Dream Machine Innovation Lab

What Dream Machine Innovation Lab does

Dream Machine Innovation Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 92-2955088), founded in 2023 by CNN commentator and social entrepreneur Van Jones, with Steve Pargett serving as cultural strategist. The organization describes its mission as uniting "unlikely allies" to disrupt three systemic issues — prisons, pollution, and poverty — through the use of exponential technologies, with AI literacy and workforce development positioned as the primary delivery mechanism for that mission in 2023-2025. Its operations consist of educational programming, community events, and curated convenings rather than a proprietary technology product.

Name

Dream Machine Innovation Lab

Legal name

Dream Machine Innovation Lab

Website

https://dreammachine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dream Machine Innovation Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2023 by Van Jones, that delivers free AI education, workshops, and community events to underrepresented communities through public libraries, flagship convenings, and partnerships with Google, Chime, and cultural figures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Workforce Training

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMACAG

AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Coding & Computer Science Programs

SECONDARYEDAEAGAI

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYEDAMADAC

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Robotics, Engineering & Makerspaces

SECONDARYEDAFANAE

AI/ML Learning Platforms for Students

Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/STEM & Coding Learning Platforms (Robotics, Maker, Computer Science)

Keywords

• AI education programs
• Community workshops
• Nonprofit training
• Workforce development
• Technology literacy

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN # 92-2955088), Dream Machine likely operates primarily through charitable donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships. The organization states it is funded by 'catalysts who make our initiatives possible' categorized as Funders.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dream Machine Innovation Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free AI education and workforce development programming to underserved communities. Its core offerings include the AI x Library Project (presented with Google), the Dream Machine AI Academy, and the Executive Series, all focused on teaching practical AI tool usage, generative AI skills, and career pathways to Black and brown communities and aspiring technologists.

Product overview

Dream Machine Innovation Lab operates as a community-focused AI education and event organization, not a traditional software product company. The core offerings consist of the AI x Library Project (in partnership with Google) providing free AI workshops at libraries nationwide, and the Dream Machine AI Academy hosting free AI training events. Supporting programs include the Executive Series for business leaders, the Invest Fest AI Track for entrepreneurs, and Make Wakanda Real flagship events. All workshops teach practical AI tool usage including generative AI, prompting techniques, and creative applications—no proprietary software product is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AI x Library Project: A program presented by Dream Machine and Google bringing cutting-edge A.I. learning opportunities to libraries across the country, with workshops in cities including Atlanta, Brooklyn, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami
• Dream Machine Academy
• Dream Machine AI Academy

