Generation Exchange

What Generation Exchange does

Generation Exchange is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, that runs free, one-on-one intergenerational technology workshops pairing student volunteers (Mentors) with adults primarily aged 50 and older (Mentees) who need help with everyday technology. Sessions are curriculum-free and cover email, video chat, social media, file creation, photo sharing, cloud services, and any device or app question. Programs are delivered both in-person on college campuses and remotely online, with workshops sized between 20 and 90 participants each.

The organization operates through university chapter partnerships rather than a software platform. Its core products are Intergenerational Technology Workshops, supplemented by Employable Skills Training and an announced forthcoming Certification offering for technical abilities, leadership, and work experience. As a service organization, Generation Exchange has no proprietary technology stack, APIs, or software products of its own; the "technology" being taught is consumer-grade devices operated by the participants.

Generation Exchange's business model is donation-funded rather than commercial: it is incorporated as a Colorado 501(c)(3) (effective December 13, 2019), making contributions tax-deductible. All programs are provided free to participants. The go-to-market motion is community-led — word-of-mouth referrals (the organization reports a 99% recommendation rate), campus-based chapter networks, and website sign-ups — with no paid advertising. Three chapters are operational (CU Boulder, Colorado State University Fort Collins, University of Denver) and two additional chapters are in development (Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado Mountain College in Salida). The organization is led by co-founders Matt Isola and Leslie Getty, with co-founder Meryl Balusek having departed in 2020 to pursue graduate studies.

Name

Generation Exchange

Legal name

Generation Exchange

Website

https://generationexchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Generation Exchange is a Boulder, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs free, one-on-one intergenerational technology workshops pairing college-student mentors with adults aged 50+ to address the digital-literacy gap, funded by tax-deductible community donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult and Community Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online & Hybrid Senior Learning Platforms (EDAAAMAD)

Keywords

• Intergenerational technology workshops
• Digital literacy training
• Senior technology education
• Volunteer mentorship programs
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Generation Exchange is funded entirely by tax-deductible donations from the community. Programs are offered free to participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Generation Exchange runs free, two-hour, one-on-one intergenerational technology workshops pairing student volunteer mentors with adults over 40 (mentees). Sessions are curriculum-free and cover any device, app, or technology question including email, video chat, social media, file creation and organization, photo sharing, and cloud services. Programs are delivered free to participants at college campuses in Colorado and online, with additional Employable Skills Training integrated into the volunteer experience.

Product overview

Generation Exchange is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates as a single, unified social-impact program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings consist of free Intergenerational Technology Workshops—hands-on, one-on-one sessions pairing student mentors with older adults seeking technology guidance—alongside Employable Skills Training for job seekers. Certifications for technical abilities, leadership, and work experience are announced as a forthcoming offering. All programs are free to participants and delivered in-person or remotely.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intergenerational Technology Workshops Free, two-hour, one-on-one, curriculum-free technology learning sessions pairing student volunteer Mentors with adult Mentees (primarily aged 50+). Coverage includes email, video chat, social media, file creation and organization, photo sharing, the cloud, and any question about any device or app. Delivered in-person at college campus chapters and remotely online; open to older adults seeking technology confidence.
• Employable Skills Training Personalized training in practical skills provided as part of the intergenerational service opportunity, aimed at participants struggling to gain employment. Integrated into the volunteer/mentor experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 2,000 participants served as of January 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of DenvercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Host location for an intergenerational technology workshop (circa 2019). Established chapter providing workshops to the community.
• University of Colorado BouldercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Initial chapter location where co-founder Matt Isola began hosting free monthly workshops in 2018 as part of his Master's degree. Primary operational hub for the organization.
• Colorado State University Fort CollinscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Established chapter location for Generation Exchange workshops serving the local community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP Foundation: Large philanthropic arm of AARP providing digital literacy and workforce programs for adults 50+, offering overlapping services to a similar mentee segment but at a much larger scale.
• Public Library Association: Division of the American Library Association supporting public libraries, many of which run free one-on-one technology help desks for older adults—a structurally similar service delivered through a different channel.
• Best Buy Geek Squad (Senior Services): Best Buy's tech-support arm offers in-store and remote technology help, including dedicated senior support, positioning it as a scaled commercial alternative for the same mentee need.

Direct peers

• SeniorNet: National non-profit offering technology education classes and resources specifically for older adults, directly overlapping Generation Exchange's adult 50+ technology-training mission.
• Cyber-Seniors: Non-profit that pairs youth volunteers with older adults to provide free technology training and intergenerational mentorship—the closest direct peer to Generation Exchange's model.
• Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) / Senior Planet: Non-profit providing technology training, social engagement, and online classes for older adults, including a national Senior Planet center network—a leading scaled peer in the same category.
• Generations United: National non-profit focused on intergenerational programs and policies, sharing Generation Exchange's foundational premise that connecting generations delivers mutual value.
• Oasis Connections: Lifelong learning program from Oasis that offers technology classes for older adults, directly comparable in target audience and curriculum to Generation Exchange's workshops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Generation Exchange