I Challenge Myself

What I Challenge Myself does

I Challenge Myself (ICM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Ana Reyes in February 2005 and headquartered at 1216 Broadway in Manhattan. ICM partners with New York City public schools to deliver school-based cycling, fitness, triathlon, and social-emotional learning programs to underserved middle and high school students across the Bronx, Harlem, Washington Heights, the Lower East Side, and Manhattan. Since launch, the organization has directly served more than 4,000 students through 15 active programs, with 400 students served in the 2024-25 school year and Cycling Smarts reporting that 100% of participants learned to ride a bike safely while 73% reported improved self-esteem.

The organization's core product suite comprises five programs: Cycling Smarts (an elective PE cycling program with training rides of 15-70 miles), the College Bike Tour (college-readiness cycling tours), 4toFIT (a structured fitness curriculum launched in 2015), UPLift (social-emotional learning integrated with fitness), and a Triathlon Program. Underlying methodology is an Asset-Based Youth Development approach validated by a U.S. Department of Education report in February 2013. Programs are delivered directly through NYC public school partnerships (in-school PE credit and after-school), NYC Department of Youth and Community Development community programs, and city-wide community events such as Open Streets, Summer Streets, Bike the Blocks, and the annual Century Ride.

ICM operates as a donation-funded nonprofit with all programs provided free to students. Revenue streams include individual donations, foundation grants (Laureus Sport for Good, Pinkerton, William T. Grant, USA Triathlon Foundation, OUTRIDE, Ponce De Leon), corporate sponsorships (JPMorgan Chase, Nike, Citibike, Macquarie), event sponsorships (Spirit Awards gala), and government grants (U.S. Department of Education, NYC DYCD). The organization is governed by a professional board chaired by a Simpson Thacher partner. Founder Ana Reyes led ICM from inception until 2024, when Quentin Ball became Executive Director.

Name

I Challenge Myself

Legal name

I Challenge Myself Inc.

Website

https://ichallengemyself.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

I Challenge Myself is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers school-based cycling, fitness, triathlon, and social-emotional learning programs to underserved NYC public school students across the Bronx, Harlem, Washington Heights, and Manhattan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG), Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)

Keywords

• Youth fitness programs
• School cycling programs
• Social-emotional learning
• Youth development services
• Nonprofit PE programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations from individuals supporting youth fitness programs; the organization runs donation campaigns including a $5,000 fundraising goal for youth equipment
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Laureus Sport for Good Foundation (initial 3-year grant), JPMorgan Chase, Pinkerton Foundation, William T. Grant Foundation, and others
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including Citibike, Nike, and others who invest in youth through the organization
4. Government Grants: Federal grant from U.S. Department of Education (2009-2012) and partnerships with NYC DYCD for program funding
5. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for Spirit Awards annual gala and other fundraising events

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

I Challenge Myself operates school-based youth development programs that introduce NYC public school students to non-competitive cycling, fitness, triathlon, and running. Programs are delivered as elective physical education classes and after-school activities, integrating goal setting, social-emotional learning, and college readiness, and culminating in events such as a 100-mile Century Ride, Teen Triathlon, and Cycling Olympics. All programs are provided free of charge and funded through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

