New Collar Network
New Collar Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit project of NADFA, delivers OpenBadge-compliant digital fabrication micro-certifications, bootcamps, and a US DOL Registered Apprenticeship to high school students, displaced workers, career changers, and employer partners like LANL and Sandia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSanta Fe, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What New Collar Network does
New Collar Network is a project of the North American Digital Fabrication Alliance (NADFA), an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit incorporated in New Mexico in 2018 and headquartered in Santa Fe. The organization delivers workforce training in 3D printing, CAD design, laser cutting, CNC machining, and robotics through a stackable curriculum of OpenBadge-compliant digital micro-certifications issued by NADFA and recognized by the MIT Fab Lab Network. Its flagship product line is the 3D Printing Technician Master Badge, comprising six modules (Intro to Digital Design, Design for 3D Printing, CAM for FDM, Fundamentals of FDM, Post-Processing, Maintenance & Troubleshooting), sold individually ($19.99-$499) or in bundles ($450). The portfolio extends to a 12-week bootcamp, instructor-led Fusion 360 training ($499), a US DOL Registered Apprenticeship with Youngstown State University, an institutional 50-badge subscription, and ancillary offerings including the People of the New Collar Workforce AR Book, mentoring services ($100/hour), the annual New Collar Workforce Summit, and the New Collar Innovation Podcast.
Distribution is hybrid: a self-serve WooCommerce storefront for digital badges and registrations, the New Collar Innovation Center at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center and a second Fab Lab at the NM Innovation Hub (opening April 2026) for in-person delivery, and a network of 10+ partner host sites across NM, MD, TX, OH, OK, MI, CT, and CO. The technology backbone pairs Blackboard LMS with BadgrPro for automated badge issuance. Target customers include high school students and recent graduates, COVID-displaced workers, career changers, K-12 and community college educators, and employers such as LANL, Sandia, Meow Wolf, and the NM State Dental Association that hire badge earners through formal partnership pathways. LANL's 2022 decision to accept "Equivalent Experience" instead of AA degrees for entry-level technician roles is the program's most consequential employer endorsement to date.
The business model blends individual badge purchases, corporate and individual memberships ($99-$5,000), bootcamp tuition (largely grant-funded via NM Dept. of Workforce Solutions), event sponsorship and registration ($250-$10,000), and grants/donations from NM state agencies, the US Department of Labor, Los Alamos National Lab Foundation, and NIST. Material scaling indicators include 50+ students trained since 2020, a 95% bootcamp completion rate, 38 SFPS teachers and 16 Digital Coaches trained, and 30,000 face shields produced during the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with Harvard and MIT. The organization is actively fundraising ($50k stated goal) to fund paid pre-apprenticeships at the new Fab Lab.
New Collar Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Collar Network
- Legal name
- North American Digital Fabrication Alliance (NADFA)
- Website
- https://newcollarnetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- New Collar Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit project of NADFA, delivers OpenBadge-compliant digital fabrication micro-certifications, bootcamps, and a US DOL Registered Apprenticeship to high school students, displaced workers, career changers, and employer partners like LANL and Sandia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Collar Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Training and Certification
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Credentialing, Digital Badges & Micro-Credential Platforms (EDAFADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emerging Tech & Specialized Computing (IoT, Edge, AR/VR, Blockchain, HPC) (EDABAFAO), Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)
Keywords
Where New Collar Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Fe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
New Collar Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Digital Badge Sales: Sale of individual digital badge micro-certifications and bundled master badge programs. Badges cover CAD design, 3D printing, laser safety, and other digital fabrication skills delivered online or in-person through partner locations.
- Training Programs and Bootcamps: Revenue from 12-week intensive bootcamps and instructor-led courses including Fusion 360 CAD training. Some programs are partially funded by government grants.
- Membership and Partnerships: Tiered membership programs from individual supporters ($99) to corporate memberships ($2,500-$5,000) providing access to network resources, training, and collaboration opportunities.
- Products and Publications: Sale of augmented reality books and wholesale merchandise including People of the New Collar Workforce AR Book.
- Grants and Donations: Funding from government entities (NM Dept. of Economic Development, US DOL, Los Alamos National Lab Foundation) and charitable donations to support workforce training programs.
