TESLA SCIENCE FOUNDATION

What TESLA SCIENCE FOUNDATION does

Tesla Science Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2004 (originally as "Tesla's Team of Inventors") and rebranded under its current name on January 7, 2010, with operations headquartered in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The organization is dedicated to promoting the heritage of Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla through educational programs, conferences, community building, and cultural events. It connects over 20,000 members worldwide across the United States, Canada, Australia, Serbia, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey, primarily serving students and educators (primary segment) and the Serbian diaspora community (primary segment), with secondary segments including scientists/historians/inventors and artists/cultural enthusiasts. The foundation operates with approximately 11 employees and runs a portfolio of programs that includes the annual Tesla Spirit Award Conference (now in its 14th year as of 2026), Tesla Clubs in schools worldwide, the Tesla Talk TV YouTube channel, international art exhibitions, book publishing, and the Tesla Science Race educational board game produced in partnership with Pertini Toys US.

The foundation's core products and content are non-technological in nature — there is no proprietary technology stack, software platform, or AI capability; the offering is fundamentally programmatic and event-driven. Revenue is sourced almost entirely from donations (accepted via PayPal and other mechanisms on teslasciencefoundation.org), with nominal fees of $25-$50 charged only for select exhibition participation; most conferences, educational programs, and community events are free. Distribution occurs through a community-led, event-driven go-to-market motion: annual conferences serve as the primary acquisition and engagement events, school-based Tesla Clubs drive grassroots reach, and Tesla Talk TV plus social channels (Facebook, Instagram) provide top-of-funnel awareness.

The foundation has secured municipal recognition in the form of proclamations of "Tesla Science Foundation Day" from New York City (January 14, 2023, by Mayor Eric Adams) and Philadelphia (February 24, 2025), and has established strategic partnerships with the Franklin Institute, Tacony Academy Charter School, American Paradigm Schools, multiple Serbian universities (Singidunum, University of Belgrade), the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, and the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia (agreement signed January 14, 2025). In 2025, the foundation publicly called for new leadership and a "new phase of work," signaling an upcoming organizational inflection. Notable operational footprint includes regional presences in Philadelphia (headquarters), New York (annual conference venue at the New Yorker Hotel), and Chicago (regional chapter).

Name

TESLA SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Legal name

Tesla Science Foundation

Website

https://teslasciencefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting Nikola Tesla's legacy through educational programs, the annual Tesla Spirit Conference, Tesla Clubs in schools, art exhibitions, and Tesla Talk TV, serving 20,000+ members globally across students, educators, and the Serbian diaspora.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (71211), Museums (712110), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage education
• STEAM education programs
• Nonprofit educational events
• Diaspora community engagement
• Science legacy preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Tesla Science Foundation operates primarily through donations from supporters worldwide. The foundation accepts contributions through PayPal and other donation mechanisms on their website.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tesla Science Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes the heritage and scientific contributions of inventor Nikola Tesla. It delivers educational programs, workshops, Tesla Clubs in schools, the annual Tesla Spirit Award Conference, international art exhibitions, and published books and digital content. The foundation serves students, educators, scientists, artists, and the Serbian diaspora through free or low-cost programming across the United States, Serbia, and other countries.

Product overview

Tesla Science Foundation operates as a non-profit educational and cultural organization offering a portfolio of programs and services centered on Nikola Tesla's legacy. The core offerings include Tesla Talk TV (a YouTube content platform), the Tesla Science Race (an educational board game), and the Tesla Clubs program for schools. The foundation organizes annual Tesla Spirit Award Conferences, international art exhibitions, and publishes books about Tesla. These programs work together to unite Tesla enthusiasts, scientists, educators, and artists through conferences, educational workshops, and cultural events across the United States, Serbia, and other countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tesla Talk TV: YouTube channel launched by Tesla Science Foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting Nikola Tesla's legacy through interviews, conference broadcasts, and educational content
• Tesla People
• Tesla Science Race
• Nikola Tesla Clubs
• Tesla Spirit Awards

Products and services

• Tesla Talk TV A YouTube channel dedicated to preserving and promoting Nikola Tesla's legacy through interviews, conference speeches, educational videos, and live broadcasts featuring scientists, artists, and innovators.
• Tesla Science Race An interactive educational tabletop board game that teaches players about Nikola Tesla's inventions and life journey, challenging players with questions about his inventions and strategic decisions.
• Tesla Clubs Program A student group program supporting the establishment of Tesla Clubs in schools worldwide, dedicated to exploring Tesla's innovations and principles through hands-on activities.
• Tesla Spirit Award Conference Annual international conference bringing together Tesla enthusiasts, scientists, and historians from around the world, featuring keynote presentations, panel discussions, art exhibitions, and the Tesla Spirit Award ceremony.
• Nikola Tesla International Art Exhibition International art exhibition showcasing works inspired by Nikola Tesla's visionary ideas and iconic image, held at Kuća Kralja Petra Museum in Belgrade featuring artists from multiple countries including USA, Italy, Serbia, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, and others.
• Tesla Publications Books, articles, and digital content published to disseminate knowledge about Tesla's life and inventions, including titles such as 'Tesla: Spiritual Character,' 'Tesla's Wonderful World,' and 'Wizard – The Life And Times Of Nikola Tesla'.
• Art and Technology Exhibitions Art exhibitions showcasing works inspired by Nikola Tesla's visionary ideas and iconic image, held in collaboration with artists from multiple countries including USA, Italy, Serbia, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, and others.

