What Seavuria does

SeaVuria is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Mercer Island, Washington, that operates STEM education, scholarship, and technology-access programs across 10 partner schools in the Taita-Taveta region of Kenya. Its core offerings are structured around five interlocking programs: (1) Professional Learning Communities that train 95 local STEM teachers via monthly sessions in inquiry-based, student-centered pedagogy aligned with Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum; (2) a Scholarship Program that supported 116 high school scholars and 7 university scholars in 2024 through the WEE pipeline, totaling 750+ scholarships granted over the past decade; (3) a Technology Initiative that delivered internet connectivity, Chromebooks, projectors, and document cameras to all 10 partner schools by 2024; (4) a Mentorship Program serving 420 students with structured life-skills and academic support; and (5) the annual STEM Extravaganza, a Design-Thinking-driven science competition where 160 student leaders developed community-based solutions. The organization does not build proprietary technology—it leverages consumer hardware and open platforms—and runs no commercial products.

The business model is a donation-and-grant-driven nonprofit with five revenue streams: individual donations collected via the Givebutter platform (free for nonprofits, accepting PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, and credit cards) which route 100% to the mission; corporate and foundation grants exemplified by the 2024 F5 STEM Education Grant; targeted project sponsorships at tiered giving levels (e.g., $6,000/year for full PLC training of 60 teachers, $350,000 for the complete 10-school technology package); a new Travel for a Cause program co-presented with Bigfoot Adventures offering ~$8,500/person 10-day Kenya trips blending safari tourism with school visits; and student-club fundraising led by three Seattle-area clubs—PETRI at Mercer Island High School (~45 members), Girls to Girls at Vashon Island, and WEE at the university level—that collectively raised funds supporting 156 scholarships as of the February 2026 delegation trip. The organization is led by founder and Executive Director MaryMargaret Welch (volunteering 40+ hours per week), co-founder Bishop Wilybard Lagho, and Program Manager Stella Kidongi, with two boards spanning Seattle and Kenya.

Distribution is community-led: programs are delivered directly in Kenya by local teacher leaders and the program manager, while in the U.S. the three student clubs function as distributed fundraisers and cultural connectors. Marketing relies on owned digital channels (website, email newsletter, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter/X, Flickr), earned media in local outlets (Mercer Island Reporter, Vashon Beachcomber, Greet Magazine), community events (Harambee, STEM Camp, GiveBIG), and travel experiences. The customer/beneficiary segments are concentrated: rural Kenyan students (especially young women in STEM, where less than 30% of female students currently graduate from STEM programs), Kenyan STEM teachers, U.S. student clubs, and philanthropic individual/corporate donors.

Name

Seavuria

Legal name

SeaVuria

Website

https://seavuria.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SeaVuria is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 that delivers STEM teacher training, scholarships, and internet-connected technology access across 10 partner schools in Taita-Taveta, Kenya, serving underrepresented students—especially young women—and supported by U.S. student clubs and individual donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit STEM Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Teacher professional development
• Student scholarships
• Digital divide nonprofit
• Kenya education initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Mercer Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Fundraising: Individual donors contribute via the Givebutter platform (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, credit/debit card) to support scholarship programs, technology initiatives, mentorship programs, and the Science Innovation Fair. Donations can be one-time or recurring. 100% of donations go directly to the mission as Givebutter is a free platform for nonprofits.
2. Travel for a Cause (Kenya Trips): SeaVuria co-presents 10-day Kenya adventure packages with Bigfoot Adventures at ~$8,500 per person (double occupancy), including accommodations, in-country transportation, game drives, and community engagement activities. Revenue supports the organization's educational programs.
3. Corporate & Foundation Grants: SeaVuria receives grants from corporations and foundations, such as the F5 STEM Education Grant for Women and Girls of Color. Grants focus on teacher training, technology tools, and expanding STEM career pathways.
4. Project Sponsorship: Businesses and organizations sponsor specific projects or events such as the Science Innovation Fair, teacher professional learning sessions, or scholarship students, providing targeted funding for organizational priorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SeaVuria is a nonprofit organization that delivers STEM education access to students in the Taita-Taveta region of Kenya through teacher Professional Learning Communities, high school and university scholarships, a school-based Technology Initiative (Chromebooks, internet connectivity, LCD projectors), a structured weekly Mentorship Program, and an annual STEM Extravaganza innovation showcase. Programs are delivered directly through 10 partner schools and complemented by U.S. student-led fundraising clubs (PETRI, Girls to Girls, WEE) and a Travel for a Cause Kenya program.

