Seeds of Fortune Inc.

What Seeds of Fortune Inc. does

Seeds of Fortune Inc. is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit founded in 2014 that supports young women of color through a six-year "Seed Method" journey spanning college preparation, financial literacy, and career development. The organization operates a hybrid model combining a self-serve online platform (scholars.seedsoffortune.org) with in-person programming including annual summits, college fly-ins, and career days. The core technology is a Wix-hosted web platform delivering 18 hours of on-demand instructional modules across six topics — resume, financing college, application strategy, essays, college partners, and personal finance — alongside a scholarship library and a WhatsApp community network. The platform is supported by application-based enrollment (GPA 2.7+ or RISE module completion) and serves 2,500-4,000 Seed Members across high school and college. Cumulative scholar outcomes include $73M+ in grants and scholarships earned.

The organization's revenue model is donations- and sponsorship-driven, with individual subscriptions at $21/month or $250/year, four donor tiers (Angel, Growth, Equity, Bull Market), and merchandise sales (t-shirts $18, sweatshirts $26.50, sweatpants $35, mugs $12.50) branded around the "Education, Money, Career" tagline. A 30+ corporate partner ecosystem — including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, L'Oréal, BlackRock, Fidelity, BMO, and Chime — funds programs and provides internship and externship pathways, while a 24+ college partner network (Babson, Yale, University of Chicago, Boston College, Wellesley, Smith, Bucknell, Claremont McKenna, Mount Holyoke, Bryn Mawr) provides fly-in programs and direct student referrals. Program portfolio includes Economics Scholars, College Prep Leadership, Innovation Research Fellowship, Start-Up Business Accelerator, Seed University, Career Fellows Next Gen Externship, and Professional Development Coaching. Geographically the organization is US-centric (New York, Northeast, National) with a 2025 international expansion into Ghana via Ghana Girls Connect and GIMPA. Operational scale is small: 1-10 employees headquartered at 523 Halsey St, Brooklyn, NY.

Name

Seeds of Fortune Inc.

Legal name

Seeds of Fortune Inc.

Website

https://seedsoffortune.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Seeds of Fortune Inc. is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that supports young women of color through college preparation, financial literacy, and career development via an online platform and a six-year hybrid program serving 2,500-4,000 members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and College Preparation Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Career Exploration & Industry Exposure (Guest Speakers, Company Visits) (EDAMAHAJ), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• College preparation services
• Financial literacy education
• Scholarship assistance programs
• Youth career development
• Nonprofit education platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship Revenue: Primary revenue stream from individual and corporate donations. Sponsorship tiers include: Angel Donor (sponsor 2 Seed Scholars or 20 online members), Growth Donor (increase capacity for programs), Equity Donor (support 6-year scholar journey from high school to college), and Bull Market Donor (aggressive impact for underrepresented students). Monthly subscription at $21 or annual at $250 for general operating support.
2. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded apparel and merchandise including t-shirts ($18), sweatshirts ($26.50), sweatpants ($35), and mugs ($12.50). Products feature 'Education, Money, Career' messaging aligned with brand identity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Seeds of Fortune Inc. operates a nonprofit online platform (scholars.seedsoffortune.org) delivering college preparation, financial literacy, and career development programs to young women of color ages 15-22 through its 'Seed Method' six-year framework. Members access 18 hours of on-demand instructional modules and a scholarship library, supplemented by in-person programming including college fly-in visits, corporate externships, the annual Summit, and the Wealth Exchange/Seed to Bloom Executive Awards. Membership is free to students; the organization is funded via donations, corporate sponsorships, and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

