Minnesota State I.T. Center Of Excellence

What Minnesota State I.T. Center Of Excellence does

The Minnesota State I.T. Center of Excellence (ITCOE) is a state-funded educational entity operating within the Minnesota State College and University System and hosted by Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Its core function is to grow the quantity and quality of IT and cybersecurity talent in Minnesota by delivering K-12 computer science curriculum (ITX), subsidized industry certifications (Google IT certificates at $10 each via STEM Fuse and Coursera, Cisco Skills for All), free summer technology camps for grades 8-12, multi-tier cybersecurity training, and the AI-powered Career Highways career pathway platform. The center also runs competitive programs including the annual Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), Data Derby analytics competition, and the Future City Competition, and operates the Metro State Cyber Clinic, which provides free cybersecurity risk assessments to under-resourced K-12 schools, municipalities, nonprofits, and small businesses.

The underlying technology stack is largely composed of third-party platforms (STEM Fuse for delivery, Coursera for Google certifications, Cisco Skills for All, Career Highways for AI-driven career mapping) layered onto a Squarespace-hosted web presence (minnesotatechresources.org). Programs are distributed through direct K-12 and higher-education partnerships across Minnesota, in-person workshops and camps on Minnesota State campuses, and self-paced online certifications. The center holds the NSA/DHS National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE/CD) designation through Metropolitan State University, supporting its federal credibility and program eligibility.

Commercially, ITCOE is not a revenue-generating business. The operating model is government/state appropriations plus in-kind institutional hosting by Metropolitan State University. Pricing across offerings is freemium or heavily subsidized: summer camps, the ITX curriculum, Becoming Cyber Savvy training, and Cyber Clinic assessments are free, while Google IT certifications are sold at $10 per certificate and certain programs (e.g., the Google Project Management Certificate) are offered free to specific association members. Go-to-market is community-led: the center reaches K-12 students, college students, educators, nonprofits, and small businesses through school-based delivery, professional development workshops, competition events, and direct employer engagement, leveraging the Minnesota State system's statewide network of 27 colleges and 6 universities.

Name

Minnesota State I.T. Center Of Excellence

Legal name

Minnesota State I.T. Center of Excellence

Website

https://minnesotatechresources.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Minnesota State I.T. Center of Excellence is a state-funded IT and cybersecurity workforce development hub within the Minnesota State College System, delivering K-12 curriculum, subsidized certifications, summer camps, competitions, and a free Cyber Clinic to Minnesota students, educators, employers, and under-resourced organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Workforce Development & Education

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAEANAB

Custom Corporate IT Training & Upskilling Programs

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

SECONDARYBPAEANAA

Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.)

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

SECONDARYEDAAAPAC

Cybersecurity

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Industry-Specific Training (Healthcare, Tech, etc.)

SECONDARYEDAOAIAB

Cybersecurity (General)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/IT, Networking & Cybersecurity Certifications

Keywords

• IT workforce development
• Cybersecurity training
• Technology certifications
• STEM education programs
• Career pathway services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government/State Funding: The IT Center is part of the Minnesota State College System and is hosted by Metropolitan State University. As a state-funded educational entity, it receives appropriations from the Minnesota State system to support workforce development initiatives in IT and cybersecurity across the state.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Minnesota State I.T. Center of Excellence delivers IT and cybersecurity education, certification programs, hands-on technology camps, competitions, and the AI-powered Career Highways career development platform to grow the quantity and quality of IT talent in Minnesota. Core deliverables include Google IT and Google AI Essentials certifications at subsidized $10 pricing, the IT Exploration (ITX) high school curriculum, multi-level cybersecurity training (Becoming Cyber Savvy through Advanced Cyber Security for IT Professionals), the Metro State Cyber Clinic risk assessment service, and competitive events including the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), Data Derby analytics competition, and Future City Competition.

