Origins Project Foundation

What Origins Project Foundation does

Origins Project Foundation is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2018 by theoretical physicist and author Lawrence M. Krauss. It operates through three core program pillars: Public Events (in-person lectures and panels featuring Nobel Laureates, scientists, authors, and public figures), Online Education (anchored by the Origins Podcast, a high-quality video podcast distributed on YouTube and via a paid Substack), and Travel Adventures (curated, small-group expeditions to historically and scientifically significant destinations including Greece, Bhutan, Galapagos, Greenland, Iceland, and Mekong). The organization also sells merchandise and educational content such as Krauss's book The Edge of Knowledge ($20) and Knowns Unknowns live lecture recordings ($50).

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: one-time ticket sales for travel adventures (e.g., Greek Adventure 2026 at $4,500-$6,750 per person double occupancy, Bhutan Experience 2025 at $7,100 per person), pay-as-you-go event ticket sales (Kourion Amphitheater general admission ~$17.70, VIP ~$118), one-time merchandise and lecture sales, recurring tax-deductible donations enabled by 501(c)(3) status, and donor-funded scholarships (up to 2 full and 4 half for the Greek Adventure 2026, plus a 25% teacher discount). Travel adventures use an application-based enrollment process with a $1,000 non-refundable deposit, which supports group curation and scarcity positioning.

Go-to-market is community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-consumer. The foundation relies on its founder's personal brand, an advisory board of more than 25 distinguished individuals (including Nobel Laureates such as Barry Barish, John Mather, Kip Thorne, David Gross, and Sheldon Glashow, plus authors like Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker, Ian McEwan, and entertainers such as Ricky Gervais), and an engaged subscriber/donor community to drive word-of-mouth, earned media, and direct bookings through originsproject.org. The operating model is small (11-50 employees), independent, and funded entirely by program revenues and donations, with no disclosed parent company or institutional investors.

Name

Origins Project Foundation

Legal name

Origins Project Foundation, LLC

Website

https://originsproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Origins Project Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by physicist Lawrence M. Krauss that educates intellectually curious adults through public events, the Origins Podcast, and curated travel adventures to historically and scientifically significant destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Science Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Science education programs
• Public lectures
• Educational travel
• Podcast production
• Nonprofit education

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Travel Adventures: Curated group travel experiences to destinations of historical and scientific significance (Greece, Bhutan, Galapagos, Greenland, Iceland, Mekong). Revenue from per-person pricing for adventure packages including accommodations, excursions, and speaker-led discussions.
2. Event Tickets: Public event ticket sales for lectures, seminars, and special events featuring thought leaders. Includes general admission and VIP experiences with premium pricing tiers.
3. Merchandise and Educational Content: Sale of books, live lecture recordings, and educational materials. Products include The Edge of Knowledge book ($20) and Knowns Unknowns Live Lecture recordings ($50).
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from supporters to fund the non-profit mission of bringing science and culture education to public audiences.
5. Scholarships and Financial Assistance: Awarded through donor-funded programs to enable participation for teachers, students, and lifelong learners who demonstrate financial need.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Origins Project Foundation is a nonprofit that produces public science lectures and events, the Origins Podcast, online science education (Science Matters on Substack), and curated travel adventures to sites of scientific and cultural significance. It also publishes books such as "The Edge of Knowledge." Operations are funded through donations, ticket sales, travel fees, and product sales.

Product overview

Origins Project Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization offering a unified portfolio of educational programs centered on science, culture, and intellectual inquiry. The core offerings consist of the Origins Podcast (a video podcast featuring conversations with thought leaders), Public Events (in-person stage discussions with scientists, artists, and public figures), Online Education resources (including the Science Matters program), and Travel Adventures (curated global excursions to historically and scientifically significant destinations). Individual products include 'The Edge of Knowledge' book, 'Knowns Unknowns Live Lecture', and the Kourion Amphitheater Event. These programs work together to fulfill the organization's mission of providing access to people and ideas changing our understanding of ourselves and the world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Origins Podcast: Video podcast featuring in-depth conversations with thought leaders from science, arts, and journalism about issues impacting society in the 21st century, hosted by Lawrence M. Krauss.

