What Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI) does

Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI) is a US 501(c)(3) and India 80(G) certified non-profit organization founded in 2017 in Princeton, NJ (now headquartered in Kendall Park, NJ) that conducts research and delivers training programs focused on developing non-cognitive skills among Indian professionals and students. The organization operates through a small team of approximately 19 employees across its US headquarters and a regional office in Ahmedabad, India, led by President-India Havovi Trivedi. CMI's work is anchored in a nationwide research study conducted under the aegis of IIT Gandhinagar and Bankworld Inc. that surveyed over 27,000 decision-makers to identify the five specific non-cognitive skills (Conscientiousness, Perseverance, Taking Initiative, Innovativeness, Problem Solving) most impactful on professional competitiveness.

CMI's flagship offering is the FLY (Finding the Leader in You) suite of instructor-led training programs, delivered in three variants: FLY-Professional (~32 hours, for working professionals and corporate teams), FLY-Scholar (~30 hours, for college students), and FLY-Junior (~32 hours, for high school students in grades 10-12). Methodology rests on CMI's proprietary L.I.F.E. framework (Learning, Introspection, Fellowship, Engagement) and Active Learning Pedagogy, delivered in small-group sessions of 30-36 participants either in-person or online via Zoom. Programs are sold as Dedicated Classes (customized scheduling and pricing for specific organizations) or Open Classes (self-service enrollment through the CMI website, with FLY-Scholar priced at ₹4,248 inclusive of 18% GST). A longitudinal effectiveness study reports a 26% average improvement in non-cognitive skills among FLY-Professional graduates three months post-training.

CMI generates revenue primarily through training program fees and donations from supporters, using donations to cross-subsidize means-based scholarships for financially challenged students. As of December 2024 the organization had trained 10,598 cumulative participants and held partnerships spanning NGOs (Kashmir Education Initiative, Pratham), educational institutions (IIT Gandhinagar, SVIT, Ahmedabad University, FFE Scholars), and most recently the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India via an MOU signed May 15, 2025 for government leadership training. Financial figures are not publicly disclosed and the organization has no venture or private equity funding.

Name

Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI)

Legal name

Competitiveness Mindset Institute

Website

https://competitivenessmindset.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI) is a US- and India-registered non-profit that delivers research-backed FLY training programs to develop five non-cognitive skills in Indian working professionals, college students, high schoolers, and government leaders via dedicated and open-enrollment classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Leadership and Non-Cognitive Skills Training

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Study Skills, Executive Function & Academic Coaching (Small-Group) (EDANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Advanced Study Skills & Executive Function Coaching for High Achievers (time management, workload planning) (EDANAKAJ)

Keywords

• Non-cognitive skills training
• Leadership development programs
• Soft skills training
• Competitiveness training
• Professional development education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kendall Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Program Fees: CMI charges fees for its FLY training programs (FLY-Professional, FLY-Scholar, FLY-Junior) to cover costs of delivering courses, paying staff, maintaining organizational infrastructure, developing and updating course material, and providing customer support. Fees are charged to those who can afford them to cross-subsidize youth programs for those who cannot.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CMI is a US 501(c)(3) and India 80(G) certified non-profit organization that receives donations from supporters. Donations from India are exempt under section 80G of Income Tax Rules, Government of India. US Federal Tax ID: 83-2264065. Donations help subsidize FLY-Scholar and FLY-Junior programs for financially challenged students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMI delivers the FLY (Finding the Leader in You) suite of instructor-led training programs focused on developing 5 specific non-cognitive skills (Conscientiousness, Perseverance, Taking Initiative, Innovativeness, Problem Solving) for working professionals, college students, and high-school students. Programs are 30-34 hours of small-group, participatory, action-oriented sessions delivered either as dedicated classes for organizations or as open-enrollment online classes for individuals, both in-person and via Zoom.

Product overview

Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI) offers the FLY (Finding the Leader in You) suite of research-backed training programs designed to develop 5 critical non-cognitive skills essential for competitiveness and leadership. The portfolio includes three core program variants: FLY-Professional for organizations and working professionals, FLY-Scholar for college-level students, and FLY-Junior for high-school students (grades 10-12). All programs use the proprietary L.I.F.E. Framework (Learning-Introspection-Fellowship-Engagement) and Active Learning Pedagogy. Programs are available as dedicated classes for organizations/educational institutions or as open enrollment online classes. The organization also offers a FLY Internship Program and Open Classes as delivery formats. CMI's programs are approximately 30-34 hours of real-time, instructor-led, highly participatory training based on nationwide research identifying the top 5 non-cognitive skills most important to competitiveness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FLY (Finding the Leader in You): The flagship training program from CMI that helps students and working professionals develop key, research-backed non-cognitive skills essential for global competitiveness and ethical leadership. Programs include FLY-Professional (for working professionals), FLY-Scholar (for college students), and FLY-Junior (for high school students).

