The 1881 Institute of Technology

What The 1881 Institute of Technology does

The 1881 Institute of Technology is a New Orleans-based 501(c)-style non-profit workforce development organization founded in 2017 by aerospace engineer Bahiy Watson. It targets underrepresented populations, out-of-school youth, vulnerable high school students, and unemployed young adults in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas, providing structured pathways into engineering and advanced manufacturing careers. Programs are delivered at no cost to participants.

The organization operates four interconnected programs: an In-School and After-School Program delivered in partnership with local charter schools (including Cristo Rey Baton Rouge, Saint Katherine Drexel Preparatory, and Mildred C. Osborne) for early talent identification; a free Vocational School functioning as an early college model with dual enrollment (participants have earned an average of 20 college credits); a Department of Labor-aligned Registered Apprenticeship Program with an earn-and-learn model delivering industry certifications in fabrication, computer-aided design, and product design; and an Industry Capstone Program convening undergraduates with companies on real-world engineering projects. Technical training centers on CNC machining, SolidWorks, ANSYS, FEA, robotics, and mechanical prototyping.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-based, with no tuition or program fees charged to participants. Revenue derives from individual donations processed through the Zeffy platform and corporate sponsor support. The organization employs approximately 10 people, supplemented by an active board drawn from Lockheed Martin, Collins Aerospace, Intralox, Jacobs Engineering, General Dynamics Information Technology, Xavier University, and 1881 alumni now working in industry. Placement outcomes include alumni roles at Lockheed Martin, UTC Aerospace, the Naval Engineering Logistics Office, and Collins Aerospace.

Name

The 1881 Institute of Technology

Legal name

The 1881 Institute of Technology

Website

https://the1881institute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The 1881 Institute of Technology is a New Orleans-based non-profit founded in 2017 that delivers free engineering and advanced manufacturing workforce training to underrepresented youth, out-of-school youth, and unemployed young adults through in-school, vocational, apprenticeship, and industry capstone programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Technical Education

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Technical education
• Engineering training
• Manufacturing apprenticeship
• STEM education

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Non-profit organization funded through donations from sponsors and individual contributors. Website references donation page via Zeffy platform and lists corporate sponsors through logo display.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The 1881 Institute of Technology is a New Orleans-based non-profit that delivers workforce training and technical education programs preparing underrepresented youth and young adults for careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing. The organization operates four interconnected programs — in-school and after-school enrichment, a free vocational school with dual enrollment, a Department of Labor-aligned earn-and-learn apprenticeship, and an industry capstone — providing hands-on training in CNC machining, computer-aided design (SolidWorks), robotics, and mechanical prototyping.

Product overview

The 1881 Institute is a workforce development initiative consisting of multiple educational interventions designed to expand access to careers in engineering and technology for out-of-school youth, vulnerable populations in high school, and unemployed young adults. The organization operates four interconnected programs: In-School & After-School programs serve as entry points to identify talent; the Vocational School provides a free early college model with dual enrollment; the Apprenticeship Program offers earn-and-learn opportunities aligned with Department of Labor standards; and the Industry Capstone Program connects participants with real-world engineering challenges. These programs collectively support underrepresented populations in entering Industry 4.0 careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-School and After-School Program Entry-point enrichment program delivered in partnership with local charter schools, after-school programs, and summer camps that identifies young talent and introduces participants to engineering and advanced manufacturing pathways.
• Vocational School Free early-college model that prepares teens for dual enrollment in a technical vocation as an entryway into engineering careers, with students earning an average of 20 college credits through dual enrollment.
• Apprenticeship Program Department of Labor-aligned earn-and-learn apprenticeship providing occupational training, on-the-job work experience, related technical instruction, and industry certifications in fabrication, computer-aided design, and product design.
• Industry Capstone Program Program convening undergraduate participants and companies to tackle real-world, multidisciplinary engineering problems, concluding with participants presenting their projects to industry professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students earn average of 20 college credits through dual enrollment at vocational school
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EntergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Entergy's Career Pathways program collaboration with 1881 for workforce development. Alumni Jonathan Gutierrez participated in the program before being hired by Clearworld.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a nonprofit that provides tuition-free technology training to adults from low-income communities, with strong employer partnerships. It is comparable to 1881 because it similarly operates free, industry-aligned training pathways for underrepresented populations with a focus on connecting graduates to jobs.
• Genesys Works: Genesys Works is a nonprofit that provides high school students from underserved communities with professional skills training, internships, and corporate mentorship. It is comparable to 1881 because both target vulnerable high school populations as an early entry point into skilled career pipelines.
• Year Up: Year Up is a national workforce development nonprofit that provides young adults from underserved communities with technical training, mentorship, and corporate internships leading to jobs at Fortune 500 employers. Highly comparable to 1881's mission of training underrepresented youth for skilled careers, with a broader geographic footprint.
• Apprenti: Apprenti is a nonprofit apprenticeship intermediary that recruits and trains individuals from underrepresented groups for technology and advanced manufacturing roles with major employers. It is directly comparable to 1881's DOL-aligned apprenticeship model serving underrepresented populations into skilled trades.
• NPower: NPower is a nonprofit that delivers free tech and workforce training to veterans and underserved young adults, with employer-led curricula. It is comparable to 1881 because both serve underrepresented populations through tuition-free technical training designed around employer demand.

Emerging players

• i.c.stars: i.c.stars is a workforce development nonprofit offering intensive technology and leadership training to young adults from under-resourced communities. It is comparable to 1881 because both provide tuition-free, employer-aligned technical training pathways for underrepresented populations seeking skilled careers.
• College Track: College Track is a nonprofit that coaches low-income and first-generation students through high school, college, and into careers. It is comparable to 1881 because both target underrepresented high school students, prioritize college-credit attainment, and connect participants to career opportunities.
• National Skills Coalition: National Skills Coalition advocates for federal workforce development policy and runs skill-training initiatives for underserved workers, including in advanced manufacturing. It is comparable to 1881 because both operate at the intersection of workforce policy, employer demand, and training for underrepresented populations in skilled trades.

Broad incumbents

• Dream It. Do It. (Manufacturing Institute): The Manufacturing Institute runs the Dream It. Do It. network and related workforce initiatives that connect students with advanced manufacturing careers. It is comparable to 1881 as a broader industry-backed effort addressing the same skilled-trades talent pipeline that 1881's apprenticeship program feeds.

Regional players

• Cristo Rey Network: Cristo Rey Network is a national network of Catholic college-prep high schools serving low-income students through a corporate work-study model. It is comparable to 1881 because 1881 runs in-school enrichment at Cristo Rey Baton Rouge, and both focus on expanding college and career pathways for underrepresented youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-1881-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 The 1881 Institute of Technology