Academy for Sustainable Innovation

What Academy for Sustainable Innovation does

Academy for Sustainable Innovation (ASI) is a Canadian registered charity (Charitable Business Number 789760675RR0001) founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, operating as a fully remote team of approximately 8-10 staff across Canada. The organization develops and delivers climate leadership education built around a proprietary Transition Leadership framework comprising six competency domains: Collaborative Leadership, Social Innovation & Learning, Strategic Futures Acumen, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Climate & Sustainability Literacy, and Adaptive Leadership.

ASI's product portfolio spans individual open-enrollment courses (Climate Action for Nonprofit Leaders at $175, Collaborative Leadership for Climate Action at $750 through Royal Roads University, Climate Action & Transition Leadership, and the free Youth Environmental Leaders Learning Lab), organizational programs (Climate Resilience for SMEs, Climate Resilience for Community Housing), and custom engagements (tailored eLearning, workshops, facilitation, and program design). Distribution occurs through direct enrollment, a Chamber of Commerce and housing association partnership network, and a university partnership with Royal Roads University.

Revenue mechanics blend individual course fees (low-ticket $75-$750 with early bird pricing and scholarships), custom engagement fees for organizations, donations from individuals and corporate partners, and grants from foundations including Definity, TD Bank Group, RBC Foundation, Co-operators, McConnell Foundation, Toronto Workforce Funder Collaborative, and government programs (Future Skills Centre). ASI also produces research outputs including Elevating Equity and Upskilling for Canada's Climate Transition, the latter co-developed with Resilience by Design Lab and Future Skills Centre. Customer segments span nonprofit professionals, SMEs reached via Chambers of Commerce, community housing providers, and youth aged 18-30. In 2025, ASI reported 1,438 program engagements, 58 sessions, and partnerships with 60+ organizations.

Name

Academy for Sustainable Innovation

Legal name

Academy for Sustainable Innovation

Website

https://sustainableinnovation.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Academy for Sustainable Innovation is a Canadian registered charity founded in 2018 that develops and delivers climate leadership education, courses, and research programs for nonprofit professionals, SMEs, housing providers, and youth across Canada using a proprietary Transition Leadership competency framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Leadership Education & Sustainability Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG), Teacher Training, Professional Development & Education Leadership (BPADAKAC)

Keywords

• Climate leadership education
• Sustainability training programs
• Climate resilience workshops
• Transition leadership courses
• Organizational eLearning design

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Revenue generated from individual course enrollment fees (e.g., $175 for Climate Action for Nonprofit Leaders, $750 for Collaborative Leadership for Climate Action). Offered at various pricing tiers including early bird discounts.
2. Custom Engagement Fees: Organizations pay for customized eLearning, workshops, facilitation, and program design services tailored to their specific needs and goals.
3. Donations and Charitable Funding: As a registered Canadian charity (789760675RR0001), ASI receives donations from individuals and significant gifts from donors. They receive funding from foundations and corporate funders to support specific programs and initiatives.
4. Free Programs (Youth Leadership Lab): The Youth Environmental Leaders Learning Lab (YELL Lab) is offered free for 18-30 year olds, funded by external donors and partners such as Co-operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Academy for Sustainable Innovation is a Canadian registered charity that delivers climate leadership education and training through open-enrollment courses, customized organizational programs, workshops, facilitation, and program design. Its curriculum is structured around a proprietary six-competency Transition Leadership framework and serves individuals (nonprofit professionals, youth, climate leaders), small and medium enterprises (via Chambers of Commerce), housing providers, and organizations seeking bespoke climate learning.

