CETI
CETI is a Portland, Oregon 501(c)(3) creative and emerging technology institute that provides community access to AR/XR, creative coding, and emerging-tech programming through education, labs, and signature festivals, serving artists, educators, students, nonprofits, and government partners primarily via grant-funded programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CETI does
CETI is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) creative and emerging technology institute founded in 2018–2019, originally emerging from Portland State University's College of the Arts. It operates as a community-access technology lab and incubator, delivering education, collaborative creation, and experiential programming in AR/XR, creative coding, microcontrollers, sensors, 3D scanning/printing, and projection mapping. Signature offerings include the CETI Lab, Creative and Emerging Technology Institutes, the Constellations annual exhibition series, the Enchanted Technology Festival, the XRchive AR storytelling and archiving project (built on its proprietary Trace Viewer platform), and the upcoming Postcards From Our Climate Resilient Future program.
Underlying technology is centered on CETI's Trace Viewer AR platform and a proprietary "datawalking" methodology that combines sensor-based data collection with creative practice. The organization maintains a low-cost, distributed program model: 100+ programs, 6,000+ visitors, 800+ lab visits, and 1,200+ lab hours, delivered primarily free or low-cost to community participants.
CETI's revenue model is grant-driven and nonprofit-typical: competitive awards from the National Endowment for the Arts (multi-year), Oregon Community Foundation, RACC, ARPA, MHCRC, and USDN, supplemented by individual donations and commissioned creative-technology consultancy projects. Customer segments span community members, individual artists and creatives, K–12 and higher-education students, nonprofits, corporate partners, and local government (notably Multnomah County via an NEA Our Town partnership). The organization is preparing a material operational expansion with a planned June 2026 relocation to the larger Columbia Square facility in Portland.
CETI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CETI
- Legal name
- CETI
- Website
- https://ceti.institute
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CETI is a Portland, Oregon 501(c)(3) creative and emerging technology institute that provides community access to AR/XR, creative coding, and emerging-tech programming through education, labs, and signature festivals, serving artists, educators, students, nonprofits, and government partners primarily via grant-funded programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CETI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative and Emerging Technology Education
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)
Keywords
Where CETI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CETI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grants and Foundation Funding: CETI receives significant funding from government grants (NEA, RACC, Oregon Community Foundation, ARPA) and foundation support. These grants fund specific programs and projects.
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including tax-deductible contributions to general operations or specific projects. CETI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- Commissioned Projects: Custom consultancy and commissioned projects for organizations seeking emerging technology solutions, including educational institutions, civic organizations, and community groups.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CETI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CETI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) creative and emerging technology institute that provides community access to emerging technology through a community technology lab, workshops and institutes, augmented reality storytelling projects, and commissioned consultancy work. It delivers free and low-cost programs serving community members, artists, educators, students, nonprofits, and corporate partners in Portland, Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest.
Product overview
CETI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) creative and emerging technology institute that operates as a single unified offering combining education, community engagement, and collaborative creation. The organization provides programs through several integrated components: the CETI Lab (a community technology lab with equipment and resources), Creative and Emerging Technology Institutes (workshops and institutes for skill-building), the CETI Consultancy (custom advisory services), and various project-based programs including XRchive (augmented reality storytelling), Postcards From Our Climate Resilient Future (climate-focused AR experiences), Constellations (annual art+tech exhibitions), Enchanted Technology Festival (summer learning programs), SPA (Spring Break Adventures in Learning), and Environmental Soundscapes (citizen science research). These offerings work together to democratize access to emerging technology through experiential learning, collaborative creation, and community-focused projects addressing social and environmental challenges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ programs annually with 1,200+ lab hours and 800+ lab visits
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CETI
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CETI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CETI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Security Matters (SMX)flagshipStrategic alliance for material verification and traceability technology. The partnership introduces molecular marker technology embedded within material structures to enable continuous tracking throughout manufacturing, deployment, and recycling phases, addressing regulatory compliance demands in textile and fiber industries.
- Security Matters (SMX) Partnership NetworkflagshipCETI is part of SMX's expanding global network deploying molecular marking technology. SMX partnerships include A*STAR (Singapore plastics passport), REDWAVE/Tradepro (US industrial recycling), CARTIF (Spain circular economy), Goldstrom/trueGold (precious metals), and CETI (textile verification in France).
