What Computers For Schools Manitoba does

Computers For Schools Manitoba (C4SMB; legal entity 3925260 Manitoba Association Inc.) is a Winnipeg-based non-profit computer refurbishment organization co-founded in 1993 by Industry Canada and TelecomPioneers and incorporated in 1998. It acquires surplus and end-of-life technology donations — primarily from the Government of Manitoba, private businesses, and individuals — and processes them through secure data sanitization, manual testing, cleaning, and OS reinstallation (Windows 11 Pro or Linux Mint) before distributing refurbished desktops, laptops, workstations, servers, and networking equipment to eligible Manitobans at prices ranging from free to CAD 150.

The organization operates a paid ~28-week internship program absorbing ~14 youth at a time plus co-op placements, which functions as both a workforce-development vehicle and the primary labor source for the refurbishment workflow. It holds EPRA-MB certified recycling depot status (since 2012) and Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher credentials, making it one of the largest year-round e-waste processing sites in Winnipeg and diverting an average of 500,000+ lbs of electronics from landfills annually.

C4SMB's business model is a hybrid nonprofit/government-funded model: it charges eligible clients nominal fees for equipment while its operating budget is anchored by an annual grant from Manitoba Education & Early Childhood Learning plus in-kind technology donations from the Government of Manitoba. It sells through two physical locations (Winnipeg HQ at 18 Terracon Place; The Pas satellite at University College of the North) with no third-party resellers, supported by an online application workflow and a referral-driven community marketing motion. The customer base is segmented across post-secondary students, K-12 schools, Indigenous communities and individuals, low-income families, seniors (55+), registered charities/nonprofits, public libraries, and adult learning centres.

Name

Computers For Schools Manitoba

Legal name

3925260 Manitoba Association Inc.

Website

https://c4smb.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Computers For Schools Manitoba is a Winnipeg-based non-profit that refurbishes donated computers and distributes them free or at low cost to eligible Manitobans — students, schools, Indigenous communities, low-income families, seniors, and nonprofits — while operating an EPRA-MB certified e-waste recycling depot and a paid youth internship program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Computer Refurbishment and E-Waste Recycling Services

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Electronic Computers (3571), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronics Recycling & Material Recovery (Dismantling/Separation) (BPALAIAE), Consumer Electronics Recycling (TVs, AV, Small Electronics) (BPALAIAH), Electronics Dismantling & Pre-processing (Depollution, Sorting, Shredding) (EUAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Refurbished computer distribution
• E-waste recycling services
• Digital inclusion programs
• Non-profit technology services
• Computer refurbishment

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of refurbished computers and equipment to eligible client groups at low cost. Prices range from free to $150 depending on equipment type and client eligibility.
2. Government Grants: Annual operational grant from Manitoba Education & Early Childhood Learning; surplus and end-of-life technology donations from Government of Manitoba.
3. E-Waste Recycling Services: EPRA-MB certified recycling depot accepting electronics for responsible recycling, operating year-round in Winnipeg.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Computers For Schools Manitoba (C4SMB) refurbishes donated surplus and end-of-life computers and electronics and provides them at free or low cost (from $12.50 to $150 + PST) to eligible Manitoban client groups including K-12 schools, public libraries, non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, post-secondary students, low-income individuals and families, seniors, and adult learning centres. The organization also operates an EPRA-MB certified e-waste recycling depot in Winnipeg and runs a paid youth internship program and unpaid co-op program that supply the labour to refurbish approximately 5,000 computers per year while diverting 500,000+ lbs of electronics from landfills annually.