I Challenge Myself operates a portfolio of school-based youth development programs centered on cycling, fitness, and triathlon sports. The core programs include Cycling Smarts (elective PE cycling classes), College Bike Tour (college readiness through biking), 4toFIT (fitness curriculum for PE classes), UPLift (social-emotional learning), and a Triathlon Program. All programs share common elements of goal setting, team building, self-reflection, and nutrition education, with end-of-semester fitness challenges that test physical and mental endurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cycling Smarts School-based cycling program offered as an elective physical education class at NYC public schools, featuring training rides ranging from 15-70 miles, resistance training, bike maintenance education, and community service projects. Open to middle and high school students at no cost.
• College Bike Tour Summer college bike tour program that exposes high school students to colleges and universities through multi-day cycling trips, building college readiness alongside fitness. Among seniors who complete the program, 100% graduate high school and 83% enroll in college.
• 4toFIT Structured fitness curriculum for PE classes that addresses lack of structure and skill-building in physical education, with challenges designed to push students physically and mentally. Developed with input from PE teachers.
• UPLift Youth development program focused on social-emotional learning integrated with fitness activities, supporting perseverance, resilience, and goal-setting for NYC public school students.
• Triathlon Program Year-round triathlon training program in which students swim twice weekly, cycle twice weekly with the Cycling Smarts program, and run once weekly, culminating in a half-mile swim, 10-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 students served in 2024-25 school year across 15 programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYC Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with NYC DOT for Open Streets, Summer Streets, and Bike the Blocks programs. Students have collaborated with DOT on safety improvement proposals for Amsterdam Avenue and other streets. DOT provides support for cycling infrastructure and safety initiatives.
• CitibikeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogo sponsor supporting ICM's youth cycling programs and community rides.
• Central ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community rides and events including Summer Solstice rides through Central Park.
• Aspen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports ICM's integration of skill-building into PE programs, promoting physical literacy and lifelong physical activity commitment.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bike New York: Bike New York runs cycling education programs in NYC schools and hosts the annual Five Boro Bike Tour. While it focuses on bike-riding skills and safety, it overlaps with ICM on youth cycling instruction in NYC public schools and on community cycling events like Open Streets.
• Outride: Outride (formerly Trips for Kids) operates youth cycling programs nationwide combining mountain biking with social-emotional learning for underserved youth. Outride is a current ICM partner funder and shares the cycling-as-youth-development thesis and school-based delivery model.
• GoFAR USA: GoFAR USA provides structured after-school fitness and youth development programs to underserved public school students in NYC, with a similar mission of improving academic and health outcomes through physical activity. Both organizations serve Title I schools and combine fitness with social-emotional skill building.

Others

• Aspen Institute Project Play: Aspen Institute's Project Play is a current core partner of ICM and works nationally to promote youth sports and physical literacy. It overlaps with ICM on the SEL-through-sports thesis and on advancing physical activity in K-12 settings, making it a strategic ally and comparable voice in the field.
• USA Triathlon Foundation: USA Triathlon Foundation is a current core partner of ICM, funding its triathlon training at Riverbank State Park. As a triathlon-focused funder, it is comparable to ICM on triathlon program design and shares the youth triathlon development thesis.

Emerging players

• America on Track: America on Track provides youth development and after-school programs in underserved communities including fitness and life skills components. It shares the youth development and SEL positioning but is California-based and serves a different geographic footprint than ICM.
• Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens: Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens provides youth development programming including sports, fitness, and education to NYC youth. It overlaps with ICM on NYC youth fitness and SEL programming but operates in Queens rather than the Bronx/Harlem corridor.
• Road Runners Club of America Youth Programs: RRCA supports youth running and fitness programs through affiliated clubs. While not a direct peer, its model of using endurance sports for youth development overlaps with ICM's triathlon and Century Ride programs and its approach to integrating physical activity with goal-setting.

Broad incumbents

• Police Athletic League (PAL): PAL operates the largest independent youth development organization in NYC, with athletic, educational, and cultural programs across all five boroughs. It competes for NYC DOE partnership slots, donor dollars, and youth program contracts in the same underserved neighborhoods ICM serves.

Regional players

• Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club: Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club operates youth centers in NYC providing sports, fitness, and education programs. It shares the NYC youth development and physical activity focus with ICM, though with a broader after-school/clubs model rather than school-embedded PE delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ichallengenyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmC4TZui61MGX0b5lOrtiig/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/cyclingsmarts/?ref=page_internal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/i-challenge-myself
• Instagraminstagram.com/ichallengemyselfnyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 I Challenge Myself