Products and services

• FLY (Finding the Leader in You) Flagship FLY training program focused on developing 5 critical non-cognitive skills (Conscientiousness, Perseverance, Taking Initiative, Innovativeness, Problem Solving) that research shows enhance competitiveness, personal effectiveness, leadership ability, and productivity. Available as FLY-Professional, FLY-Scholar, and FLY-Junior variants for working professionals, college students, and high-school students respectively.
• FLY-Professional Approximately 32-hour instructor-led, highly participatory program for working professionals (with at least 1 year of work experience), offered both in-person and online. Consists of 13 in-class sessions of 2 hours each plus off-class assignments and team projects. Designed to improve individual effectiveness and team competitiveness by developing the 5 non-cognitive skills.
• FLY-Scholar Approximately 30-hour training program for college-level students (12th grade completed through Ph.D./Post Doc) to develop key non-cognitive skills most sought by employers. Available as dedicated classes for institutions or open classes for individuals, focused on improving employability, class effectiveness, interview performance, and workplace readiness.
• FLY-Junior Approximately 32-hour instructor-led program for high-school students in Grades 10-12, designed to develop non-cognitive skills that prepare them for college and professional life. Available both in-person and online.
• Open Classes Regularly scheduled online classes (via Zoom) open to individuals for self-registration through the CMI website. Includes FLY-Junior (Grades 11-12), FLY-Scholar (12th grade completed), and FLY-Professional (1 year work experience). 12-13 sessions of 2 hours each, limited to 34 students per class, with publicly displayed fees (e.g., FLY-Scholar ₹4,248 including 18% GST).

Quantifiable outcome

• 26% average improvement in non-cognitive skills among FLY-Professional graduates, as reported by independent observers 3 months after training completion (individual skills: Conscientiousness +23%, Taking Initiative +30%, Perseverance +29%, Innovativeness +26%, Problem Solving +21%)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Government of IndiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025CAG and CMI signed an MOU to offer CMI's flagship FLY (Finding the Leader in You) leadership and competitiveness training program to mid-level and senior government leadership. This is a significant government partnership representing CMI's expansion into the government sector.
• IIT GandhinagarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMI's nationwide research study on competitiveness was conducted under the aegis of IIT Gandhinagar. IIT Gandhinagar FLY alumni have produced testimonial videos and continue to be active program participants. Represents CMI's academic research partnership foundation.
• Bankworld Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBankworld Inc. co-conducted the nationwide research study on competitiveness with IIT Gandhinagar under its aegis. CMI Co-Founder and President Harsh Bhargava is President of Bankworld Inc.
• Kashmir Education Initiative (KEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEI provides FLY-Junior Scholar training to at-risk students in Kashmir. An initial batch of 166 students from various districts in Kashmir underwent FLY training, showing significant improvement in soft skills and self-confidence. KEI integrates FLY as part of its leadership development efforts.
• PrathamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPratham, a vocational training institute, launched the FLY program for students from rural and semi-rural areas. First 2 batches of 80 students from vocational programs (Food Production, Housekeeping, Electric + Solar, Automotive) attended FLY training. Most participants had dropped out of formal schooling.
• Ahmedabad UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Havovi Trivedi, CMI President-India, was the Founder Director of B.K. Majumdar Institute of Business Administration (now part of Ahmedabad University) and later Dean of Students. CMI maintains connections through Dr. Trivedi's academic background.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dale Carnegie Training: Globally established instructor-led soft-skills and leadership training franchise with a strong India presence. Closely comparable to CMI in delivery model (small-group, live instructor-led), audience (working professionals), and content (confidence, communication, leadership).
• Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning: Publisher of Harvard Business School content for corporate leadership and management training. Comparable to CMI in targeting working professionals and offering premium research-backed content, though at much higher price points.
• Development Dimensions International (DDI): Global leadership and talent development provider serving enterprises with instructor-led training and assessments. Comparable to CMI in B2B dedicated-class delivery and behavioral skill focus.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Research-backed leadership development provider offering instructor-led programs to professionals and organizations. Comparable to CMI in emphasis on research-grounded curriculum and measurable skill outcomes.
• Toastmasters International: Non-profit peer-to-peer leadership and communication development organization. Comparable to CMI in mission-driven, in-person program delivery targeting both students and working professionals.

Emerging players

• Mind Tools: Online skills, leadership, and management training resource serving individual professionals and corporate clients. Comparable to CMI in targeting individual learners seeking career and leadership skill development, differentiated by digital-only delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Skillsoft: Large corporate learning platform spanning leadership, business, and technology skills. Overlaps with CMI in leadership content but competes primarily through self-paced online delivery rather than live instruction.
• LinkedIn Learning: Mass-market online professional development library covering leadership, communication, and career skills. Adjacent to CMI's audience but differentiated by self-paced video format versus CMI's live instructor-led model.
• Franklin Covey: Large established player offering the '7 Habits' and broader leadership/productivity curriculum. Overlaps with CMI's professional training audience but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.

Regional players

• Dale Carnegie India: India franchise of Dale Carnegie delivering the same soft-skills and leadership curriculum to Indian professionals and organizations. Direct regional competitor to CMI in the same geography with similar target segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/competitivenessmindset
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmiorg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Competitiveness Mindset Institute (CMI)