- Event Sponsorships and Registration: Annual New Collar Workforce Summit generates revenue through tiered sponsorship packages ($250-$10,000) and educator/employer registrations ($99-$250).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Badge Fundamentals of FDM 3D Printing - Self-Paced |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Online FDM 3D Printer Master Badge Bundle |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Instructor-Led Fusion 360 Course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Laser Safety Digital Badge |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Digital Fabrication Lab Safety Badge |
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Supporter Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate/Organization Membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Summit Registration Fees |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | 12-Week 3D Printing Technician Bootcamp |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | People of the New Collar Workforce AR Book |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
New Collar Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Collar Network delivers OpenBadge-compliant digital badge micro-certifications and hands-on workforce training in digital fabrication skills including 3D printing, CAD design, laser machining, and robotics. Offerings include self-paced online courses, instructor-led training, a 12-week 3D Printing Technician Bootcamp, and a US Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program. Programs are delivered through the New Collar Innovation Center and partner Fab Labs across multiple US states.
Product overview
New Collar Network is a workforce training platform offering digital badge micro-certifications for 21st century manufacturing and digital fabrication skills without requiring a college degree. The core offering consists of OpenBadge-compliant digital badges issued by the North American Digital Fabrication Alliance, which stack into the 3D Printing Technician Master Badge program. These include modules for Intro to Digital Design, Design for 3D Printing, CAM for FDM, Fundamentals of FDM 3D Printing, Post-Processing, Maintenance & Troubleshooting, Lab Safety, and Laser Safety. The portfolio extends to instructor-led courses like Fusion 360 training, bootcamps (12-week 3D Printing Technician Bootcamp), US DOL Registered Apprenticeships, and the People of the New Collar Workforce AR Book. Supporting offerings include the New Collar Workforce Summit, New Collar Innovation Podcast, Leading GenZ workshops, and mentoring services. Physical facilities include the New Collar Innovation Center at Santa Fe Higher Education Center and the Fab Lab at NM Innovation Hub. The badges are approved by the US Department of Labor as formal apprenticeship training and developed in collaboration with America Makes. Teaching is delivered through self-paced online, instructor-led virtual, and in-person formats at partner locations across the US.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% completion rate for bootcamp programs with 38/40 students successfully finishing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use New Collar Network
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
New Collar Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
New Collar Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- North American Digital Fabrication Alliance (NADFA)coreParent non-profit organization (501(c)3 granted 2018) based in Santa Fe, NM. Issuing body for Digital Badges. Part of international Fab Lab Network founded at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms.
- Santa Fe Community CollegecoreTraining provider partner offering digital badge programs through the Department of Continuing Education and Contract Training. Co-hosts New Collar Summit 2025 at Santa Fe Higher Education Center.
- America MakescoreNational 3D Printing accelerator (partially funded by US Dept. of Defense) collaborated with New Collar Network to develop mini-badges for middle school students with animated teaching modules and instructor guides.
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)coreIn 2022, LANL announced acceptance of 'Equivalent Experience' instead of AA degrees for entry-level digital fabrication technician jobs. Active hiring partner for badge earners.
- Sandia National LaboratoriescoreActive hiring partner and employer engagement participant. Quantum Business Development Specialist from Sandia participates in New Collar Summit panels.
- MIT Center for Bits & Atoms / Fab FoundationcoreMIT Fab Lab Network affiliation provides international recognition for digital badges. Sherry Lassiter from Fab Foundation speaks at New Collar Summit.
- MosaicacoreCEO Kris Swedin of Mosaica co-hosts New Collar Summit and provides workforce training expertise. Mosaica partners with Santa Fe Higher Education Center for training program delivery.
- Santa Fe Indian SchoolcorePre-apprenticeship program for high school students partially funded by Los Alamos National Lab Foundation. Students earn digital badges using project-based learning and advanced students receive paid work experience.
- Fab Lab Hub, LLCcoreSanta Fe-based Fab Lab serving as founding member and operational entity for New Collar Network. CEO Sarah Boisvert founded Fab Lab Hub, LLC.
- Lemelson-MIT Invent ProgramminorNew member organization bringing invention education resources to New Collar Network badge host site network.
- Meow WolfminorEntertainment company participating in employer engagement program creating direct job pathways for Digital Badge micro-certification earners.