Seeds of Fortune Inc. is a nonprofit online platform and hybrid network helping members achieve economic security through affordable college options, financial management skills, and career development. The core offering is an Online College Prep Network providing 18 hours of instructional On-Demand Modules covering resume, financing college, applications, essays, college partners, and personal finance. The platform offers four strategic Scholar programs: Economics Scholars Program, Innovation Research Fellowship, Start-Up Business Accelerator, and College Prep Leadership Program. Additional programs include Seed University for university-level support, a Career Fellows Next Gen Externship Program, and a Professional Development Coaching Program. The organization hosts annual events including the Wealth Exchange Executive Awards and Seed to Bloom Awards. The platform has helped members earn over $73M in grants and scholarships, serving 2,500+ Seed Members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seed University: University scholars program supporting students through college graduation
• Economics Scholars Program
• College Prep Leadership
• Innovation Research Fellowship
• Wealth Exchange Awards
• Seed to Bloom Awards
• Girls Start Up Global

Products and services

• Online College Prep Network A digital membership platform that provides members with 24/7 access to college prep modules, essay resources, a financial aid and scholarship library, and networking with industry leaders, colleges, and corporations. Built for young women of color in high school and college.
• 18-Hour On-Demand Instructional Member Modules Six structured instructional modules covering Resume, Financing College, Creating Unique Applications, College/Scholarship Essays, College Partners, and Return on Investment - Personal Finance, totaling 18 hours of content correlated to socio-economic origins and college affordability.
• Economics Scholars Program Signature scholarship program focused on economics education and research, part of the four strategic Scholar programs. Includes the Economics Teaching Fellowship delivered in partnership with Yale Women in Economics and the Urban Institute.
• Innovation Research Fellowship Fellowship program enabling scholars to complete capstone research projects presented to academic and industry audiences.
• Start-Up Business Accelerator Accelerator program supporting entrepreneurial ventures and business development for scholars, including the annual Girls Start Up Business Competition hosted at corporate venues such as BMO Capital Markets and the 2025 Girls Start Up Global Tech & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in Ghana.
• College Prep Leadership Program Intensive college preparation program for high school seniors, providing guidance through the college and scholarship application process to maximize chances of full rides to higher education institutions.
• Seed University University-level programming supporting scholars through professional workshops and internship fellowships as they transition from academia to the workforce.
• Career Fellows Next Gen Externship Program Externship program providing college students with career exploration opportunities at corporate partners such as L'Oréal, Goldman Sachs, and other Fortune-level employers, including panel discussions with professionals across marketing, finance, product development, and brand management.
• Professional Development Coaching Program Industry-specific coaching connecting members with professional development coaches for resume refinement, internship/job search mastery, and professional growth seminars.
• Scholars Portal Dedicated member portal (scholars.seedsoffortune.org) for scholars to access resources, applications, and network features.
• Scholarship and Grant Application Assistance Assistance for scholars with the college and scholarship application process; scholars have cumulatively earned $73M+ in grants and scholarships through this support.
• Education, Money & Career Branded Apparel and Merchandise Branded merchandise including t-shirts ($18), sweatshirts ($26.50), sweatpants ($35), and mugs ($12.50), featuring the Education, Money, Career brand messaging.

