Phelps Forward
Phelps Forward is a founder-led career development and talent placement firm that recruits first-generation women from low-income backgrounds at 31 top US universities and matches them with approximately 21 financial services partner firms through a multi-year development program led by CEO Alicia Ames.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Phelps Forward does
Phelps Forward is a Los Angeles-based, founder-led career development and talent placement firm founded in 2016 by Alicia Ames (Princeton undergraduate, Columbia MBA). The company runs two core programs: the PF College Level Program, a three-year-plus intensive career development track beginning freshman year that uses assessments such as the Strong Interest Inventory to prepare first-generation women from low-income backgrounds for finance and technology careers; and PF for Grads, an ongoing selective development program for college graduates already working in financial services. Both programs combine one-on-one mentorship from the CEO with networking access to executives at partner firms.
The company operates as a curated intermediary between high-achieving, underrepresented student talent and financial services employers. It does not use proprietary technology; its offering is fundamentally a human-capital advisory service built on rigorous selection, multi-year development, and direct relationship facilitation. Talent is sourced from 31 universities including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, and Cornell, and matched to approximately 21 PF Partner firms spanning investment banking, asset management, wealth management, and private equity.
Phelps Forward generates revenue by providing career development and job placement services to enterprise financial services companies, which become PF Partners to access the pre-screened talent pipeline. No pricing is publicly disclosed, and the firm operates with a small team (1-10 employees) without institutional investor backing. The model relies on direct sales-led engagement with both talent (students and graduates) and corporate partners, supported by a 14-member industry advisory board.
Phelps Forward firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Phelps Forward
- Legal name
- Phelps Forward
- Website
- https://phelpsforward.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Phelps Forward is a founder-led career development and talent placement firm that recruits first-generation women from low-income backgrounds at 31 top US universities and matches them with approximately 21 financial services partner firms through a multi-year development program led by CEO Alicia Ames.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Phelps Forward industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Career Services and Talent Placement
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Academic Advising & Degree Planning (EDALABAA)
Keywords
Where Phelps Forward is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Phelps Forward business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Talent Placement Services to Companies: Phelps Forward generates revenue by providing career development and job placement services to financial services companies. Companies become PF Partners to access pre-screened, developed talent from the PF college and graduate programs. The company matches job candidates to employers' needs based on market research and candidate qualifications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Phelps Forward product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Phelps Forward provides career counseling, networking, and job placement services to high-achieving, primarily first-generation college women from low-income backgrounds pursuing careers in financial services and technology. The organization runs an intensive three-year-plus career development program for college students (PF College Level Program), an ongoing selective development program for working graduates (PF for Grads), and matches vetted candidates to PF Partner financial services companies through market research and direct employer engagement.
Product overview
Phelps Forward operates as a unified career development and placement service rather than a software product platform. The company offers two interconnected programs: the PF College Level Program, a three-year-plus career development program for college students beginning freshman year, and PF for Grads, an ongoing selective development program for graduates. Both programs are supported by career counseling and placement services that connect participants with financial services companies (PF Partners). The company matches prepared college students and graduates to employers' needs through market research and interviews.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PF College Level Program An intensive three-year-plus career development program for college freshman and sophomores from low-income backgrounds that uses Strong Interest Inventory assessments, one-on-one mentorship from the CEO, and interview preparation to prepare participants for internships and jobs in financial services and technology. Acceptance is highly selective and applications are submitted via email.
- PF for Grads An ongoing selective development program for college graduates already working in financial services, providing continued career and life guidance to accelerate career growth beyond initial placement.
- Career Counseling and Placement Services for PF Partners Career counseling, networking, and job placement services that connect pre-screened PF Scholars and PF for Grads participants with financial services companies through market research, candidate-employer matching, and reliable candidate references; access is gated by becoming a PF Partner.
Companies that use Phelps Forward
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Phelps Forward technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Phelps Forward partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Barksdale Investment ManagementcoreBarksdale Investment Management is a PF Partner company that hires talent from the Phelps Forward program. PF Scholars and Grads are matched to positions at partner companies based on qualifications and employer needs.
- J.P. Morgan ChasecoreJ.P. Morgan Chase is a PF Partner company and major employer of PF graduates, including in investment banking associate roles. PF graduates have secured positions at JPM through the program's interview preparation and direct connections.
- Ritholtz Wealth ManagementcoreRitholtz Wealth Management is a PF Partner company that participates in the talent placement program, providing career development opportunities for PF Scholars and Grads.
- Payden & RygelcorePayden & Rygel is a PF Partner company. Advisory board member Kamila Arias represents Payden & Rygel, demonstrating the close partnership relationship.
- Oaktree CapitalcoreOaktree Capital is a PF Partner company that has hired PF graduates, including Brenda Cid as an Associate.
- Oak Hill AdvisorscoreOak Hill Advisors is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program for PF Scholars and Grads.
