What Inspira STEAM does

Inspira STEAM is a non-profit group mentoring program founded in 2016 and operated by the University of Deusto's Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao, Spain. It is designed to close the gender gap in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) careers by connecting volunteer female and male STEAM professionals with 6th-grade primary and 1st-year secondary students (ages 10-13) through a structured 6-session, 6-hour curriculum that mixes same-gender and joint classroom sessions led by trained mentors. The program is free for participating schools, with mentor training mandatory (5 hours) and all session content provided.

The core technology layer is modest and operational rather than productized: a WordPress/Elementor website, an intranet portal (intranet.inspirasteam.net) for mentor and school registration, Google Meet for online information sessions, and standard video conferencing for mentor coordination. There are no patents, software products, or AI components; the intellectual property is the proprietary mentoring methodology refined over 9 editions. Geographic delivery is achieved through a regional-node model in which partner universities and corporate sponsors coordinate local recruitment — currently covering 11 Spanish autonomous communities plus nodes in Chile (Federico Santa María Technical University) and Argentina.

The business model is sponsorship- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Schools and mentors participate at no cost; the program is financed by 30+ sponsoring entities, including Basque public institutions (Basque Government, Provincial Councils of Álava and Bizkaia, BBK, EJIE, SPRI, Innobasque), major multinationals (ABB, Dow, Repsol, DuPont, Cargill, Siemens Gamesa, Essity, Caixa Bank Tech, Sidenor, Ormazabal, Vidrala, Arteche, Gestamp, Tecnalia, Vicomtech, Sener, Ingeteam, BC3, Lantik, Oesia, NER, Simon, Watson-Marlow, Presspart Manufacturing, Magnera, Elyx Polímeros), and Spanish ministerial grants. Mari Luz Guenaga, a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering and professor at the University of Deusto, leads the program with a core team of approximately 9 staff coordinating more than 3,600 cumulative volunteer mentors. The 2024-25 edition alone reached 3,408 girls and 3,621 boys across 142 schools, and cumulative impact exceeds 54,000 students across 550 schools since inception.

Name

Inspira STEAM

Legal name

Universidad de Deusto

Website

https://inspirasteam.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inspira STEAM is a non-profit group mentoring program run by the University of Deusto that connects volunteer STEAM professionals with Spanish primary and secondary students to close the gender gap in science and technology careers, delivered free to schools via a network of university and corporate partners across 11 Spanish regions and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Mentorship and STEAM Outreach Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• STEAM education mentoring
• Gender equality STEM programs
• School-based group mentoring
• Women in STEAM outreach
• Educational mentorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbao

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Grants: Inspira STEAM operates as a non-profit educational initiative primarily funded through sponsorships from corporations (ABB, DOW, Repsol, Sidenor, etc.), public institutions (Basque Government, Provincial Councils of Álava and Bizkaia, BBK Foundation), and grants from educational ministries. The program is free for schools to participate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Inspira STEAM delivers a free group mentoring program in schools that pairs STEAM professionals with 6th-grade primary and 1st-year secondary students through six structured one-hour sessions, using same-gender group mentoring (girls with female mentors, boys with male mentors) to address gender stereotypes and promote STEAM career aspirations. The program is delivered at no cost to participating schools through volunteer mentors, with operational support from a regional network of university and corporate partner nodes and funding from public institutions and corporate sponsors.

