Project Bike Tech

What Project Bike Tech does

Project Bike Tech (PBT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Berri Michel at Bicycle Trip bike shop in Santa Cruz, California. It delivers the Bike Tech in School program, a credited high school elective that uses bicycle mechanics as a hands-on conduit to teach Common CORE and STEM subjects while preparing students for careers in the cycling industry. The proprietary curriculum is classified under the Career Technical Education Transportation Sector as Introduction to Systems Diagnostics, Service and Repair, and is supported by the Classroom in a Box deployment package, the PBT Graduate Certificate, and an Alumni Network. Since inception, the program has impacted more than 3,000 students and operates in 50+ classrooms across 15 states plus Washington DC.

The organization monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: individual donations (promoted via the website and recognized with a Candid/GuideStar Gold Seal), corporate sponsorships from major cycling manufacturers and suppliers (Shimano, Park Tools, Specialized, Liv+, Quality Bicycle Products, Oxygen), foundation and grant funding (New Belgium, The Outride Foundation, Catena Foundation, Epic Promise Foundation, Summit Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Two West Foundation, Team Evergreen, US Bank, UpMobility Foundation), and program fees from contracted high schools and CTE agencies. PBT employs 51-100 staff across roles including Executive Director, Educational Support Specialist, Development Director, Community Liaison, Business Development Lead, and a Board of Directors with deep cycling-industry and corporate pedigree.

The go-to-market model is community-led and channel-partner driven. Schools are reached through cycling advocates and local bike shops, with PBT facilitating classroom setup, teacher training, and discounted pricing through industry vendor partnerships. Local bike shops provide mentorship, internships, and job placement for graduates, creating a workforce pipeline. The Southwest Program, launched in fall 2021 with foundation funding, extends the model to tribal and economically disadvantaged youth in the Four Corners region. Distribution relies on direct sales to school administrators and CTE agencies, supplemented by grassroots advocacy and industry endorsements from PeopleForBikes, NBDA, and Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

Name

Project Bike Tech

Legal name

Project Bike Tech

Website

https://projectbiketech.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Project Bike Tech is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers credited high school bicycle mechanic education programs in 15 states plus Washington DC, integrating Common CORE and STEM instruction with career preparation and industry-recognized certificates for the cycling workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)

akta.pro primary industry

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)

Keywords

• Bicycle mechanic training
• Career technical education
• High school STEM curriculum
• Bicycle industry workforce
• Nonprofit education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Frisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, PBT relies heavily on donations from individuals and organizations. The organization promotes donations through its website and has earned a Gold Seal with Candid (GuideStar).
2. Corporate Sponsorship: PBT receives support from corporate sponsors including bicycle industry manufacturers and suppliers (Shimano, Park Tools, Specialized, Liv+, Quality Bicycle Products, Oxygen) who provide financial and product support.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: PBT receives funding from supporting foundations including New Belgium, The Outride Foundation, Epic Promise Foundation, Summit Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Two West Foundation, Team Evergreen, US Bank, and UpMobility Foundation.
4. Program Fees and Classroom Setup Support: Schools enter into contracts with PBT for classroom setup, curriculum access, teacher training, and ongoing support. PBT coordinates discounted pricing for classroom setup and facilitates vendor partnerships for products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Project Bike Tech (PBT) provides technical training in bicycle mechanics to high school students through its flagship Bike Tech in School program. The program delivers a credited high school elective that teaches Common CORE and STEM standards using bicycle mechanics as the educational platform, paired with the Classroom in a Box setup, proprietary curriculum materials, teacher training, and an industry-endorsed PBT Graduate Certificate that prepares students for careers in the cycling industry.

