What YPT International does

YPT International (legally Young Professionals in Transportation) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(6) nonprofit coalition founded in 2008 that provides professional development, fellowship, and networking services to emerging and established leaders in the transportation industry. The organization operates an international federation of local chapters — including YPT-DC, YPT Chicago, YPT-DFW, YPT Orlando, and YPT Philadelphia — that deliver in-person programming such as networking mixers, technical workshops, facility tours, book clubs, lunch-and-learn sessions, and career panels. Membership is open to all transportation professionals worldwide at no cost, and the organization is not age-restricted despite the "Young Professionals" branding.

The core product portfolio consists of free individual membership, chapter-organized events, a curated transportation-industry job board, and the Changemakers in Transportation annual awards program (Member of the Year and Mentor of the Year). YPT does not operate a proprietary technology platform; membership and event registration are managed through the third-party NeonCRM system, while virtual programming is delivered via Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Brand and event distribution are concentrated at major industry conferences including the Transportation Research Board (TRB) annual meeting, MPact Conference, and Transportation Camp PHL.

The business model is sponsorship-driven. As a 501(c)(6) entity, YPT funds its programming through annual corporate sponsorships from transportation industry firms — with Amtrak, NRC, and WSP confirmed as 2026 sponsors. The organization is governed by an elected International Board of Directors and a Board of Advisors that includes leadership from APTA, AASHTO, and other national transportation agencies, providing institutional reach across consulting firms, transit agencies, and government transportation departments in North America and internationally.

Name

YPT International

Legal name

Young Professionals in Transportation

Website

https://yptransportation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

YPT International is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(6) nonprofit coalition founded in 2008 that provides free professional development, networking, and fellowship to transportation professionals worldwide through an international federation of local chapters, a curated job board, and an annual Changemakers awards program, funded by corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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. Sponsorships: YPT generates revenue through annual sponsorships from transportation industry firms. Sponsors provide financial support enabling programming, events, publications, and member opportunities. As a federally-recognized 501(c)(6) non-profit entity, contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions but may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YPT International is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit coalition that delivers professional development, fellowship, and networking services to emerging and established transportation professionals worldwide. It does this through an international network of local chapters that run events such as networking mixers, technical workshops, facility tours, panels, book clubs, and lunch-and-learn sessions, complemented by an online job board, annual awards (Changemakers in Transportation), and grants/contests supporting research and community-impact projects.

Product overview

YPT International operates as a single unified professional development and networking organization offering membership-based services to transportation professionals worldwide. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including membership, local chapter events (such as Book Club, Lunch & Learn, Beers with Peers, and facility tours), a curated job board featuring opportunities from transportation agencies, and annual awards recognizing outstanding members and mentors through the Changemakers in Transportation program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YPT Membership Program Open, free professional membership for transportation professionals worldwide providing access to networking, professional development resources, and industry events with no age restriction.
• YPT Events Transportation-focused networking events, panels, technical workshops, tours, book clubs, and lunch-and-learn sessions organized by YPT local chapters for members.
• YPT Local Chapters International network of regional chapters (e.g., YPT Orlando, YPT-DFW, YPT-DC, YPT Chicago, YPT Philadelphia) providing local professional development programming and networking for transportation professionals.
• YPT Job Board Curated online job board connecting transportation professionals with job opportunities at agencies and firms such as Caltrans.
• YPT Changemakers in Transportation Award Annual award program recognizing outstanding YPT members and mentors for significant impact in transportation, with Member of the Year and Mentor of the Year categories and accompanying grants.
• YPT Annual Sponsorship Program Annual corporate sponsorship program enabling transportation industry firms to fund YPT programming and gain visibility with an international pipeline of emerging transportation leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27 universities reached through AREMA Student Chapters Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Transportation Research Board (TRB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT hosts events at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting, one of the largest transportation industry conferences globally. This partnership provides YPT members access to premier professional development and networking opportunities at the international conference.
• MPact ConferencesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT collaborates on events at the MPact Conference, including hosting a Careers in Transit panel and participating on the planning committee with Transportation Camp PHL.
• American Public Transportation AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT Board of Advisors includes leadership from American Public Transportation Association (APTA), specifically Carita Ducre, Vice President of Workforce Development & Educational Services.
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT Board of Advisors includes Joung Lee, Deputy Director and Chief Policy Officer at AASHTO, strengthening ties with national transportation agencies and organizations.
• AREMAsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT member Daniel Rappoport volunteers with AREMA, managing the organization's Student Chapters Program across 27 universities in North America to engage students in railroad engineering careers.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT mentor Hailey Amundson has contributed to transit service planning and ridership forecasting using FTA's Simplified Trips-on-Project Software (STOPS), connecting YPT members to federal transportation programs.
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPT mentor Hailey Amundson serves on FHWA's travel forecast accuracy contract, creating procedures informed by agency and industry best practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Public Transportation Association (APTA): APTA is a broad incumbent — the leading U.S. public transportation industry association. YPT already has formal ties to APTA via its Board of Advisors, but APTA's broader portfolio (advocacy, conferences, standards) represents both a partner channel and the most likely competitive threat to YPT's emerging-leader niche.
• Transportation Research Board (TRB): TRB is a broad incumbent — the National Academies' transportation research arm and host of the largest annual U.S. transportation conference. YPT already co-hosts events at TRB, but TRB's research and convening capacity represents the institutional gold standard YPT's conference programming is benchmarked against.
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): AASHTO is a broad incumbent representing state departments of transportation. YPT has an embedded Board of Advisors connection (Joung Lee), but AASHTO's institutional reach and policy influence dwarf YPT's and could absorb emerging-leader programming if prioritized.
• Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE): ITE is a broad incumbent — an international professional association for transportation engineers and planners. ITE overlaps directly with YPT's target member base (early-career planners and engineers) and competes for the same sponsorship dollars from firms like WSP and AECOM.

Direct peers

• American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA): AREMA is a direct peer in the rail sub-sector — a professional association whose Student Chapters Program YPT members actively support. Both organizations target emerging transportation leaders with chapter-based programming and university outreach.
• WTS International: WTS International is a direct peer — a transportation industry professional development organization with a chapter-based model, focused on advancing women in transportation. Both YPT and WTS operate as 501(c)(3)/(c)(6) nonprofits delivering networking, mentorship, awards, and chapter programming to transportation professionals.
• Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO): COMTO is a direct peer — a U.S.-based transportation industry membership organization that delivers professional development, scholarships, and networking to a defined demographic of transportation professionals. The chapter structure, awards programs, and sponsorship model are closely analogous to YPT's.

Others

• Eno Transportation Foundation: Eno is an adjacent organization — a transportation leadership and policy foundation that runs fellowships and leadership development programs. Eno sits in the same emerging-leader talent pipeline as YPT and represents both a feeder of members and a potential programmatic partner or competitor.

Emerging players

• Young Professionals in Energy (YPE): YPE is a closely analogous emerging peer — a 'young professionals' international professional development organization, but in the energy sector rather than transportation. YPT appears modeled on the same young-professional networking playbook YPE pioneered.
• Young Professionals in Foreign Policy: YPFP is a closely analogous emerging peer — a 'young professionals' nonprofit membership organization with a chapter model, mentorship, and fellowship programming, but in foreign policy rather than transportation. YPFP's operating model parallels YPT's structure and fundraising approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YPTvoice
• Facebookfacebook.com/yptransportation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-professionals-in-transportation-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/yptransportation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 YPT International