- New Mountain CapitalcoreNew Mountain Capital is a PF Partner company in the Phelps Forward talent network.
- Montana Avenue Capital PartnerscoreMontana Avenue Capital Partners is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program.
- Left LanecoreLeft Lane is a PF Partner company in the Phelps Forward talent network.
- Industry VenturescoreIndustry Ventures is a PF Partner company. Advisory board member Roland Reynolds represents Industry Ventures, demonstrating the close partnership relationship.
- Imperial CapitalcoreImperial Capital is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program.
- HCR Wealth ManagementcoreHCR Wealth Management is a PF Partner company in the Phelps Forward talent network.
- FairviewcoreFairview is a PF Partner company. Advisory board member Frank Watson represents Fairview Investment Services, demonstrating the close partnership relationship.
- Equitable HoldingscoreEquitable Holdings is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program.
- DoublelinecoreDoubleline is a PF Partner company. Advisory board member Monica Erickson represents DoubleLine, demonstrating the close partnership relationship.
- Cire EquitycoreCire Equity is a PF Partner company in the Phelps Forward talent network.
- Caspian CapitalcoreCaspian Capital is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program.
- Brasa CapitalcoreBrasa Capital is a PF Partner company in the Phelps Forward talent network.
- Blue Sage CapitalcoreBlue Sage Capital is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program.
- Antin-IPcoreAntin-IP is a PF Partner company in the Phelps Forward talent network.
- Angeles Investment AdvisorscoreAngeles Investment Advisors is a PF Partner company participating in the talent placement program.
- Water Street Healthcare PartnerscoreWater Street Healthcare Partners is a PF Partner company. Advisory board member Paty Calderon represents Water Street and is a former PF Scholar who now works there as an Associate.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Phelps Forward competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Girls Who Invest: Nonprofit that runs intensive summer programs and mentorship to recruit women into asset management and finance careers. Highly comparable to Phelps Forward in both target demographic (women entering finance) and program model (selective development pipeline).
- America Needs You: Two-year mentoring and career development program for low-income, first-generation young adults pursuing professional careers. Comparable long-horizon mentorship model for first-generation students transitioning to professional careers.
- Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO): Long-running nonprofit that runs career pathway programs (internships, mentoring, training) placing underrepresented college students into competitive finance, consulting, and corporate roles. Comparable talent development and employer-matching model.
- Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT): Career development fellowship that prepares high-achieving underrepresented students for careers in business, consulting, and finance with employer placement components. Directly comparable career-pipeline model serving corporate partners like those Phelps Forward targets.
- Braven: Nonprofit that runs a postsecondary career accelerator for underrepresented college students, partnering with employers on talent pipelines and skill development. Comparable career-preparation and employer-partnership business model.
- The Opportunity Network: Nonprofit providing career development and industry exposure for high-achieving students from underserved communities, with employer access programs. Comparable selective career-pathway model targeting underrepresented students.
Broad incumbents
- Year Up: Large-scale workforce development nonprofit providing career training and corporate placement for low-income young adults, including into financial services. Comparable employer-partnership placement model, though at significantly larger scale and earlier career stage.
- Posse Foundation: Established organization running college access and career development programs for underrepresented students, with strong corporate partnerships. Broader in scope (across professional fields, not finance-specific) but operates a similar selective talent pipeline model.
Emerging players
- iCouldBe: E-mentoring platform pairing underrepresented high school and college students with career mentors. Comparable mentor-driven college-to-career model, though via digital mentoring rather than an in-person program.
- CareerSpring: Career platform that matches talented, underrepresented college students with internship and full-time opportunities at partner employers. Comparable employer-matching purpose, but operates as a digital platform rather than an in-person mentorship program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Phelps Forward social profiles
Digital presencePhelps Forward financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Phelps Forward leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Phelps Forward funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Phelps Forward 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 Phelps Forward
What does Phelps Forward do?
Phelps Forward provides career counseling, networking, and job placement services to high-achieving, primarily first-generation college women from low-income backgrounds pursuing careers in financial services and technology. The organization runs an intensive three-year-plus career development program for college students (PF College Level Program), an ongoing selective development program for working graduates (PF for Grads), and matches vetted candidates to PF Partner financial services companies through market research and direct employer engagement.
Is Phelps Forward a public or private company?
Phelps Forward is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Phelps Forward founded?
Phelps Forward was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Phelps Forward based?
Phelps Forward is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Phelps Forward make money?
One revenue line is on record: talent Placement Services to Companies.
Who are Phelps Forward's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Girls Who Invest, America Needs You, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), Braven and The Opportunity Network. Broad incumbents are Year Up and Posse Foundation. Emerging players are iCouldBe and CareerSpring.
Does Phelps Forward have an API?
No public API is recorded for Phelps Forward.
What industry is Phelps Forward in?
Phelps Forward's product category is Career Services and Talent Placement. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALABAA, Academic Advising & Degree Planning. Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 7361.