Products and services

• AI x Library Project A free AI education initiative presented by Dream Machine and Google, bringing cutting-edge AI learning opportunities to public libraries across the country. Provides hands-on workshops covering generative AI tools for business growth, writing, marketing, career development, and creative applications for aspiring technologists, entrepreneurs, and creators.
• Dream Machine AI Academy Free AI training events led by tech and community leaders, teaching participants how to use the latest AI tools. Part of the broader mission to democratize AI access for underrepresented communities.
• Executive Series Events for executives, founders, and leaders navigating the age of AI and exponential technology, equipping them with clarity, tools, and connections to manage exponential change.
• Invest Fest AI Track The first-ever AI track at Earn Your Leisure's Invest Fest, where entrepreneurs, creatives, and business leaders learn directly from industry leaders about AI tools, tactics, and applications for business.
• AI Convergence Exclusive gathering in partnership with BAG Ventures bringing together company operators, investors, founders, and notable figures in tech, sports, and entertainment to explore AI's potential and address the AI divide.
• Make Wakanda Real Flagship event and alliance of Black and brown creatives, entrepreneurs, and technologists shaping the future of technology and humanity, presented with will.i.am and FYI.ai.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of participants trained at Dream Machine AI Academy during Atlanta Tech Week
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle partners with Dream Machine to present the AI x Library Project, bringing cutting-edge AI learning opportunities to libraries across the country. This flagship initiative provides hands-on experience with the latest AI tools to help participants grow their businesses, advance careers, and fuel creativity. The partnership represents a major technology company backing community-focused AI education.
• ChimecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChime, a financial technology company dedicated to helping everyday people achieve financial stability, partners with Dream Machine to expand the AI x Library Project to new cities, beginning with a pop-up in Pennsylvania. The collaboration demonstrates how cross-sector partnerships can make real, local impact by building bridges between technology, culture, and community.
• Earn Your LeisureflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDream Machine partnered with Earn Your Leisure to bring the first-ever AI track at Invest Fest in Atlanta, GA. Invest Fest is a first-of-its-kind in-person experience combining investing, entrepreneurship, pop culture, and entertainment. Dream Machine is proud to be in partnership to bring AI education to the community through this unique cultural platform.
• will.i.amflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDream Machine teamed up with will.i.am and FYI.ai to present #MakeWakandaReal, an alliance of Black and brown creatives, entrepreneurs, and technologists shaping the future of technology and humanity. The flagship event brought together leading AI experts and change-makers to build a community strong, smart and soulful enough to shape the emerging tech-powered era.
• FYI.aiflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFYI.ai co-presented the Make Wakanda Real event with Dream Machine and will.i.am, contributing to the alliance focused on AI education and opportunities for Black and brown communities.
• Lewis Latimer FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDream Machine Academy and the Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program co-hosted a private, invite-only Cultural Futures Salon at Soho House Austin during SXSW, bringing together cultural thought leaders, education innovators, investors, futurists and AI experts.
• Omidyar NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDream Machine collaborated with Omidyar and The Lighthouse at SXSW to prototype new social systems that prioritize care, community, and human value over extraction, exploring what comes next as automation shifts the traditional employment landscape.
• Mostly Human MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDream Machine partnered with Mostly Human Media to host a SXSW Futurist's Mixer, bringing together futurists at the intersection of AI and culture.
• BAG VenturesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDream Machine partnered with BAG Ventures to present AI Convergence in May 2025, an exclusive gathering bringing together company operators, investors, founders and notable figures in tech, sports, and entertainment to explore AI's potential and address the 'AI divide'.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Code for America: Code for America is a well-established nonprofit applying technology to civic and equity outcomes. It is comparable as a larger nonprofit convener operating at the intersection of technology and social impact, even though its focus is civic-services modernization rather than AI literacy.

Direct peers

• Resilient Coders: Resilient Coders is a nonprofit that trains under-served young adults in coding and emerging tech through free, intensive programs. It is comparable as a community-coded, free, donor-funded tech-skills training model, though Boston-focused instead of multi-city.
• Per Scholas: Per Scholas provides tuition-free technology training and career placement to under-represented adults. It is comparable because both organizations pursue free, employer-aligned tech upskilling for low-income and minority learners across multiple U.S. cities.
• AI4ALL: AI4ALL is a nonprofit delivering AI education to under-represented K-12 and college students. It is the closest direct peer: same AI-literacy mission, similar focus on Black/Brown and other under-represented learners, and a free workshop/program delivery model.
• NPower: NPower is a nonprofit that delivers free tech and cybersecurity workforce training to under-served young adults and veterans. It is comparable as a free, donor-funded training model targeting under-represented adults, though with a broader tech rather than AI-specific curriculum.
• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce-development nonprofit training under-served young adults for tech and business careers. It is comparable as a large-scale, donor- and corporate-funded skills-to-employment model targeting under-represented talent — a structurally adjacent mission.
• Black Girls CODE: Black Girls CODE provides technology and AI education to Black girls and young women through workshops and tech centers. It overlaps heavily on community-coded AI literacy programming and on a free, workshop-based delivery model for under-represented communities.

Emerging players

• https://www.dreammachine.org/dev/color: /dev/color is a nonprofit professional community advancing Black software engineers and technologists. It is comparable through its Black-talent-in-tech mission and donor-funded programming, though its focus is professional community-building rather than AI literacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WeAreDreamMachine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dream-machine-innovation-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Dream Machine Innovation Lab