Objective Standard Institute

What Objective Standard Institute does

Objective Standard Institute (OSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia. Its mission is teaching philosophy — specifically Objectivism and rational egoism — to individuals seeking a coherent personal philosophy for freedom and flourishing. OSI operates an educational content platform and self-serve e-commerce storefront at objectivestandard.org, distributing digital courses, reading groups, listening groups, branded merchandise, and free content (blogs, podcasts, videos, ebooks, newsletters). The audience comprises philosophy enthusiasts, writers, and aspiring intellectuals seeking structured development in thinking, writing, and speaking.

OSI's product portfolio spans structured fee-based courses (priced $247–$497) on topics including Western philosophy, Objectivist epistemology, capitalism, writing, literature, and film analysis; the Intellectual Accelerator Program and Junior Fellow Program for career-oriented intellectual development; annual in-person conferences (LevelUp 2026 in Chicago, IL, July 8–11, 2026; previously TOS-Con); and a free content ecosystem including the blog, The Future Today newsletter, the Rational Egoism ebook lead magnet, and video/podcast discussions with figures such as Michael Huemer, Zachary Porcu, and Douglas Murray. Programs are taught by a small core team including author/editor Craig Biddle (author of "Loving Life").

The business model combines multiple revenue streams: one-time course and merchandise sales via the own-storefront e-commerce platform, conference registration fees, donations enabled by 501(c)(3) status, and content marketing through email, video, and blog channels. OSI maintains a moderate-tier partnership with the Ayn Rand Centre UK for co-hosted events and a venue partnership with Boston Marriott (for TOS-Con 2021). The organization is independently operated with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investor ownership, and no revenue, headcount, or donation totals are publicly disclosed.

Name

Objective Standard Institute

Legal name

Objective Standard Institute

Website

https://objectivestandard.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Objective Standard Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 that teaches Objectivist philosophy through online courses, reading and listening groups, conferences, and digital content, serving philosophy enthusiasts, writers, and aspiring intellectuals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philosophy Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAEAG

Higher Education Academic Standards & Degree Framework Authorities

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Standards, Curriculum Frameworks & Learning Outcomes Authorities

Keywords

• Philosophy education courses
• Objectivist philosophy courses
• Online educational courses
• Reading group courses
• Educational nonprofit programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Allen

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Sales: OSI generates revenue through selling educational courses, reading groups, and listening groups. Products include courses like 'Founders of Western Philosophy: Thales to Hume' ($497), 'Capitalism The Unknown Ideal Reading Group' ($397), 'How to Love Literature Even More Through Philosophy' ($347), and various writing courses ($297).
2. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, OSI accepts donations from supporters to fund operations and programs.
3. Conference Revenue: LevelUp 2026 conference in Chicago, IL (July 8-11, 2026) and TOS-Con generate revenue through conference registrations.
4. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including items like cotton caps ($24.50).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Objective Standard Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that teaches philosophy for freedom and flourishing, with a focus on rational egoism and Objectivist principles. It sells structured online courses, reading groups, and listening groups on topics such as Western philosophy, Ayn Rand's works, epistemology, writing, literature, and film; it also runs career-development programs (Intellectual Accelerator Program, Junior Fellow Program), hosts annual in-person conferences (LevelUp, TOS-Con), and distributes free content through a blog, newsletter, videos, and podcasts.

Product overview

Objective Standard Institute (OSI) is a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of philosophy-focused products including structured courses, reading and listening groups, conferences, and content publications. Core offerings include the Intellectual Accelerator Program for career development, Junior Fellow Program for young adults, and various courses covering Objectivist philosophy, Western philosophy, writing skills, and literature analysis. OSI operates the LevelUp annual conference and produces The Future Today newsletter, video content, and the Level Up blog. Courses are available through an e-commerce shop with pricing ranging from $24.50 for merchandise to $497 for comprehensive listening groups. The organization teaches rational egoism and Objectivist philosophy for freedom and flourishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LevelUp: Annual philosophy conference for freedom and flourishing
• Intellectual Accelerator Program
• Junior Fellow Program
• The Future Today