Products and services

• Origins Podcast A science-focused podcast featuring interviews and discussions with Nobel Laureates and other world-renowned scientists, intended for a general audience of science-curious listeners.
• The Known Unknowns Live Lecture A public live lecture event in the foundation's series, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with leading scientists on fundamental questions in physics and cosmology.
• Kourion Amphitheater Event An event held at the Kourion Amphitheater in Cyprus, combining a destination venue with the foundation's science programming.
• Science Matters (Substack Online Education) An online science education program delivered through the Substack newsletter platform, providing ongoing written content to subscribers and supporters.
• Greek Islands Travel Adventure A curated multi-day travel adventure to the Greek Islands, with per-person pricing differentiated by single vs. double occupancy and including a 25% teacher discount.
• Bhutan Travel Adventure A curated travel adventure to Bhutan, offering an expedition-style experience tied to the foundation's science and exploration mission.
• Galapagos Travel Adventure A curated travel adventure to the Galapagos, designed to integrate scientific exploration with destination travel.
• Greenland/Iceland Travel Adventure A curated travel adventure to Greenland and Iceland, including vessel-based expedition components, with per-person pricing tailored to occupancy.
• The Edge of Knowledge (Book) A published book by Lawrence M. Krauss, sold through the foundation's channels, covering the frontiers of fundamental science knowledge.

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bhutan Best Inbound TourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tour operator headquartered in Thimphu, Bhutan. Founded in 2005, certified by Bhutan Tourism Council, with industry awards for exceptional service and customized tour packages. Manages sustainable tourism logistics, guides, and accommodations for Bhutan Experience trips.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Atlas Obscura: For-profit experiential travel and content platform focused on scientifically and culturally extraordinary destinations. Overlaps Origins Project's 'transformational travel to unusual sites' offering but is broader and consumer-scale rather than expert-led.
• MasterClass: Subscription-based educational content platform featuring world-class experts delivering structured learning experiences. Comparable 'access to world-class thinkers' value proposition delivered through a different commercial model.
• Cosmos Studios: Science-focused media venture producing high-quality video content exploring cosmology and big questions. Overlaps Origins Project's science-communication content library and donor-supported mission.
• Nautilus Magazine: Reader-supported nonprofit publication covering science and culture with intellectual depth. Comparable donor-funded science-and-culture content model at a smaller editorial scale.

Direct peers

• TED (TED Foundation): 501(c)(3) nonprofit that curates paid and free public events featuring world-class thinkers, distributes video content globally, and sells premium experiences. Directly comparable mission, business model, and audience to Origins Project Foundation.
• The Moth: Nonprofit producing ticketed live storytelling events and a popular podcast, supported by donations. Comparable event-driven, content-extending nonprofit operating model with a similar community-led GTM motion.
• 92nd Street Y (92NY): Long-running nonprofit cultural and educational institution hosting ticketed lectures, conversations with notable thinkers, and classes — directly comparable in-person intellectual-event format and donor-supported nonprofit structure.
• World Science Festival: Nonprofit producing public-facing science events, panel discussions, and educational programming featuring Nobel Laureates and leading researchers. Closely mirrors Origins Project's science-and-culture public-event format.

Broad incumbents

• National Geographic Society: Large nonprofit combining science/culture education, expedition-style travel (Nat Geo Expeditions), and content distribution. Represents the scaled incumbent version of Origins Project's public-engagement-plus-expedition model.

Regional players

• Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: Canadian-based nonprofit research and outreach institute hosting public lectures and educational programming on theoretical physics — adjacent mission and Nobel-caliber speaker network, but not a direct competitor in programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheOriginsPodcast
• Xx.com/originsproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/originsproject

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Origins Project Foundation