- Roadrunner Venture StudiosminorStartup accelerator and employer partner with Quantum Lead Chase Kimball participating in New Collar Summit Quantum Panel discussions.
- University of Michigan - Culturally Situated Design ToolsminorConsulted to integrate diverse learning styles into New Collar Network teaching methodology based on culturally situated design approaches.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
New Collar Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Merit America: Merit America provides tuition-supported digital skills training and job placement for adults without four-year degrees, often in partnership with community colleges and employers. It is directly comparable in mission, target population, and employer-anchored outcomes model.
- Tooling U-SME: Tooling U-SME provides online manufacturing and skilled-trades training, including CNC, CAD, and additive manufacturing, to manufacturers and workforce programs. It is directly comparable because it sells technical training to a similar industrial workforce audience and competes for the same paid-training and apprenticeship budgets.
- mikeroweWORKS Foundation: The mikeroweWORKS Foundation promotes skilled trades and work ethic through scholarships, public campaigns, and PR. It is directly comparable because of its parallel mission of reframing 'new collar / skilled trades' as a credible alternative to a four-year degree, alongside its PR-driven awareness strategy.
- Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that provides tuition-free technical training and job-placement pathways for adults without college degrees. It is directly comparable because it serves a similar mission of workforce reskilling for underemployed adults and operates with similar employer-partnership-driven placement models.
- Year Up: Year Up is a workforce development nonprofit offering technical skills training, internships, and employer placement for young adults. It is directly comparable because of its similar earn-while-you-learn model, employer-partnership placement focus, and federal-grant-supported operating model.
- Credly (Pearson Acclaim): Credly is the leading digital badge issuing platform, now part of Pearson, serving enterprises, training providers, and credentialing bodies. It is directly comparable because New Collar Network issues OpenBadge-compliant digital badges via BadgrPro and competes for the same employer-recognized credentialing wallet share.
Others
- Fab Foundation: The Fab Foundation operates the global Fab Lab Network spun out of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms. It is closely related because New Collar Network's parent NADFA is part of this network, and Fab Foundation directly enables the badge host site model the organization depends on.
- America Makes: America Makes is the national accelerator for additive manufacturing, partially funded by the US Department of Defense. It is closely related because it is both a curriculum partner and ecosystem convener in the same 3D printing / digital fabrication space.
Broad incumbents
- Coursera: Coursera is a global online learning platform offering certificates, micro-credentials, and degree programs from universities and industry partners. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same learner attention and employer-recognized credentialing demand that New Collar Network addresses with its digital badges.
Emerging players
- Guild Education: Guild Education partners with employers to provide tuition-supported education and skill-building benefits to frontline workers. It is an emerging peer because it competes for the same employer-paid workforce development budgets and corporate-funded training relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
New Collar Network social profiles
Digital presenceNew Collar Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
New Collar Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Collar Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
New Collar Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Collar Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about New Collar Network
What does New Collar Network do?
New Collar Network delivers OpenBadge-compliant digital badge micro-certifications and hands-on workforce training in digital fabrication skills including 3D printing, CAD design, laser machining, and robotics. Offerings include self-paced online courses, instructor-led training, a 12-week 3D Printing Technician Bootcamp, and a US Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program. Programs are delivered through the New Collar Innovation Center and partner Fab Labs across multiple US states.
Is New Collar Network a public or private company?
New Collar Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was New Collar Network founded?
New Collar Network was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is New Collar Network based?
New Collar Network is headquartered in Santa Fe, United States, in the North America region.
How does New Collar Network make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Digital Badge Sales are the primary driver. The others are training Programs and Bootcamps, membership and Partnerships, products and Publications, grants and Donations and event Sponsorships and Registration.
Who are New Collar Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Merit America, Tooling U-SME, mikeroweWORKS Foundation, Per Scholas, Year Up and Credly (Pearson Acclaim). Others are Fab Foundation and America Makes. Coursera is listed as a broad incumbent. Guild Education is listed as an emerging player.
Does New Collar Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Collar Network.
What industry is New Collar Network in?
New Collar Network's product category is Workforce Training and Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFADAF, Credentialing, Digital Badges & Micro-Credential Platforms, with a secondary code of EDABAFAO, Emerging Tech & Specialized Computing (IoT, Edge, AR/VR, Blockchain, HPC). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.