Product overview

Minnesota State I.T. Center Of Excellence operates as a comprehensive educational resource center offering a portfolio of training programs, technology curricula, career development platforms, and competitive events. The core offerings include Google IT Certification programs ($10 self-paced certificates), multi-level Cybersecurity Training (from beginner Becoming Cyber Savvy to Advanced IT Professional), and the AI-powered Career Highways platform for career pathway guidance. Supporting programs include the free ITX high school curriculum, Professional Skills Academy for soft skills, and Summer Technology Camps. The organization also runs competitive events including the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), Data Derby data analytics competition, and Future City Competition. The Metro State Cyber Clinic provides free cybersecurity risk assessments to underserved organizations. These offerings work together to support the organization's mission of increasing quality and quantity of IT talent in Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Career Highways: AI-powered career development platform that aligns individual interests with career advancement opportunities
• IT Exploration (ITX)
• Professional Skills Academy

Products and services

• Google IT Certifications Self-paced professional certificates in IT Support, Project Management, Data Analytics, Advanced Data Analytics, IT Automation with Python, UX Design, Cybersecurity, Business Intelligence, and Digital Marketing, delivered in partnership with Google via Coursera and STEM Fuse at $10 per certificate for Minnesota residents.
• Summer Technology Camps Free summer camps for grades 8-12 including AI & Data Science Camp, Cybersecurity Camp, AI & Engineering Camp, Mechatronics Camp, and Welding Camp, offering hands-on technology experiences hosted at Minnesota State campuses with optional residential options.
• Cybersecurity Training Programs Multi-level cybersecurity training portfolio including Becoming Cyber Savvy (beginner), Cyber Security for Employees (intermediate), and Advanced Cyber Security for IT Professionals, offered with free self-guided courses for Minnesota residents and organizations.
• Career Highways AI-powered career development platform that aligns individual interests with career advancement opportunities, providing visual career routes, job matching, and training program recommendations for Minnesota students at every career step.
• Professional Skills Academy Soft-skills course library with 10 modules covering teamwork, leadership, communication, project management, customer service, and professional development delivered in 20-50 minute bite-size modules.
• IT Exploration (ITX) Curriculum Free high school computer science curriculum with nine modules covering office productivity, digital media, networks, computing systems, game development, data analysis, algorithms, programming, and technology careers, provided to schools and districts statewide.
• Minnesota Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) Annual team-based cybersecurity competition where college students form Blue Teams to defend simulated corporate networks against Red Team professional hackers, with winners advancing to regional and national championships and an estimated 95% job placement rate for participants.
• Data Derby Competition Annual data analytics competition featuring Datagon (debate-style) and Datathon (data analysis) components where teams compete to solve real-world data problems using various analytical tools and techniques.
• Google AI Essentials Free 15-hour self-paced course taught by Google AI experts covering how to use AI tools for productivity, including generating ideas and content, drafting email responses, conducting research, making informed decisions, prompt writing, and responsible AI use.
• Metro State Cyber Clinic Free cybersecurity risk assessment service provided by student teams under faculty supervision for under-resourced organizations including K-12 schools, municipalities, non-profits, and small businesses, delivered against CIS Controls Implementation Group 1 and sponsored by the National Security Agency.
• Future City Competition Competition for middle school students to design cities addressing real-world challenges, with the 2025 theme being Above the Current (floating cities), delivered in partnership with SparkPath and hosted at Metropolitan State University.
• Google Project Management Professional Certificate for MMA Members Free 16-week online Google Project Management Professional Certificate program offering over 100 hours of project management training exclusively for AMFA, CMMA, MDMA, and TSMA association members, with optional AI-powered job search training.
• Home Health Care and Cyber Security Training 90-minute self-paced training session for home healthcare professionals covering cybersecurity concepts, personal cyber hygiene, and scam recognition to protect vulnerable populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% high school graduation rate for Minnesota CTE concentrators
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

