Starbase Vermont

What Starbase Vermont does

Starbase Vermont is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization operating the Vermont chapter of the national DoD STARBASE program, founded in 1994 to deliver hands-on STEM education to youth. The organization runs a free, 25-hour curriculum over five days for 5th grade students at two physical sites located on military installations in South Burlington (Air National Guard base) and Rutland (Armed Forces Reserve Center). The curriculum covers physics, chemistry, technology, engineering, and mathematics using tools including Lego EV3 robotics, 3D CAD software, 3D printers, model rocketry, and the proprietary STARbits circuitry system, with content aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

The organization serves approximately 1,500 students annually across 42 schools, 31 districts, and 9 Vermont counties, reaching over 25% of the state's 5th graders and accumulating more than 50,000 total participants since 1994. Adjacent product lines include the STARBASE 2.0 after-school program for middle school students (run in partnership with FIRST Robotics League at Hinesburg Community School), a summer camp for military family children, a homeschool program, and a library of Extension Activities for classroom use. Reported outcomes include 20-40% test score improvement, 96.8% parent satisfaction, and 100% teacher approval.

The business model is non-commercial: programs are free to students, with revenue derived from DoD STARBASE program funding, Vermont Air National Guard support, corporate sponsorships (General Dynamics, GE Aviation, GE Foundation, GLOBALFOUNDRIES), community foundation grants, and charitable donations channeled through the Starbase Vermont Inc. nonprofit board. The organization has 8 staff members, all instructors being licensed teachers, and operates with a volunteer-led board of directors drawn from corporate, education, and military sectors. Recent public messaging indicates operational pressure tied to federal funding, with the nonprofit board and Air National Guard actively working to prevent closure.

Name

Starbase Vermont

Legal name

STARBASE Vermont, Inc.

Website

https://starbasevt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Starbase Vermont is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating free DoD-affiliated STEM education programs for Vermont 5th graders at two military installation sites, serving 1,500+ students annually across 42 schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Robotics & Engineering Summer Camps / Bootcamps (EDAMADAF), Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Youth STEM education
• Hands-on STEM curriculum
• DoD STARBASE program
• Classroom enrichment activities
• Military family youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

South Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: STARBASE Vermont is a public benefit charity exempt from taxes under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)3. The organization depends on generosity from community partners and individual donors to support student programs. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made via PayPal or check.
2. Grants: STARBASE Vermont receives funding and curriculum support from the Department of Defense (DoD STARBASE program). Additional support comes from the Vermont Air National Guard and various community partners and foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

STARBASE Vermont delivers a free, 25-hour, five-day hands-on STEM educational program for 5th grade students at its South Burlington and Rutland sites on military installations. The activity-based curriculum covers physics, chemistry, technology, engineering, and mathematics using tools such as 3D CAD, 3D printing, LEGO EV3 robotics, model rocketry, and the STARbits circuitry system, and is aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. Supporting offerings include the STARBASE 2.0 after-school program, a summer camp for military families, a homeschool program, and classroom extension activities.

Product overview

STARBASE Vermont is a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of STEM programs for Vermont youth. The core offering is the STARBASE Core Program, a free five-day (25-hour) hands-on STEM curriculum for 5th graders at South Burlington and Rutland locations. Supporting programs include the STARBASE 2.0 After School Program for middle school students featuring robotics and engineering projects, the STARBASE Summer Camp for military families, the STARBASE Homeschool Program for homeschooled students, and Extension Activities for classroom use after visits. The organization serves over 1,500 students annually across 75 classes from 42 schools across 9 Vermont counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STARBASE Core Program A free five-day, 25-hour hands-on STEM educational program for 5th graders, featuring activities in physics, chemistry, technology, engineering, and mathematics aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Students attend from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at South Burlington or Rutland sites.
• STARBASE 2.0 After-School Program An after-school program for middle school students featuring hands-on projects including robotics, chemistry labs, model rocketry, computer-aided design, circuit building, and 3D printing. Takes place at various schools in Burlington and Rutland areas, with a partnership at Hinesburg Community School via the FIRST robotics league.
• STARBASE Summer Camp A week-long summer science camp for children of military families held each August at the South Burlington location, serving 5th/6th graders free of charge.
• STARBASE Homeschool Program A one-week STEM program hosted each June at the South Burlington site, providing homeschool students the same curriculum offered to Vermont public schools, with priority given to 5th grade students who have not previously attended.
• STARBASE Extension Activities Collection of 30-60 minute classroom activities designed for teachers to use with students after attending STARBASE, covering topics including energy, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and STEM careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-40% improvement in test scores between pre- and post-assessments
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont National GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary institutional partner providing access to military facilities. The Vermont Air National Guard supports operations and helps navigate staff challenges. Located on Air National Guard base in South Burlington and Armed Forces Reserve Center in Rutland.
• Air Force AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting Air Force-related programs and initiatives.
• Vermont NEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState teachers' union supporting STEM education initiatives.
• FIRST Robotics LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FIRST robotics league at Hinesburg Community School for STARBASE 2.0 after-school program.
• Department of Defense (DoD STARBASE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder and curriculum provider. DoD STARBASE is a nationwide program with over 90 locations providing funding, curriculum, and oversight. All STARBASE sites are located on military installations.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VEX Robotics / VEX IQ: Provider of K-12 robotics kits, curriculum, and competition platforms. Comparable to STARBASE Vermont's Lego EV3 and 3D-printed drone components and represents a potential curriculum/equipment partner or competitor for STEM class time.
• Project Lead the Way: Provider of K-12 STEM curriculum and teacher training aligned to national standards. Targets the same 5th-grade-through-high-school audience as STARBASE Vermont and competes for adoption within school districts as a hands-on STEM curriculum provider.
• Destination Imagination: Nonprofit providing project-based STEM and creative problem-solving programs for K-12 students. Comparable in its hands-on, team-based challenge structure (similar to STARBASE's Eggbert engineering challenge) and school-affiliated delivery model.
• Code.org: Nonprofit promoting computer science and STEM education in K-12 schools through free curriculum and teacher training. Overlaps with STARBASE Vermont on K-12 STEM curriculum delivery, standards alignment, and free-to-school distribution.
• FIRST Robotics: National K-12 STEM engagement organization running robotics competitions and after-school programs. STARBASE Vermont partners directly with FIRST Robotics at Hinesburg Community School for its STARBASE 2.0 program, indicating strong operational and curricular overlap.
• Science Olympiad: National K-12 STEM competition organization with hands-on events in engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology. Targets similar middle-school student demographics and competes for the same teacher-driven school partnerships.
• MESA USA: National pre-college STEM program serving K-12 students with hands-on projects, competitions, and teacher support. Comparable in mission (STEM enrichment for underrepresented students), delivery model (project-based learning), and school-district partnerships.
• 4-H STEM Programs: National youth development program (USDA-affiliated) with extensive K-12 STEM offerings including robotics, rocketry, and engineering challenges. Similar target audience, hands-on delivery, and partner-school activation model.

Broad incumbents

• DoD STARBASE: The national DoD-funded STEM program of which STARBASE Vermont is one site. Operates 90+ locations nationwide and provides curriculum, oversight, and funding — making it the parent network and the most direct comparable in mission and operating model.
• NASA STEM Engagement: Federal agency program delivering K-12 STEM curricula with strong space, rocketry, and engineering focus — overlapping directly with STARBASE's model rocketry, Mars mission design challenge, and Next Generation Science Standards alignment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/starbasevermont
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starbase-vermont

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Starbase Vermont