What Dave Burgess Consulting does

Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. (DBC, Inc.) is a privately held educational publishing and professional development company headquartered in San Diego, California, founded by Dave and Shelley Burgess. The company publishes the 'Like a PIRATE' and 'Lead Like a PIRATE' book series, comprising more than 60 titles on student engagement, instructional practice, leadership, school culture, and technology integration, authored by Dave Burgess and a stable of affiliated K-12 educators including Tara Martin, Jimmy Casas, Beth Houf, George Couros, Adam Welcome, and others. Core content is delivered through printed books, ebooks, audiobooks, and a Kajabi-hosted online learning platform called DBC University that offers certificate-bearing asynchronous professional development courses billed on an annual cadence.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: one-time retail book sales via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Aerio; recurring DBC University course subscriptions; and affiliate commissions on retail book purchases. The company is operated as a family-owned business with 11-50 employees, no disclosed outside funding, and no parent company. Its go-to-market is content-led: an organic blog, the Sunday Seven email newsletter, social media (Twitter/X), a DBCI Speakers bureau that places affiliated authors as paid keynote speakers at education conferences, and affiliate links drive top-of-funnel awareness into book and course purchases.

The technology footprint is intentionally light: Kajabi powers course delivery and the proprietary 'Like a PIRATE' brand framework (Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask, Transform, Enthusiasm) anchors the content IP. Distribution is global via digital retail channels, with no disclosed physical retail presence, no mobile app, no public API, and no enterprise software integrations. Target customers are individual K-12 teachers, school and district administrators, and education leaders in the United States and other English-speaking markets, served through self-serve consumer channels rather than district-level contracts.

Name

Dave Burgess Consulting

Legal name

Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Website

https://daveburgessconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. is a family-owned educational publisher that produces the Like a PIRATE and Lead Like a PIRATE book series and operates DBC University, an online professional development platform, serving individual K-12 teachers and school administrators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Publishing & Professional Development

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

E-book Subscription & Bundling Services (MPAJAMAB)

Keywords

• Education publishing
• Professional development
• Teacher training resources
• K-12 educator content
• Online professional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Physical and digital book sales through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible, and Aerio platforms. The company publishes educational professional development books under the DBC Inc. brand, including the flagship 'Like a PIRATE' series and related titles on leadership, engagement, and school culture.
2. Online Courses (DBC University): Subscription-based online professional development courses delivered through Kajabi platform. Courses include engaging video instruction, free activities and downloadables, bonus resources, and certificates of completed Professional Development hours. Multiple courses available with varying content lengths.
3. Affiliate Marketing: The website contains affiliate links for Amazon and Barnes & Noble book purchases, earning commission on qualifying sales. The company discloses affiliate relationships in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. (DBCI) is an educational publishing and professional development company that sells a catalog of K–12-focused books (centered on the "Like a PIRATE" and "Lead Like a PIRATE" series) and operates DBC University, an online course platform delivering asynchronous professional development with completion certificates for educators. The company also books keynote speaking engagements featuring its author network at education conferences and events.

Product overview

Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. (DBCI) is a book publishing company and professional development organization specializing in educational content. The portfolio consists of two main book series: the 'Like a PIRATE Series' (Teach Like a PIRATE, Learn Like a PIRATE, Play Like a PIRATE, Run Like a PIRATE, Explore Like a PIRATE, Tech Like a PIRATE, Plan Like a PIRATE, Journal LAP) focused on classroom engagement and teaching strategies, and the 'Lead Like a PIRATE Series' (Lead Like a PIRATE, Lead with Instructional Rounds, and other leadership titles) for school administrators. Additional offerings include DBC University online courses delivered through Kajabi, the DBCI Blog with guest posts on teaching strategies, podcasts, and keynote speaking services featuring their author speakers. The company publishes books across topics including student engagement, educational leadership, technology integration, and school culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DBC University: Online professional development platform offering asynchronous courses with videos, activities, and certificates from experienced education speakers