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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Franklin Institute, PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2010 with lectures and Tesla experiments for 120 children. TSF has participated in the Franklin Science Fair annually since 2010 and organized the unveiling of a Tesla bust donated to the institute in June 2015. The bust is displayed in the 'electric room' seen by hundreds of thousands monthly.
• Tacony Academy Charter School, PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst school in the United States to implement Tesla curriculum through assembly classes. TSF educators help children learn about Nikola Tesla through art, music, and science. Partnership under the 'Introducing Tesla to Schools in America' project running since 2013 with American Paradigm Schools.
• American Paradigm SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of Tacony Academy Charter School. Seven years of experimental work conducted under 'Introducing Tesla to Schools in America' project with guidance from TSF Director Ashley Redfearn.
• Delaware County Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresentation and cooperation on TSF program 'Starting a Tesla Club at Your School' including classroom presentations, school assemblies, and club organization support.
• Faculty of Law, University of BelgrademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation began in 2017 connecting TSF with student union 'Lumnis' to organize debates, conferences, and lectures regarding Nikola Tesla's name and legacy.
• Singidunum University, BelgrademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst cooperation began in 2016 under 'Tesla's People' project with Serbian Diaspora representatives to foster Serbia-Diaspora exchange and student exchange programs.
• Privredna komora Srbije (Chamber of Commerce of Serbia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement signed on January 14, 2025 at the 13th International Tesla Conference in New York to promote Serbian economic interests and cultural diplomacy through Tesla's legacy.
• Nikola Tesla Museum, BelgradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum holds records of Nikola Tesla's patents and cooperates with TSF on educational programs, exhibitions, and resource sharing about Tesla's inventions.
• Primary School Dragomir Markovic, KrusevacminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Sasa Jeftic and teachers actively participate in establishment and development of Tesla Science Clubs. School serves as model for Nikola Tesla Clubs in Serbia.
• Pertini Toys USminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Tesla Science Race' educational board game that teaches players about Nikola Tesla's inventions and life journey. Aleksandar Ignjatovic Pertini serves as International Programs Director.
• Philadelphia Art InstituteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStudents created dozens of promotional video materials for TSF including filming, editing, and presenting videos about Nikola Tesla and the foundation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CERN: International physics research organization with extensive public outreach and education programs. Comparable as a science-focused nonprofit/IGO that runs large-scale educational programming, exhibitions, and global visitor engagement tied to scientific heritage.
• The Franklin Institute: Major Philadelphia science museum and a core TSF partner since 2010. Comparable as a science-education institution that hosts Tesla-related programming, exhibits, and donor-funded educational outreach at a much larger operational scale.
• The Smithsonian Institution: U.S. national museum complex operating across science, history, and culture. Comparable as a large-scale cultural-heritage and science-education nonprofit that curates inventor-related exhibits and educational programming.
• The Tech Interactive: San Jose-based science and technology museum and education nonprofit. Comparable as a donor-funded science museum offering hands-on STEM programming, school partnerships, and exhibits on inventors and innovation.

Emerging players

• Science Friday: Public radio program and nonprofit producing science education content for broad audiences. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit using media (audio/visual) to make science, including inventor stories, accessible to students and educators.
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): U.S. nonprofit running school-based STEM clubs and competitions. Comparable mission of establishing student-led science and innovation clubs in K-12 schools, similar in structure to TSF's Tesla Clubs program.

Regional players

• Marian Cruger Coffin Arboretum / Serbian Cultural Heritage Organizations (e.g., Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts): Serbian academic and cultural institutions that curate heritage and research related to Serbian figures including Tesla. Comparable as Serbia-based partners and adjacent cultural-heritage promoters TSF engages with for joint programming.

Direct peers

• Nikola Tesla Museum, Belgrade: The official archive and museum in Belgrade holding Tesla's personal effects and patent records. Directly comparable as the most established Tesla-heritage institution and a recurring cooperation partner of TSF on educational programs and exhibitions.
• National Inventors Hall of Fame: U.S. nonprofit that honors inventors and runs STEM educational programs. Directly comparable mission of celebrating historic inventors (including Tesla inductees) and delivering K-12 innovation education through partner schools.
• IEEE History Center: Operated by IEEE to preserve and disseminate the history of electrical and electronics engineering, including substantial Tesla-related archival and educational content. Comparable in promoting engineering-heritage awareness globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TeslaTalk
• Facebookfacebook.com/teslafoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/teslasciencefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tesla-science-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about TESLA SCIENCE FOUNDATION