What LARUS Foundation does

LARUS Foundation is a Hong Kong-based non-profit organization established in 2018 that focuses on internet governance education, public participation in digital policy, and institutional collaboration. The foundation serves students, academics, professionals, universities, and volunteers through three core programme areas: public education (workshops, seminars, and educational content on internet governance and infrastructure), participation (a fellowship programme that provides training, financial support, and mentorship for attending Regional Internet Registry meetings and related policy forums), and collaboration (partnerships with universities and mission-aligned organizations for internships, workshops, and public education initiatives). The foundation maintains institutional partnerships with HKU School of English (since 2019) and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong for internship programmes, and engages with Regional Internet Registries to support fellowship participants.

The foundation does not develop proprietary software, hardware, or technology products. Its core offerings consist of educational programs, a fellowship programme that includes stipends, travel support, accommodation, and registration assistance, volunteer pathways, an annual internet governance essay contest for university students, and educational resources such as an IP address guide and an active blog covering internet governance, IP addressing, IPv4/IPv6 markets, and digital sovereignty. As a non-profit, LARUS Foundation operates with 11-50 employees and sustains its activities through donations, grants, and partnership collaborations rather than commercial revenue. All programmes are offered at no direct cost to participants, with stipend support for fellows subject to programme terms and performance.

The foundation is led by CEO Lu Heng, who has publicly positioned the organization on matters of digital sovereignty, network policy, and internet governance, emphasizing practical sovereignty through resilient infrastructure and operational redundancy. The foundation markets itself as the world's No.1 NGO dedicated to Universal Internet Education, and distributes its programmes globally through its website, university partnerships, and remote fellowship delivery, with the essay contest open to university students of all nationalities.

Name

LARUS Foundation

Legal name

LARUS Foundation

Website

https://larus.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LARUS Foundation is a Hong Kong-based non-profit founded in 2018 that provides internet governance education, fellowship programmes, and policy advocacy for students, academics, professionals, and partner universities globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Internet Governance Education

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Internet governance education
• Digital policy training
• Policy fellowship programs
• Internet policy advocacy
• Civic technology education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organization established in 2018 and dedicated to Universal Internet Education, LARUS Foundation operates primarily through donations, grants, and partnerships. The foundation does not sell commercial products but relies on supporter contributions, partnership collaborations, and potentially institutional funding to sustain its programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LARUS Foundation provides educational programs, workshops, and a Fellowship Programme that trains and sponsors individuals to participate in internet governance forums, including Regional Internet Registry meetings. The organization runs an annual essay contest for university students, partners with universities for internships and workshops, and produces educational content on digital policy, IP addressing, and internet governance through its blog.

Product overview

LARUS Foundation is a non-profit organization offering educational programs and participation opportunities focused on Universal Internet Education. The core offerings include Public Education Programs that help individuals understand internet governance, a Fellowship Programme providing training and sponsorship for attending RIR meetings, Partnership Programs with universities for internships and workshops, and Volunteer Support opportunities. Additional resources include an IP Address Guide and an annual Essay Contest for youth. These programs work together to advance public participation in internet policy discussions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fellowship Programme A training and sponsorship programme that helps young people and interested applicants attend Regional Internet Registry meetings and participate in internet policy discussions. The programme provides air tickets, accommodation, registration support, mentorship, and stipend support subject to programme terms and participant performance. Open to applicants from outside Hong Kong, with remote interview options.
• Public Education Programs Educational programs, workshops, and meetings that help students, academics, professionals, and the public build a working understanding of internet governance, infrastructure, and policy.
• Internet Governance Essay Contest A youth-focused annual internet governance essay contest promoting advocacy and civic discussion around how internet policy shapes social and economic development. Open to university students of all nationalities, with entries limited to 700 words in English.
• Partnership Programs Collaborations with universities and mission-aligned organizations to create internships, workshops, sponsorships, and public education initiatives around internet governance. Includes partnerships with HKU School of English (since 2019) and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong for internship programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• HKU School of English partnership active since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HKU School of EnglishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLARUS Foundation has maintained a partnership with the HKU School of English since 2019, collaborating on shared support through ideas, venues, volunteer help, and in-kind resources to advance universal internet education.
• The Hang Seng University of Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLARUS Foundation collaborates with The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong on internship programs, providing students with practical learning opportunities around internet policy and governance through hands-on internship experiences.
• Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation supports people who want to move from awareness into participation in internet governance, including direct engagement with Regional Internet Registry meetings and related policy forums. RIR meetings provide fellowship participants with exposure to policy development and internet number discussions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ICANN: The organization that coordinates the internet's namespace and numbering systems; LARUS's fellowship pathway into RIR meetings is directly connected to ICANN's policy ecosystem, making it a natural (though much larger) ecosystem incumbent.
• Internet Governance Forum (IGF): United Nations-convened multi-stakeholder forum on internet governance; comparable in promoting inclusive dialogue on internet policy, but operates at a global intergovernmental scale rather than as a training provider.

Direct peers

• Access Now: International non-profit defending and extending the digital rights of users at risk; comparable in its internet governance education and policy advocacy focus, particularly for vulnerable and underrepresented voices.
• ARTICLE 19: International non-profit promoting freedom of expression and digital rights; relevant peer given LARUS's emphasis on inclusive participation in internet policy and digital sovereignty.
• Internet Society (ISOC): Global non-profit focused on internet openness, access, and education; closely comparable mission of advancing public participation in internet governance and policy, with significantly larger scale and donor base.
• Center for Democracy & Technology: Non-profit working on internet policy, civil liberties, and digital rights advocacy; overlapping mission of educating the public and shaping internet governance outcomes.
• DiploFoundation: Non-profit foundation that delivers capacity-building and education in internet governance and digital policy — directly comparable to LARUS's fellowship and training programs targeting emerging policy participants.
• World Wide Web Foundation: Non-profit advocating for an open, accessible web; comparable mission of ensuring broader public participation in shaping the digital future, with overlapping educational and advocacy programming.
• Mozilla Foundation: Non-profit arm of the Mozilla project working on internet health, digital literacy, and open web advocacy; overlaps with LARUS's public education and digital policy engagement mission.

Emerging players

• APNIC Foundation: Asia-Pacific regional non-profit supporting internet development, education, and community capacity-building — most comparable to LARUS in regional scope, target audience, and educational programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LarusFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/larusfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/larus-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LARUS Foundation