Products and services

• Teach Like a PIRATE Inspirational book by Dave Burgess offering techniques to increase student engagement, boost creativity, and transform teaching practice; includes 30+ hooks and 170 brainstorming questions. Targeted at K-12 classroom teachers seeking practical engagement strategies.
• Lead Like a PIRATE Leadership book for education administrators focused on creating amazing schools through PIRATE leadership traits (Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask, Analyze, Transformation, Enthusiasm). Targets principals, vice principals, superintendents, and other school leaders.
• P is for PIRATE Inspirational ABC book for educators written by Dave and Shelley Burgess that offers ideas for making classrooms fun and engaging, drawing on the insights of more than 70 educators. Targeted at K-12 teachers and education students.
• Learn Like a PIRATE Book by Paul Solarz on student-led classroom strategies focused on collaboration, empowerment, and student leadership. Targeted at K-12 teachers seeking student-centered instructional models.
• Play Like a PIRATE Book by Quinn Rollins on integrating toys, games, and comics into curriculum to engage student learning. Targeted at K-12 teachers seeking playful, gamified instruction.
• Run Like a PIRATE Book by Adam Welcome on personal goal-setting and motivation, using running marathons as a metaphor for achievement. Targeted at educators pursuing personal and professional growth.
• Tech Like a PIRATE Book by Matt Miller on using classroom technology effectively to create engaging learning experiences. Targeted at K-12 teachers integrating edtech into instruction.
• Explore Like a PIRATE Book by Michael Matera on gamification and game-inspired course design to engage and enrich student learning. Targeted at K-12 teachers applying game mechanics to instruction.
• Plan Like a PIRATE Book by Dawn Harris on designing extraordinary learning experiences through intentional planning and differentiated instruction. Targeted at K-12 teachers developing lesson and unit plans.
• Lead with Instructional Rounds Book by Vicki Wilson (Lead Like a PIRATE Series, Book 7) providing a practical guide to instructional rounds for educators. Targeted at school administrators and instructional leaders.
• Kids Deserve It! Book by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome on pushing boundaries and challenging conventional thinking in education. Targeted at K-12 educators and leaders.
• Empower Our Girls Book by Lynmara Colon and Adam Welcome on helping girls realize their innate value and reach their true potential through education. Targeted at K-12 educators, counselors, and parents.
• Teachers Deserve It Book by Adam Welcome and Rae Hughart on teacher advocacy and what educators deserve in their profession. Targeted at K-12 teachers and school leaders.
• Journal LAP 14-week journaling and planning system for educators with flexible design features including weekly calendars and inspirational quotes. Sold as a physical planning/journal product for individual educator use.
• DBC University (DBCU) Subscription-based online professional development platform delivering asynchronous courses with engaging video instruction, free activities and downloadables, bonus resources, 6+ hours of applicable content per course, and DBCU certificates of completed Professional Development hours. Targeted at K-12 teachers, school administrators, and education leaders.
• DBCI Speakers (Keynote Speaking Services) Keynote speaking services featuring the company's roster of DBCI authors — Dave Burgess, Tara Martin, Marisol Quevedo Rerucha, Jimmy Casas, Beth Houf, and George Couros — for education conferences, district events, and professional development days. Targeted at schools, districts, and education conference organizers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 hooks to captivate classes and 170 brainstorming questions for creativity
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary retail distribution partner for physical and digital book sales. The company maintains affiliate relationships with Amazon for book purchases, earning commission on qualifying sales while providing easy purchasing options for customers.
• Barnes & NoblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner offering print and Nook ebook versions of company publications. Provides alternative purchasing channel for customers who prefer B&N for book purchases.
• KajabicoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform powering DBC University online courses. Provides course delivery infrastructure including video hosting, downloadable resources, and certificate generation for professional development programs.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Thinkific: Hosted course platform comparable to Kajabi (which DBC runs on). Adjacent technology enabler rather than a content competitor, but illustrates the SaaS ecosystem DBC depends on for DBC University delivery.

Broad incumbents

• MasterClass: Subscription online-courses platform with celebrity instructors. Comparable subscription content model to DBC University, though broader in scope and far larger in scale; illustrates direct-to-consumer education subscription dynamics.
• ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development): Long-standing education membership organization publishing books, journals, and PD programs for teachers and administrators. Overlaps DBC's school-leader and teacher-audience focus but operates at broader scale and as a non-profit.

Direct peers

• Solution Tree: Publishes K-12 professional development books (e.g., PLC/assessment frameworks) and runs large PD conferences. Comparable audience, channel mix, and content-led GTM to DBC.
• Corwin Press: Major K-12 professional development book publisher with an extensive catalog of teacher and leadership titles, plus conferences and online PD. Direct overlap with DBC's teacher-engagement and school-leadership books.
• Stenhouse Publishers: Independent K-12 publisher of professional books by practicing educators, with a strong author-community model. Closely mirrors DBC's 'author-as-practitioner' positioning and teacher-audience focus.
• Heinemann: Education publisher focused on literacy, classroom practice, and teacher PD books and resources. Directly comparable book-publishing business serving K-12 educators.
• Marzano Resources: Publishes K-12 PD books, workshops, and online courses tied to Robert Marzano's frameworks. Comparable mix of books, paid PD courses, and educator certifications.

Emerging players

• Edutopia: George Lucas Educational Foundation's free K-12 PD content platform (articles, videos) on engagement and teaching strategies. Competes for the same teacher mindshare with free content where DBC sells books/courses.

Regional players

• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education): Membership/standards organization producing K-12 ed-tech PD books, courses, and a certification. Partial overlap with DBC's Tech Like a PIRATE theme and its school-leader audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dbc_inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Dave Burgess Consulting