Product overview

Inspira STEAM is a unified educational mentorship program operated by the University of Deusto that provides group mentoring sessions where STEAM professionals volunteer to inspire students (ages 10-13) toward science and technology careers. The program consists of six structured 1-hour sessions conducted during school hours, supplemented by an intranet registration platform, resource guides for teachers, and publications featuring female STEAM role models. The core offering is the group mentorship experience with no modular or add-on products—the resources support the main program's delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inspira STEAM Group Mentoring Program A free, structured six-session group mentoring program (six one-hour sessions during the school year) that brings volunteer STEAM professionals into 6th-grade primary and 1st-year secondary classrooms to promote STEAM vocations and address the gender gap. Sessions 2-5 are conducted in same-gender groups (girls with female mentors, boys with male mentors); sessions 1 and 6 are joint. Designed for schools; mentors receive mandatory 5-hour training before delivering the program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54,000+ students reached since 2016 across 550 schools in 11 autonomous communities and 2 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BBK (Bizkaiko Kutxa)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBBK (Bask Country savings bank) is a key supporter and sponsor of Inspira STEAM, providing financial support and helping promote the program within the Basque Country community.
• Diputación Foral de Álava (Arabako Foru Aldundia)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial Council of Álava sponsors the program and has a collaboration agreement for STEAM activities, including hosting events like the LAIA Eskola talk on women in STEAM programs.
• Diputación Foral de BizkaiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial Council of Bizkaia provides sponsorship and support for Inspira STEAM, having co-sponsored closing events and providing annual support.
• EJIEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEJIE (public technology company of Basque Government) is listed as a sponsor supporting Inspira STEAM.
• SPRI (Basque Development Agency)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSPRI, the Basque Government's agency for business development and innovation, sponsors Inspira STEAM as part of its support for technology education and gender equality in STEM.
• Euskadiko Parke TeknologikoakcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBasque Technology Parks (Parques Tecnológicos de País Vasco) are key partners, collaborating on publications like the 'Arabako Emakume Zientzialarien Koadernoa' (Notebook of Álava Women Scientists).
• ABBcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerABB, a multinational technology company, is a long-term sponsor and supporter of Inspira STEAM, encouraging employees to participate as volunteer mentors.
• DOWcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDOW is a major sponsor and regional node coordinator for Aragon, with Santiago Ariella as local contact. DOW employees serve as mentors and support program expansion.
• RepsolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRepsol is a corporate sponsor of Inspira STEAM, contributing to the funding and visibility of the program.
• Sidenor Aceros EspecialescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSidenor, a specialty steel company, is a sponsor of Inspira STEAM and promotes employee participation as mentors.
• OrmazabalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrmazabal is listed as a sponsor supporting Inspira STEAM.
• VidralaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVidrala, a glass container manufacturer, is a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• ArtecheminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArteche is listed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• DuPontminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuPont is listed as a recent sponsor (2025-2026) supporting Inspira STEAM.
• Caixa Bank TechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCaixa Bank Tech is listed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• Federico Santa María Technical University (Chile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner and node coordinator for Chile. Andrea Vásquez manages Inspira STEAM operations in Chile, expanding the program internationally through this university partnership.
• University of A CoruñacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional node coordinator for Galicia. Maria Baamonde and Fernando de Llano manage local coordination, recruiting mentors and partnering with schools in the region.
• University of VigocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional node coordinator for Pontevedra. Ana Caamaño manages Inspira STEAM activities in this Galician region.
• Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional node coordinator for Catalonia/Tarragona region. Carme Olivé manages local operations, school recruitment, and mentor coordination.
• University of La RiojaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional node coordinator for La Rioja, managing Inspira STEAM program in this autonomous community.
• Polytechnic University of ValenciaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional node coordinator for Castellón/Valencia region. Marta Féliz manages the node and coordinates with local schools and mentors.
• CIOnet (Madrid)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional node coordinator for Madrid, managing Inspira STEAM operations in the Madrid region.
• EssityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• CargillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• Innobasque (Basque Innovation Agency)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerInnobasque | Basque Innovation Agency is a key supporter, having co-sponsored closing events and providing institutional support for STEAM education initiatives.
• Siemens GamesaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• GestampminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• TecnaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• VicomtechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• SenerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• IngeteamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.
• Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor of Inspira STEAM.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• European Schoolnet: European network of education ministries working on digital and STEM education, including gender-in-STEM initiatives. Comparable in working with schools and ministries to deliver STEAM content, but as a broader policy/infrastructure organization rather than a single mentoring program.
• Girls Who Code: US-based nonprofit operating clubs, summer immersion programs, and alumni networks to support girls in computer science. Comparable mission and student demographic, but operates at much larger scale and focuses on coding/tech skills rather than the broader STEAM career-awareness mentoring approach.
• STEM Alliance: European-wide platform coordinating industry-education partnerships to promote STEM careers among young people. Overlapping mission around STEAM career awareness and school-industry engagement, but operates as an EU coalition rather than a single mentoring program.

Direct peers

• TechWomen: Mentorship and exchange program for women in STEM from Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, run by the U.S. State Department. Directly comparable in mentoring-driven model aimed at women in STEM, though at early-career stage rather than K-12.
• Million Women Mentors: US initiative mobilizing mentors (male and female) to support girls and women in STEM careers through structured mentoring engagements. Closely comparable in mechanism (volunteer mentors + corporate sponsorships targeting K-12 and early-career women) and in mission.
• 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures: New York Academy of Sciences' global mentoring program pairing girls in STEM with female scientist mentors. Highly comparable in mentoring-driven, female-mentor-to-girl structure targeting K-12/early-career women in STEM.
• Technovation: Global nonprofit that runs mentorship-driven technology and entrepreneurship programs for girls aged 8-18. Directly comparable in mission (closing the gender gap in STEAM) and in delivery model (structured, multi-session mentorship cohorts with adult mentors).

Others

• Association for Women in Science (AWIS): Global nonprofit advocating for women in STEM through mentoring, networking, and policy advocacy. Thematically aligned on closing the gender gap in STEAM, but focused more on professional women than K-12 students; useful as a peer for community/ecosystem positioning.

Regional players

• EngineeringUK: UK-based organization promoting engineering careers among young people, including programs to increase diversity. Comparable in K-12 STEAM career-promotion mission, but UK-focused and broader in scope than the gender-specific mentoring model.
• WISE (Women in Science and Engineering): UK-based campaign organization focused on closing the gender gap in STEM through advocacy, programs, and mentoring. Comparable mission and outcomes focus, but serves the UK market rather than Spain/LatAm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MujerTekSpace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inspira-steam

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Inspira STEAM