Products and services

• Intellectual Accelerator Program A structured career-development program for individuals who want to deeply understand and clearly communicate the principles of rational philosophy as a profession. Open to adult learners seeking a path to careers in thinking, writing, and speaking.
• Junior Fellow Program A program for young adults to engage with philosophy and develop intellectual skills under the guidance of OSI mentors.
• Founders of Western Philosophy: Thales to Hume Listening Group A listening-group course providing audio-based instruction on foundational Western philosophical thought, from Thales through Hume. For adult learners interested in the history of Western philosophy.
• Anthem: The Moral Revolution of I (2026) A reading and discussion course focused on Ayn Rand's novella Anthem, examining its moral themes and philosophical significance. For readers interested in Ayn Rand's fiction and moral philosophy.
• Atheism: The Case Against God Reading Group A reading group examining arguments against the existence of God and the philosophical foundations of atheism. For adult learners exploring arguments for and against theism.
• Capitalism The Unknown Ideal Reading Group (2026) A reading group based on Ayn Rand's Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, exploring philosophical and economic arguments for capitalism. For learners interested in the moral and economic case for capitalism.
• Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology Reading Group (2026) A reading group focused on Objectivist epistemology, examining the philosophy of knowledge as developed by Ayn Rand and associates. For learners interested in Objectivist theory of knowledge.
• How to Write a Clear Compelling Article (2025) A writing course teaching techniques for crafting clear, compelling articles with philosophical and persuasive elements. For writers and thinkers who want to improve non-fiction article writing.
• How to Get More out of Great Movies Take 2 A course teaching viewers how to analyze and appreciate films through philosophical frameworks. For film enthusiasts who want a deeper, philosophy-based engagement with cinema.
• How to Love Literature Even More Through Philosophy (2025) A course exploring literary works through philosophical analysis, enhancing appreciation and understanding of literature. For readers who want deeper philosophical engagement with literary texts.
• LevelUp Conference An annual in-person philosophy conference featuring lectures, networking, and workshops focused on freedom and flourishing. LevelUp 2026 is scheduled for Chicago, IL on July 8–11, 2026.
• OSI Cotton Cap Branded cotton cap bearing OSI branding, sold as merchandise through the OSI online store at $24.50.

Quantifiable outcome

• 275+ writers trained through courses or published with The Objective Standard
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and minor.

• Ayn Rand Centre UKmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSI collaborates with ARCUK on events such as discussions on morality featuring Craig Biddle and Douglas Murray, moderated by Gloria Alvarez. ARCUK hosts OSI-related content on its YouTube channel.
• Boston MarriottminorOthersTOS-Con 2021 was hosted at Boston Marriott located alongside the Charles River, providing conference facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PragerU: PragerU produces short-form conservative/libertarian educational videos reaching tens of millions. It shares OSI's free-market, individualist orientation and Dennis Prager connection but operates at vastly larger scale and broader ideological scope than OSI's Objectivist focus.
• Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE): FIRE is a nonprofit focused on individual rights, free speech, and liberty through education, advocacy, and content. It overlaps with OSI on the liberty/personal flourishing mission and competes for similar ideologically aligned donors, though it is advocacy-led rather than course-led.
• Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI): ISI is a nonprofit educating college students and broader audiences on Western traditions, free markets, and individual liberty through courses, publications, and conferences. It is comparable to OSI in mission and educational-product mix, though more oriented to undergraduate students.

Emerging players

• Institute of Art and Ideas (IAI): IAI produces philosophy videos, online courses, and conferences featuring contemporary philosophers. It is comparable to OSI in combining philosophy video content with paid courses and live events, though with a broader, academic-style philosophical focus.
• The School of Life: The School of Life offers philosophy-based courses and content aimed at personal flourishing and meaning. It targets a similar adult audience seeking applied philosophy for life, though with a more secular/therapeutic orientation than OSI's Objectivist lens.
• Closer to Truth: Closer to Truth produces philosophy videos and interviews on fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, and ethics. It overlaps with OSI's podcast/video strategy addressing philosophical questions for a general curious audience.
• Marginal Revolution University: Marginal Revolution University provides free economics and reasoning courses from Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok. It overlaps with OSI's content-led course model and intellectual audience, though it focuses on economics rather than philosophy.

Direct peers

• The Atlas Society: The Atlas Society is another nonprofit promoting Objectivist philosophy through online content, courses, and events. It targets a similar audience of philosophy enthusiasts and intellectuals and competes for the same donors and course buyers as OSI.
• Ayn Rand Institute: The Ayn Rand Institute is the most direct peer: a nonprofit dedicated to teaching Objectivist philosophy through essays, courses, and events. It overlaps with OSI on philosophy education, Objectivist content, and donor/support audiences, though it operates at a larger scale and longer history.

Others

• Philosophy Now: Philosophy Now is a philosophy magazine and online publisher reaching enthusiast readers. It is comparable to OSI's The Objective Standard publication as a philosophy media product serving a similar curious-reader audience, though distributed via print/issue rather than courses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/objectivestandardinstitute

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 Objective Standard Institute