AI capability4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AbbottcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC). Abbott provides financial support and employee speakers/keynotes for annual cybersecurity competitions.
• Alexandria Technical and Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual host venue for Minnesota State CCDC competition. Provides facilities and coordinates competition logistics with IT Center staff.
• Metropolitan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the IT Center of Excellence. Provides administrative support, facilities, and serves as the home base for IT Center staff and programs.
• Lakes Country Service Cooperative (lcsc.org)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to provide funding and resources for the CTE Instructor Training Program in Communication Technology, supporting 17 high school instructors.
• Minnesota Technology Network (MTN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for hands-on AI events, reaching over 800 students across nine events in 2024. Also connects job seekers with employers through networking events.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for career certifications offered at $10 each. Google-designed certificates in project management, IT support, data analytics, cybersecurity, UX design, and more through Coursera platform.
• STEM FusecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider for delivering Google certifications and online training programs at subsidized rates for Minnesota residents.
• Cisco (Skills for All)supportingTechnology or IntegrationFree online courses for tech jobs including cybersecurity, networking, Python, and data science through Cisco's Skills for All platform.
• WiSP Services, LLCsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, providing Red Team volunteers and technical expertise for annual cybersecurity competitions.
• Gardonville Cooperative Telephone AssociatessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, supporting annual cybersecurity competitions for Minnesota college students.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSecure 360 Student Sponsor for CCDC competition, supporting student participation in cybersecurity competitions.
• Aspirations in Computing Program (MNAiC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint program supporting female, genderqueer, and non-binary high school students in computing through mentorship, job shadows, and paid internships with Minnesota tech employers.
• National Cyberwatch CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Great Lakes Cybersecurity Capabilities and Careers Symposia (GL-3CS) with Metro State University and Century College, featuring student competitions and career fairs.
• SparkPathsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the annual Future City Competition, hosting middle school students at Metropolitan State University to design future cities.
• Hennepin Technical CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Data Derby analytics competition, providing facilities for the Datagon debate and Datathon competition events.
• Minnesota State College SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization. The IT Center is one of eight Centers of Excellence within the Minnesota State College and University System.
• Career HighwayssupportingTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered career development platform partnered to provide students with career exploration and pathway visualization tools.
• National Security Agency (NSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for Metro State Cybersecurity Clinic providing free risk assessments to under-resourced organizations. Metro State is an NSA/DHS designated CAE/CD institution.
• Minnesota Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for CADSCOM (Colloquium on Analytics, Data Science, and Computing), bringing together faculty, students, and professionals for data science presentations.
• White Oak SecuritysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCCDC competition sponsor providing access to UMSA Secure 360 Conference for student competitors.
• Network Centers, Inc.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCCDC competition sponsor providing T-shirts and promotional swag for annual cybersecurity competitions.
• Best BuysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCCDC competition sponsor and Red Team participant providing ethical hackers/penetration testers for competition events.
• OptumsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCCDC competition sponsor supporting annual cybersecurity competitions for Minnesota college students.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Cybrary: Online cybersecurity and IT training platform serving individuals and teams; comparable in cybersecurity course catalog and free-tier offerings, but operates as a commercial platform rather than a state-funded entity.

Direct peers

• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit combining technical training with professional skills and employer partnerships; similar in connecting under-resourced learners to corporate employers through structured programs.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free IT and cybersecurity training to under-resourced adults; comparable mission and direct training approach, though Per Scholas operates across multiple U.S. cities while ITCOE is Minnesota-only.
• Generation USA: Global nonprofit offering free, employer-aligned technical training and job placement; comparable in mission, free tuition model, and employer partnership approach.
• NPower: Nonprofit workforce development organization offering free IT and cybersecurity training to young adults and veterans; directly comparable in target audience, tuition model, and IT certification focus.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: Established cybersecurity training organization offering certifications, courses, and competitions; comparable in cybersecurity training and CCDC-style competitions, but at significantly higher price points and global scale.
• General Assembly: Private training provider offering bootcamps and short courses in data, cyber, and software; comparable in curriculum areas but commercial, for-profit, and tuition-funded rather than state-subsidized.
• CompTIA: Major IT industry certification body (Security+, A+, Network+); comparable in delivering industry-recognized IT credentials that anchor workforce training programs across the U.S.
• Coursera (for Google Career Certificates): Global online learning platform hosting Google Career Certificates that ITCOE subsidizes; Coursera is the underlying delivery infrastructure and a much broader incumbent in IT credentialing.

Regional players

• Minnesota State College System — other Centers of Excellence: Sibling Centers of Excellence within the same Minnesota State College System (e.g., health, manufacturing, agriculture); share parent organization, governance, and funding model, providing internal benchmarking but not direct competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mnstateitcoe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/itcoe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Minnesota State I.T. Center Of Excellence