Quasar International Institute

What Quasar International Institute does

Quasar International Institute (QII) is a U.S.-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental educational organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., with additional offices in Fairfax, Virginia and Valletta, Malta. Its mission is to build international understanding, peace, and cooperation between the United States and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region through an integrated portfolio of science diplomacy, media and storytelling, research and training, and leadership development services. The organization was co-founded by Dr. Zeyad Alshammari, a geopolitical forecaster named among Richtopia's 'Top 100 Most Influential Geopolitics Experts Worldwide,' and Carol Loftur-Thun, a nonprofit executive with 20+ years of experience who has raised over $31 million for charitable causes.

Quasar's service offerings span six core areas: Media & Storytelling (TV/video production, news commentary, public advocacy), Research & Training (peace studies, geopolitical risk analysis, youth development including congressional internships and NASA DEVELOP), Science Diplomacy (international scientific collaboration strategy), Leadership Development (coaching for professionals and students), Capacity-Building (consulting for governments, businesses, and NGOs), and two flagship content products — the Diplomacy-at-Risk! TV series and Quasar Insights publications. The organization does not sell software products and has no proprietary technology stack; its value rests on the expertise of its leadership and advisors, its content library, and its network of strategic partnerships with U.S. and MENA institutions.

QII operates through a community-led GTM model that targets government agencies and officials (U.S. Department of State, U.S. Congress, UN), NGOs and civil society organizations, Fortune 500 corporations pursuing MENA market entry or ESG goals, students and early career professionals, and media organizations. Revenue is generated through educational programs, training services, research consulting, capacity-building engagements, and likely grants and donations, with pricing negotiated individually on a quote-based basis. The organization is independently governed by its co-founders and a board of directors and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or disclosed external funding rounds.

Name

Quasar International Institute

Legal name

Quasar International Institute

Website

https://www.quasarii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Quasar International Institute is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 2020 that uses science diplomacy, media, research, and leadership development to advance U.S.–MENA understanding and peace. It serves governments, NGOs, corporations, and students across offices in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Malta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Relations / Science Diplomacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA), STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ), United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Science diplomacy services
• International relations consulting
• Nonprofit educational programs
• Leadership development coaching
• Media production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Nonprofit Services: Quasar International Institute operates as a nonprofit educational organization incorporated in the United States. The organization generates revenue through educational programs, training services, research consulting, capacity-building services for governments, businesses, and NGOs, and potentially grants and donations to support its mission of building international cooperation through science diplomacy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quasar International Institute is a nonprofit educational organization that delivers media production, research, training, and leadership development services to advance U.S.–MENA understanding, peace, and science diplomacy. Its core offerings include video and TV production, peace and geopolitical risk research, executive leadership coaching, capacity-building consulting for governments and NGOs, the Diplomacy-at-Risk! public TV series, and the Quasar Insights digital publication series. These services are delivered through direct engagement with U.S. and MENA government agencies, NGOs, Fortune 500 corporations, and student/youth programs.

Product overview

Quasar International Institute is an educational nonprofit organization that operates as an integrated service provider rather than a software product company. Its portfolio consists of interconnected professional services organized around science diplomacy and international cooperation: Media & Storytelling (video/TV production and public engagement), Research & Training (peace studies, geopolitical analysis, and youth development programs including NASA DEVELOP), Leadership Development (coaching and training for professionals at all levels), Science Diplomacy (strategic international partnerships), Capacity-Building (consulting for governments and NGOs), a TV series called Diplomacy at Risk!, and Quasar Insights Publications. These offerings work together to advance the organization's mission of building understanding between the U.S. and MENA region through dialogue, media, research, and leadership development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Media & Storytelling
• Research & Training
• Leadership Development
• Science Diplomacy
• Capacity-Building
• Diplomacy at Risk! TV Series
• Quasar Insights Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed operations in seven countries with Free the Slaves, securing CNN International coverage for modern slavery issues
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Council on U.S.-Arab RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zeyad Alshammari interned with this organization where he met Dr. John Duke Anthony, one of his greatest influences. The organization focuses on building understanding between the U.S. and Arab world.
• CNN (CNN Freedom Project)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuasar team oversaw development of an innovative partnership with CNN focused on modern day slavery. Free the Slaves, managed by Quasar team member Carol Loftur-Thun, secured CNN International coverage on modern slavery.
• NASA DEVELOP ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuasar team member Jack Kennedy hosted NASA DEVELOP program site and developed CubeSat Challenge and ThinSat programs with local schools. Students can participate in NASA projects through Quasar programs.
• American Academy of DiplomacymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Academy of Diplomacy used Quasar's Diplomacy-at-Risk! TV series to advocate for funding needed by the Department of State.
• Qatar UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kasun Millawithanachchi partnered with Carol Loftur-Thun to present a paper on 'Civil Society, NGOs, and Peace Techniques--A Comparison of U.S. and MENA Non-State Actors, Resources, and Promising Strategies' at Qatar University in Doha.
• Saudi Center for International PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zeyad Alshammari served with this center, focusing on building economic and diplomatic relationships between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
• Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia in NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zeyad Alshammari served with the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia in New York City.
• U.S. Congressional MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zeyad Alshammari served with U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, former Republican Chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was the first Saudi and first Gulf citizen trained in the U.S. Congress.
• France 24minorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuasar team members have been news commentators and analysts for France 24 international news network.
• International Investor TV ShowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuasar partners include business experts and the host of this international investor TV show broadcast on SKY satellite, BEN network in UK, Time Warner Cable, and 62 TV stations in the US.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations: A Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to building understanding between the U.S. and the Arab world through education, research, and convening — explicitly named as one of Dr. Alshammari's formative institutions and the most directly comparable organization to Quasar's U.S.-MENA mission.
• Middle East Institute: A leading U.S. nonprofit that produces policy analysis, convenes experts, and educates audiences on the MENA region. Closely mirrors Quasar's combination of research, policy dialogue, and media programming aimed at strengthening U.S.-MENA understanding.
• Amideast: A U.S.-based nonprofit operating education and workforce development programs across the MENA region. Highly comparable to Quasar in its emphasis on people-to-people exchange, training, and educational partnerships between the U.S. and MENA.
• American Academy of Diplomacy: A nonprofit that advocates for U.S. diplomatic capacity and uses Quasar's Diplomacy-at-Risk! TV series to support State Department funding. Shares Quasar's focus on elevating public understanding of diplomacy and engaging senior diplomatic voices.
• Search for Common Ground: An international conflict-resolution NGO that uses media, training, and community engagement to transform how communities deal with conflict. Closely aligned with Quasar's peacebuilding, media, and training toolkit across multiple geographies.
• International Peace Institute: A New York-based think tank focused on peace and security policy with deep UN engagement. Comparable to Quasar's peace research, UN partnerships, and policy-oriented programming aimed at international cooperation.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Institute: A larger, established nonprofit focused on values-based leadership, dialogue, and policy programs. Shares Quasar's leadership development and convening model but operates across many issue areas rather than specializing in U.S.-MENA relations.
• United States Institute of Peace: A federally funded U.S. institution that works globally on conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Operates at significantly larger scale than Quasar but pursues an overlapping mission of training, research, and convening for international peace.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A major global think tank producing research and policy analysis on international affairs and diplomacy. Comparable to Quasar's research, geopolitical analysis, and convening functions but at substantially greater scale and breadth.
• Brookings Institution: A large Washington-based research and policy organization producing analysis across international affairs, governance, and economics. Compares to Quasar's research publication arm (Quasar Insights) and policy-engagement model, though at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/QuasarInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quasar-international-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quasar International Institute