- CETIA (CETI France)flagshipCETI (Portland) and CETIA in France are distinct organizations. CETIA at its facility in Hendaye, France conducted hands-on analysis for the Fashion for Good 'Closing the Footwear Loop' project, examining 1,500 discarded shoes for circularity barriers. While separate organizations, both focus on textile and circular economy innovation.
- Building Blocks 2 Success (BB2S)coreYouth education partner for Emerging Media Production workshops. BB2S brings students to CETI programs including summer camps at Lloyd Center and McDaniel High School, focusing on emerging media and fabrication techniques.
- Project LEDOcoreYouth workshop partner collaborating with CETI on Emerging Media Production programming for young people.
- Black Educational Achievement Movement (BEAM)coreYouth workshop partner collaborating with CETI on Emerging Media Production programming focused on Black youth education in emerging technologies.
- Multnomah County Office of SustainabilitycoreKey government partner on Postcards From Our Climate Resilient Future project. County's Climate Justice Plan informs the augmented reality storytelling experiences that visualize community-designed climate actions.
- Portland State UniversitycoreHost institution providing space at College of the Arts for CETI operations. Partnership includes joint programs like Higher Education in Prison Program collaboration on We Are All Bound Up Together exhibition.
- PSU College of the ArtscoreHost college for CETI space and collaborative programs. Partnership supports student access to CETI workshops and lab facilities.
- Portland Chinatown MuseumcoreVenue partner hosting XRchive Block 14 experiences and book launch celebration. Museum provides space for augmented reality storytelling about Portland's Chinese community history.
- Agog: The Immersive Media InstituteminorFunding partner for Postcards From Our Climate Resilient Future project providing partial support for the climate resilience augmented reality program.
- TracecoreTechnology partner providing the Trace Viewer augmented reality platform used for CETI's location-based and anywhere AR experiences including Climate Postcards and XRchive projects.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CETI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gray Area: San Francisco-based nonprofit combining arts, technology, and education through residencies, exhibitions, and community programs. Most direct comparable on mission, structure, and creative-technology community model.
- The Crucible: Oakland-based nonprofit industrial arts education facility offering classes, workshops, and community programs. Comparable as a hands-on creative technology education nonprofit serving community members.
- Eyebeam: NYC nonprofit focused on art and technology through residencies, exhibitions, and public programming. Closely matches CETI's artist + emerging tech focus and nonprofit community-tech model.
- Allied Media Projects: Detroit-based nonprofit supporting media-based projects for social justice. Comparable on participatory, equity-focused nonprofit model with creative technology at its core.
- Pioneer Works: Brooklyn nonprofit that unites arts, sciences, and education through residencies, concerts, and community programs. Comparable on combining creative disciplines with public community engagement in a single nonprofit.
Regional players
- Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Maine-based nonprofit craft and arts education school offering workshops and residencies. Comparable on immersive arts-education programs and nonprofit workshop/institute model.
- Vermont Studio Center: Vermont-based nonprofit artist residency and arts education center. Comparable as a multi-program arts nonprofit supporting residencies, workshops, and community engagement for creative practitioners.
Emerging players
- Coaxial Arts Foundation: Los Angeles nonprofit arts and technology organization supporting experimental art and community programming. Comparable on the small-scale arts + technology nonprofit model.
- SAY Sí: San Antonio-based youth arts nonprofit providing emerging media and creative technology programs for teens. Comparable on youth emerging-technology education and community partnerships with schools.
- NEW INC: New Museum's arts + technology incubator in NYC supporting practitioners working at the intersection of art, design, and technology. Comparable on the emerging-tech creator development mission.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CETI social profiles
Digital presenceCETI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CETI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CETI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CETI 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 CETI
What does CETI do?
CETI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) creative and emerging technology institute that provides community access to emerging technology through a community technology lab, workshops and institutes, augmented reality storytelling projects, and commissioned consultancy work. It delivers free and low-cost programs serving community members, artists, educators, students, nonprofits, and corporate partners in Portland, Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest.
Is CETI a public or private company?
CETI is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CETI founded?
CETI was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CETI based?
CETI is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does CETI make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grants and Foundation Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and commissioned Projects.
Who are CETI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gray Area, The Crucible, Eyebeam, Allied Media Projects and Pioneer Works. Regional players are Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Vermont Studio Center. Emerging players are Coaxial Arts Foundation, SAY Sí and NEW INC.
Does CETI have an API?
No public API is recorded for CETI.
What industry is CETI in?
CETI's product category is Creative and Emerging Technology Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAE, Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT), with a secondary code of EDAAALAE, Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.