Product overview

Academy for Sustainable Innovation (ASI) is a Canadian registered charity offering climate leadership education programs rather than a traditional software product. The organization's portfolio consists of open enrollment courses (Climate Action for Nonprofit Leaders, Collaborative Leadership for Climate Action, Climate Action & Transition Leadership, Youth Environmental Leaders Learning Lab) designed for individuals, and organizational programs (Climate Resilience for SMEs, Climate Resilience for Community Housing) for Chambers of Commerce, BIAs, Boards of Trade, and housing providers. Custom engagements include tailored eLearning, workshops, facilitation, and program design services. Additional offerings include the Let's Talk Leadership event series and research initiatives on equity in climate leadership and workforce upskilling. All programs are shaped around ASI's six Transition Leadership competencies framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Action for Nonprofit Leaders A beginner-friendly online course for nonprofit professionals to understand how climate change affects their organizations and communities, and what they can do to respond. Includes five weekly live sessions totaling 10 learning hours.
• Collaborative Leadership for Climate Action An online course offered in partnership with Royal Roads University that explores collaborative leadership approaches emphasizing inclusive decision-making and engaging diverse voices, particularly those most affected by climate change. Covers 25 learning hours over four weeks.
• Climate Action & Transition Leadership An online course offered in partnership with Royal Roads University that explores ASI's six Transition Leadership competencies, offering alternative leadership frameworks designed to inspire climate action within workplaces, communities, or personal life.
• Youth Environmental Leaders Learning Lab (YELL Lab) A free five-session online program for youth ages 18-30, offered in partnership with The Starfish Canada, designed to build relationships across the country, learn new concepts to support leadership journeys, and advance careers in environmentalism.
• Climate Resilience for SMEs A customized eLearning program for Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Associations, and Boards of Trade to offer their SME members training on climate change basics, business impacts, and response actions. Can be paired with optional workshops, webinars, and coaching.
• Climate Resilience for Community Housing A customized online course program for nonprofit, co-operative, and social housing providers to help housing professionals understand how climate change intersects with equity, health, and housing stability, and take proactive action.
• Custom eLearning, Workshops, Facilitation, and Program Design A bundled offering of customized eLearning courses, interactive workshops, facilitation services, and program design services for organizations (businesses, community organizations, conferences, events) seeking tailored climate leadership education aligned with their goals and brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,438 total program engagements in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future Skills CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partner for Upskilling for Canada's Climate Transition study, funded by Government of Canada's Future Skills Program. Joint research on how short-duration training can upskill workers for climate transition.
• Resilience by Design Lab (RbD Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partner for Upskilling for Canada's Climate Transition, conducting research on workforce development for climate action.
• Royal Roads UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership delivering Collaborative Leadership for Climate Action and Climate Action & Transition Leadership courses through Royal Roads' continuing education platform.
• The Starfish CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Youth Environmental Leaders Learning Lab (YELL Lab), a free program for youth ages 18-30 to build leadership skills and climate career connections.
• Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women4Climate program design and leadership training delivery in Metro Vancouver. ASI leads training component using Transition Leadership competencies.
• BC Non-Profit Housing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Resilience for Community Housing program. ASI developed Climate Change & Resilience eLearning course for housing professionals in their network.
• BC HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing Climate Resilience for Community Housing program, providing funding and housing sector expertise.
• Aboriginal Housing Management AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Climate Resilience for Community Housing program, representing Indigenous housing providers.
• Abbotsford Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPilot partner for Climate Resilience for SMEs program in British Columbia, offering eLearning to chamber members.
• Fredericton Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPilot partner for Climate Resilience for SMEs program in New Brunswick.
• Chamber of Commerce for Greater MonctoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPilot partner for Climate Resilience for SMEs program in New Brunswick.
• Saint John Region Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPilot partner for Climate Resilience for SMEs program in New Brunswick.
• Indigenous Clean EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured speaker organization at Let's Talk Leadership events, sharing expertise on Indigenous youth clean energy careers.
• C40 CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network supporting Women4Climate program legacy. ZEIC partnership builds on C40's program framework.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting climate and sustainability ventures with advisory, talent, and programming. Comparable as a Canadian sustainability-focused capacity-building organization, though broader in scope and venture-oriented rather than purely educational.
• C40 Cities: Global network of cities addressing climate change. ASI's Women4Climate partnership builds on C40's Women4Climate framework, making it a comparable, though much larger, climate-leadership convening and training organization.
• Pembina Institute: Canada's leading clean energy think tank where ASI co-founder Ed Whittingham was Executive Director. Comparable in climate-policy and sustainability thought leadership in Canada, but operates as a policy/research shop rather than an education provider.
• Royal Roads University Continuing Education: ASI's existing university partner delivering Collaborative Leadership for Climate Action and Climate Action & Transition Leadership through its continuing education platform. Comparable in climate-leadership continuing education offerings for professionals.

Emerging players

• Indigenous Clean Energy: Canadian organization advancing Indigenous participation in clean energy and climate leadership. Comparable as a niche, equity-focused climate leadership training and convening organization with overlapping audience and values.

Direct peers

• RADIUS SFU: Simon Fraser University's social innovation hub offering education, training, and incubation for changemakers. Comparable as a Canadian social-innovation education organization where ASI's CEO previously served as Associate Director of Education & Training.
• The Starfish Canada: Canadian youth environmental leadership organization co-hosting ASI's YELL Lab. Directly comparable in mission and youth climate leadership programming for 18-30 year-olds in Canada.
• Climate Reality Canada: Canadian branch of The Climate Reality Project delivering climate leadership training and community organizing. Comparable as a climate-leadership training provider to engaged Canadians, with a similar nonprofit, volunteer-driven model.
• The Natural Step Canada: Canadian sustainability education and advisory organization. ASI's CEO Tamara Connell previously led sustainability learning programs there, and it offers overlapping strategy and leadership development for sustainability practitioners across Canadian organizations.
• Future Skills Centre: Government of Canada-funded research and pilot organization focused on workforce upskilling and reskilling. Directly comparable as a research partner and funder of climate-transition skills training, with overlapping mandate on short-duration credentialing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTkgi5HYyqZng3WBi4-akwQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AcademyForSustainableInnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academy-for-sustainable-innovation

Compliance1 record

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 Academy for Sustainable Innovation