Product overview

Project Bike Tech is a single unified nonprofit educational program focused on bicycle technician training for high school students. The core offering is the Bike Tech in School program—a credited high school elective that provides classroom setup (Classroom in a Box), proprietary curriculum materials, and PBT Certificates. The program also includes an Alumni Network for graduate support and an Earn a Bike Program for younger students. Additional offerings include teacher training, fundraising support, and industry partnerships. The organization operates as an umbrella that fosters bicycle education, enhances lives, and builds communities through technical and career-focused education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bike Tech in School
• Classroom in a Box
• PBT Graduate Certificate
• Curriculum Materials
• Alumni Network
• Southwest Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3000 students successfully trained and graduated since program inception in 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• ShimanocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor bicycle component manufacturer and sponsor of Project Bike Tech. Provides product support and financial sponsorship for the program.
• Park ToolscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading bicycle tool manufacturer. PBT uses Park Tool's Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair as curriculum material. Provides classroom tools and sponsorship.
• SpecializedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor bicycle manufacturer and sponsor of Project Bike Tech program.
• Quality Bicycle Products (QBP)coreTechnology or IntegrationMajor bicycle parts distributor and industry partner. Executive Director Jeff Donaldson previously worked at QBP's U of Q training program. Leigh Keatts serves as Director of Tax and Compliance at QBP.
• Liv+secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's cycling brand under Giant Manufacturing Co. Sponsors Project Bike Tech.
• PeopleForBikescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading cycling advocacy organization that has endorsed the Project Bike Tech program. Focuses on making cycling safer, easier, and more accessible.
• National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry trade association for bicycle retailers. Endorses Project Bike Tech as a program that builds the future cycling workforce and customer base.
• Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading bicycle industry trade publication. Contributing Editor Ray Keener is a Friend of Project Bike Tech.
• Barnett Bicycle InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional bicycle mechanic education institution. John Barnett helped define professional bicycle mechanic education. Executive Director Jeff Donaldson previously served as School Director at Barnett.
• Silver Stallion Bicycle and CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit bike shop on Navajo Nation bringing bicycle education and after-school development rides to 4 Gallup McKinley County Schools. Over 300 students have participated. Community Liaison Randy Bitsue works with both organizations.
• Bicycle Trip (Santa Cruz, CA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPBT was founded at Bicycle Trip bike shop. Owner Berri Michel is the Founder of Project Bike Tech. Original team member Aaron Jacobs helped create the program. Shop employs PBT graduates.
• NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNICA promotes mountain biking for youth. Board member Calvin Jones founded Stillwater MTB team and SASCA nonprofit. Community Liaison Randy Bitsue is working to start NICA teams in Navajo Nation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bikes Not Bombs: Bikes Not Bombs is a Boston-based nonprofit that teaches bicycle mechanics to youth, particularly from underserved communities, and provides refurbished bikes to international development programs. Like PBT, it combines youth education with workforce development in the bicycle industry using a nonprofit model.
• Park Tool School: Park Tool offers Park Tool School, a bicycle mechanic education program built around their Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair, which PBT uses as curriculum material. Park Tool's Director of Education Calvin Jones sits on PBT's board, illustrating the close operational and curricular overlap.
• United Bicycle Institute (UBI): UBI is a professional bicycle mechanic training school in Ashland, Oregon, offering intensive mechanic certification courses. Both UBI and Project Bike Tech provide structured bicycle mechanic education, with UBI focused on adult professional learners and PBT on high school students—making them highly complementary direct peers in bicycle mechanic education.
• The Bike Project (UK): UK-based charity that teaches refugees and other marginalized groups to repair and ride bicycles. Operates a similar model of using bicycle mechanics as a vehicle for education and community development, providing workforce skills to disadvantaged populations.
• QBP U of Q: QBP's U of Q is Quality Bicycle Products' in-house professional training program for bike shop mechanics. Executive Director Jeff Donaldson previously led U of Q, creating direct leadership lineage with PBT; both train bicycle mechanics for industry careers using curriculum tied to industry standards.
• Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bicycles, sells them affordably, and runs youth Earn-A-Bike programs. Operates a similar nonprofit model combining bike education with youth workforce development and community impact.
• Trips for Kids: Trips for Kids is a national nonprofit providing mountain bike experiences and Earn-A-Bike programs to underserved youth. Operates a similar model combining bicycle education with youth development outcomes, and shares PBT's mission of using bicycles as a vehicle for youth workforce and life skills.
• Recycle a Bicycle: Recycle a Bicycle is a NYC-based nonprofit that runs Earn-A-Bike and bike mechanic training programs for youth. It shares PBT's mission of teaching bicycle mechanics to young people as a pathway to skills development and potential employment in the cycling industry.

Emerging players

• National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): NICA is the national organization supporting interscholastic mountain biking leagues. Complementary to PBT—NICA focuses on youth cycling participation and racing while PBT focuses on mechanic training—but both target the same high school audience with mission alignment around youth cycling engagement.
• Outride Foundation: Foundation that supports youth cycling programs and research on cycling's developmental benefits. Provides grant funding to PBT's Southwest Program and operates in adjacent territory of youth cycling development and research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/projectbiketech
• Xx.com/ProjectBikeTech
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectBikeTech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/projectbiketech

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Project Bike Tech