Product overview

SeaVuria is a nonprofit organization operating as a portfolio of interconnected STEM education programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include STEM Education (teacher professional learning and classroom programs), Scholarship Programs (high school and university financial support), Technology Initiative (device and connectivity provision), Mentorship Program, and STEM Extravaganza (annual innovation showcase). Supporting these are three student-led clubs (PETRI, Girls to Girls, and WEE) that provide fundraising, cross-cultural friendship, and leadership development, primarily based in Seattle-area schools. Additional programs include STEM Camp, Travel for a Cause Kenya trips, and Harambee community events. All programs work synergistically to bridge the digital divide and empower underrepresented students in Taita-Taveta, Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Education Programs (Professional Learning Communities) Monthly PLCs and training programs that empower educators in Taita-Taveta, Kenya with skills to deliver student-centered, inquiry-based STEM instruction aligned with Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum; reaches 95 trained teachers with 75% reporting increased confidence.
• Scholarship Program High school and university scholarships for underrepresented students in Taita-Taveta, with a focus on young women; covers school fees, mentorship, and wraparound support, including menstrual hygiene supplies.
• Technology Initiative Provision of classroom technology resources including Chromebooks, internet connectivity through routers, LCD projectors, and document cameras to bridge the digital divide in 10 partner schools across Taita-Taveta.
• Mentorship Program Structured weekly in-school sessions focusing on character development, academic skill building, health education, and career exploration, addressing community challenges including gender inequality and mental health.
• STEM Extravaganza Annual science fair where students apply STEM learning to solve real-world community problems using the Design Thinking Model, with support from university students and community mentors; 160 student leaders participate annually.
• PETRI Club Mercer Island High School student-led club focused on philanthropy, education, technology, research, and involvement; grew to nearly 45 members in 2024-2025, raising funds, building global friendships, and supporting STEM learning for students in Kenya.
• Girls to Girls Vashon Island high school girls club providing educational scholarships for youth in Kenya with emphasis on girls' education and establishing global youth connections via cross-cultural friendships.
• WEE - Women's Empowerment through Education University-level leadership and scholarship initiative founded by former PETRI and Girls to Girls members; raises funds for university scholarships and builds long-term mentorship relationships with Kenyan women via monthly Zoom calls and WhatsApp.
• Travel for a Cause - Kenya 10-day adventure travel program to Kenya co-presented with Bigfoot Adventures, including safari experiences, community engagement visits to partner schools, and cultural exchange activities.
• STEM Camp Annual summer program offering engineering and technology camps (such as Pinball Engineering and Arduino) for youth, with high school mentors raising funds for Kenyan scholarships.
• Harambee Events Community fundraising events bringing together supporters for student-centered STEM education, featuring shared stories and partnership highlights across continents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% increase in STEM performance among students in partner schools
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bigfoot AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2027SeaVuria partners with Bigfoot Adventures to co-present the Travel for a Cause — Kenya 2027 program. Bigfoot Adventures handles logistics including trusted local guides, 4x4 Land Cruisers, vetted accommodations, and AMREF emergency evacuation coverage. SeaVuria coordinates community engagement activities and provides an American representative throughout the trip. The partnership combines adventure tourism with educational impact.
• Taita-Taveta UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaVuria's partnership with Taita-Taveta University (TTU) provides access to STEM professionals who mentor and inspire students. The university hosts the annual STEM Extravaganza and serves as a hub for teacher professional development workshops. TTU undergraduate students work in partner high schools, and a TTU professor collaborates on mentorship curriculum development.
• Kenya STEM EcosystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaVuria participates in the Kenya STEM Ecosystem, a network bringing together educators, policymakers, and nonprofits working to expand access to quality STEM education. Through this participation, SeaVuria shares its model and explores new ways to expand impact across Kenya.
• GivebuttercoreTechnology or IntegrationSeaVuria uses Givebutter as its free online donation processing platform, enabling 100% of donations to go directly to the mission. Givebutter supports PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, and credit/debit card payments, with optional tips that donors can adjust or remove.
• KMIH 88.9 The Bridge (Mercer Island High School Radio)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMercer Island High School's radio station KMIH 88.9 aired a Difference Maker interview with SeaVuria team members and a Bridging Continents Through STEM interview with educator MaryMargaret Welch, providing media exposure for the organization.
• Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious DialogueminorOthersCo-founder Bishop Wilybard Lagho serves as a member of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome, contributing to building bridges across faith traditions and bringing international recognition to SeaVuria's mission.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• buildOn: U.S.-based nonprofit that runs education and school-building programs in low-income communities across Africa, Haiti, and other regions. Highly comparable as a community-led nonprofit delivering educational infrastructure and youth engagement in partnership with local stakeholders.
• Room to Read: International nonprofit focused on literacy and gender equality in education across Africa and Asia. Comparable for its long-term country presence, scholarship programs for girls, and donor-supported model with measurable outcome metrics.
• Pencils of Promise: U.S.-based nonprofit building schools and delivering education programs in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos, and Nicaragua. Closely mirrors SeaVuria's grassroots U.S. fundraising engine paired with school-level interventions in developing countries.
• African Schools Foundation: Nonprofit supporting educational infrastructure and scholarships across Africa. Comparable in delivering school-level programming and scholarships in underserved African regions, with similar community-driven donor engagement.
• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African educational institution developing the next generation of African leaders through college-prep and university pathway programs. Comparable as a pipeline-style educational nonprofit focused on African youth leadership and STEM pathways.
• WAAW (Working to Advance African Women) Foundation: Nonprofit focused on increasing the participation of African women in STEM through scholarships, mentoring, and outreach. Closely comparable to SeaVuria's WEE pipeline and gender-equity-in-STEM mission across African countries.

Broad incumbents

• WE Charity: Large international development and education nonprofit with broad programming across multiple countries. Comparable on education-equity mission and youth-led fundraising model, but operates at significantly greater scale and scope than SeaVuria.

Emerging players

• African Library Project: U.S.-based nonprofit establishing libraries and book-driven literacy programs in African countries including Kenya. Comparable in its U.S.-driven fundraising model delivering education resources to African partner communities.
• Moringa School: Kenya-based technical education provider focused on software development and STEM training for African youth. Comparable for its STEM-education focus in Kenya and pathways-to-employment mission, but operates as a tuition-driven school rather than donor-funded nonprofit.

Regional players

• Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator: South Africa-based nonprofit addressing youth unemployment through skills training and employer matching. Comparable as an African-focused education-to-employment intermediary, though primarily South African rather than Kenyan in focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/seavuria
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SeaVuriaYT/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/seavuria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seavuria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Seavuria