Product overview

Computers for Schools Manitoba (C4SMB) is a non-profit computer refurbishment program that provides renewed technology to eligible Manitobans. The core product portfolio consists of refurbished desktop computers and laptops available in multiple tiers: budget options running Linux Mint (Mint Low-Cost Desktop at $12.50, Mint Low-Cost Laptop at $75.00) and Windows-based systems (Windows Low-Cost Desktop at $25.00, Windows Standard Desktop at $125.00, Windows Standard Laptop at $150.00). Professional-grade Workstations and Flatbed Servers are available to educational institutions. Free networking Switches are also offered. All products come with a one-year limited warranty and include peripherals such as monitors, keyboards, mice, and power cables. C4SMB also operates an e-waste recycling program as an EPRA-MB certified depot, diverting over 500,000 lbs of electronics from landfills annually. The organization employs youth through paid internship and unpaid co-op programs to test, clean, and refurbish equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mint Low-Cost Desktop Entry-level refurbished desktop computer running Linux Mint, with Intel iSeries or AMD equivalent Gen 6-7 processor, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, and a 19-20 inch monitor, priced at $12.50 for eligible client groups.
• Windows Low-Cost Desktop Budget refurbished desktop with Windows 11 Pro Refurbished OS, Intel iSeries or AMD equivalent Gen 8 processor, and a minimum 240GB SSD, priced at $25.00 for eligible client groups.
• Windows Standard Desktop Standard refurbished desktop with Windows 11 Pro, Intel iSeries or AMD equivalent Gen 8+ processor, 16GB RAM, 240GB NVME + 512GB SSD, 21+ inch monitor, and WiFi capability, priced at $125.00 + PST for eligible client groups.
• Windows Standard Laptop Standard refurbished laptop with Intel iSeries or AMD equivalent Gen 8+ processor, 240GB SSD, power cable included, no touch screen, priced at $150.00 + PST for eligible client groups.
• Mint Low-Cost Laptop Budget refurbished laptop running Linux Mint OS with Intel iSeries or AMD equivalent Gen 6-7 processor, priced at $75.00 + PST for eligible client groups.
• Workstation Professional-grade refurbished workstation with Intel Xeon 1.8-3.0GHz processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage (500GB x2), running Linux, with power cable, mouse, and keyboard, priced at $150.00 and restricted to post-secondary IT students, schools, Indigenous schools, Indigenous communities, non-profits, adult learning centres, and public libraries.
• Flatbed Server Refurbished flatbed server running Linux, available exclusively to public schools, Indigenous schools, independent schools, homeschools, Indigenous communities, adult learning centres, non-profit organizations, and public libraries.
• Network Switch Refurbished network switch with up to 1GB transmit speed and 4-48 ports depending on stock, including power cable and up to 5 Ethernet cables, provided free of charge to eligible client groups.
• Paid Internship Program Paid work-experience program for Manitoba youth aged 15-30, running approximately 28 weeks per cohort with about 14 youth at a time; interns test, clean, and refurbish equipment while gaining hands-on IT skills and CompTIA certification preparation.
• Co-op Program Unpaid work-experience program for high school or post-secondary students to complete practicum requirements, coordinated through educational institutions, covering installing and testing hard drives, using diagnostic tools, safely dismantling computers, and document management.
• E-Waste Recycling Program EPRA-MB certified electronics recycling service accepting a wide variety of surplus and end-of-life electronics for responsible in-Canada reuse or recycling, operating year-round in Winnipeg and operating Manitoba's province-wide E-Waste Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000 refurbished computers provided per year to eligible clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Tech ManitobamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2020Partnered to donate refurbished desktop computers to Flin Flon School Division students and Thompson area residents including Marcel Colomb Cree Nation. Tech Manitoba provided donations and coordinated distribution.
• GardewineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 July 2020Shipping partner that provided transportation for computers being donated to Flin Flon, Thompson, and Marcel Colomb Cree Nation.
• Industry CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Co-founded Computers for Schools national initiative in 1993 with TelecomPioneers to refurbish computers for schools, libraries, and nonprofit educational settings.
• TelecomPioneerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Co-founded Computers for Schools national initiative in 1993 with Industry Canada to refurbish computers for schools, libraries, and nonprofit educational settings.
• Government of ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides continued support through surplus and end-of-life technology donations. Operational support via annual grant from Manitoba Education & Early Childhood Learning allowing organization to grow capacity and support publicly funded schools in Manitoba through free and affordable technology solutions.
• Terracon DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrendsetter in industrial flex-space in Winnipeg since 1976. Provided support through lease hold improvements and understanding of the organization's nonprofit nature and mission.
• University College of the North (UCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in northern Manitoba, UCN has young and growing population over 70% Indigenous. First-of-its-kind hybrid training opportunity developed with C4SMB to expose Indigenous women to IT sector through classroom curriculum and hands-on experience including cultural teachings like Sweetgrass component. Also provides satellite location for equipment pickup in The Pas.
• Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA-MB)coreTechnology or IntegrationC4SMB is a registered and certified recycling depot with EPRA-MB since 2012. One of EPRA-MB's largest sites open year-round in Winnipeg, accepting a wide variety of electronics for reuse or recycling.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationC4SMB is a Microsoft authorized refurbisher, enabling proper refurbishment processes and Windows OS reinstallation standards.
• Birchwood FordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Birchwood Automotive Group serving Manitobans. Regularly donates surplus computers and electronics to C4SMB, helping refurbish equipment and keep reusable tech out of landfills.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InterConnection: Seattle-based non-profit refurbishing donated computers for nonprofits, refugees, and low-income families, with workforce-training components. Closely comparable in mission, donor pipeline, and training model.
• Renewed Computer Technology (RCT): Ontario non-profit IT refurbisher providing low-cost computers to charities, schools, and individuals; runs the RCTech Training program. Directly comparable refurbishment + workforce-development model to C4SMB.
• Free Geek: Non-profit refurbisher combining computer reuse, e-waste recycling, and an IT workforce training program for marginalized adults. Closely mirrors C4SMB's refurbish-plus-internship structure.
• BC Technology for Learning Society: British Columbia-based non-profit refurbisher of computers for schools, nonprofits, and Indigenous communities. Closely comparable operating model, donor-supplied inventory, and beneficiary segments to C4SMB.
• Computers for Schools Canada: National umbrella program co-founded by Industry Canada and TelecomPioneers in 1993, of which C4SMB is a provincial member. Directly comparable in mission, refurbishment model, and federal/provincial stakeholder relationships.
• Electronic Recycling Association (ERA): Canadian non-profit e-waste collector and refurbisher that redistributes working electronics to charities and individuals. Comparable as a Canada-wide ITAD and donation-redistribution non-profit competing for similar donor pools.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries of Manitoba: Larger Manitoba non-profit social enterprise with multiple programs including workforce training; while not exclusively focused on IT, it operates in overlapping beneficiary, training, and refurbishment-of-donated-goods territory.
• Habitat for Humanity Manitoba ReStore: Manitoba-based non-profit that resells donated goods to fund affordable housing. Comparable in non-profit resale-of-donated-goods and community-impact model, though focused on furniture and household items rather than electronics.

Regional players

• Techno Recyclage: Quebec-based IT refurbisher and e-waste recycler serving schools, nonprofits, and individuals. Comparable services and beneficiary groups but operates in a different province than C4SMB.

Others

• Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher Program: Microsoft's broader program authorizing refurbishers to install genuine Windows on reused PCs. C4SMB participates in this program; comparable as an enabling ecosystem that defines refurbishment standards C4SMB follows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/C4SMB
• Facebookfacebook.com/C4SMB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/computers-for-schools-manitoba

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Computers For Schools Manitoba