics of international students.
Australian Internships: Market leader in career development programs for international candidates in Australia, offering Professional Internships, Paid Hospitality Program, and Professional Year Program. A core FPI channel partner for Australian placements and directly comparable in international internship placement.
Cultural Homestay International (CHI): Non-profit educational organization founded in 1980 promoting international understanding through people-to-people exchanges; designated J-1 visa sponsor for Work/Travel. A core FPI channel partner and direct competitor in international student placement.
World Wide Cultural Exchange (WWCE): J-1 visa sponsor specializing in custom programs for hotels, stores, restaurants, resorts and amusement parks. A minor FPI channel partner directly comparable in the Work/Travel and Internship placement category.
Pan Atlantic International Training (PAIT): Maine, USA-based organization placing qualified international candidates in top American companies; provides J-1 visa sponsorship for training and internship programs. A minor FPI channel partner directly comparable in J-1 training and internship placement.
Alliance Abroad Group (AAG): US Department of State-designated J-1 visa sponsor since 2002 for Work/Travel and since 2009 for Intern/Trainee and Teacher programs. A core FPI channel partner and directly comparable cultural exchange program sponsor.

Broad incumbents

CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest US-based international educational exchange organizations, designated J-1 visa sponsor and a long-time FPI channel partner. Directly comparable as a global Work/Travel, Internship, and cultural exchange program sponsor with significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

First Place financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

First Place leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

First Place funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

First Place M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Place

What does First Place do?

Is First Place a public or private company?

First Place is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was First Place founded?

First Place was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is First Place based?

First Place is headquartered in Elkhart, United States, in the North America region.

How does First Place make money?

One revenue line is on record: program Fees.

Who are First Place's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are CCI Greenheart, American Scandinavian Student Exchange (ASSE), Janus International, InterExchange, Australian Internships, Cultural Homestay International (CHI), World Wide Cultural Exchange (WWCE), Pan Atlantic International Training (PAIT) and Alliance Abroad Group (AAG). CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does First Place have an API?

No public API is recorded for First Place.

What industry is First Place in?

First Place's product category is Cultural Exchange and Overseas Work-Study Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIABAL, Outbound Exchange Advising, Placement & Nomination Services, with a secondary code of EDAIAAAH, Pre-Departure Orientation, Re-Entry & Intercultural Training for Study Abroad. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.