Quantifiable outcome

• $73M+ in grants and scholarships earned by scholars
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Federal Reserve Museum of New YorksecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Host venue for Day 1 of the 2026 Summit (May 14, 2026), featuring introduction to the Federal Reserve, scholar workshops, and financial literacy activations.
• L'OréalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025L'Oréal's Luxe Division and Black@L'Oréal Employee Resource Group hosted college students for a Career Fellows Next Gen Externship Program career fair titled 'Exploring Beauty, Innovation and Careers at L'Oréal.' The event included panel discussions with professionals from marketing, finance, product development, and brand management, coordinated by Louis J. Desforges.
• Goldman SachscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2025Hosted interview preparation session at Cornell Tech for Seeds of Fortune Scholars. Goldman Sachs professionals conducted mock interviews, provided feedback, and shared career insights across divisions including Asset Management and Human Capital Management. Volunteers included Arpan K. Shah, Catherine Peng, Dipthi Murali, Cindy Li, Dave M. D'Errico, and Jiaqi Guo.
• Yale Women in EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2025Collaboration on the 2025 Economics Teaching Fellowship in partnership with the Urban Institute. Part-time Fellows work virtually with 40 students from May 2 to July 31, 2025, advising on capstone projects to present to the Yale University community. Yale students and undergraduates can apply to serve as mentors.
• Ghana Girls ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2025International partnership for the 2025 Girls Start Up Global Tech & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Launched inaugural 6-month mentorship program matching 14 mentors with Ghana Scholars from the 2024 Business Accelerator cohort. Bridgette Manful serves as Founder & Executive President.
• Marsai Martin's Sai Summer CookoutsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Marsai's Way Foundation for sweepstakes giving two lucky young women an all-expense-paid trip to Houston to attend the exclusive Sai Summer Cookout at Texas Southern University, including financial literacy program participation.
• Babson CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner providing support to Seed Members. Babson has endorsed Seeds of Fortune's talent pool as 'ambitious students looking for top universities.' Hosts Access Babson fly-in program for high-achieving diverse high school seniors interested in entrepreneurship.
• Fidelity InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner involved in financial literacy activations at the 2026 Summit. Supports the organization's financial education components.
• JPMorgan ChasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 2026 Wealth Exchange Executive Awards at their Harlem Branch. Partner in providing career exploration opportunities and executive networking for scholars.
• Yale School of ManagementsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner supporting management and leadership programming for scholars.
• Urban InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy research partner collaborating on the 2025 Economics Teaching Fellowship alongside Yale Women in Economics.
• MIO PartnerssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial services partner providing educational content on ETFs and investment topics through blog posts and educational resources.
• Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost institution for the 2025 Girls Start Up Global Tech & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. Provides facilities and academic framework for the 3-day overnight accelerator program.
• University of ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner in the Seeds of Fortune College Network providing support and resources to Seed Members.
• Boston CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner providing access and support to Seed Members through the college network.
• Bucknell UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner hosting Journey to Bucknell fly-in program for high-achieving underrepresented seniors from Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Washington D.C.
• Claremont McKenna CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner hosting CMC Fall Preview diversity fly-in program for high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Wellesley CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner in the network, hosting AWE (Access the Wellesley Experience) fly-in program for high-achieving seniors.
• Smith CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner hosting Women of Distinction fly-in program for underrepresented high-achieving students.
• Mount Holyoke CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner hosting Mosaic fly-in experience for high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Bryn Mawr CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollege partner hosting Lantern Scholars Fly-In Program for underrepresented high-achieving students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• QuestBridge: QuestBridge is a national nonprofit connecting high-achieving low-income students with top colleges and scholarships. It is the most direct peer to Seeds of Fortune, serving a similar mission of college access for underrepresented youth with strong college partnerships and scholarship-matching services.
• College Track: College Track is a nonprofit providing comprehensive college preparatory support from high school through college graduation for students from underserved communities. Its multi-year longitudinal model and college/career outcomes focus closely mirror Seeds of Fortune's 6-year Seed Method.
• Bottom Line: Bottom Line is a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds through college access and degree completion programs. Its target population and outcomes-driven approach to college persistence directly parallel Seeds of Fortune's mission.
• Braven: Braven is a nonprofit that provides career acceleration for low-income, first-generation college students through coaching and professional skill-building. Its career readiness and corporate partner (Goldman Sachs, PwC) integration directly mirror Seeds of Fortune's career fellows and externship programs.
• America Needs You: America Needs You is a nonprofit that runs intensive two-year career development and mentoring programs for low-income, first-generation college students. Its career fellowship structure and corporate volunteer engagement model closely parallel Seeds of Fortune's Career Fellows Next Gen Externship.
• College Possible: College Possible is a national nonprofit providing near-peer coaching for college access and success to students from low-income backgrounds. Its hybrid online/in-person coaching model and corporate funding base are highly comparable to Seeds of Fortune.
• iMentor: iMentor pairs low-income students with college-educated mentors for multi-year college preparation. Its emphasis on long-duration mentoring relationships and corporate partner volunteer mobilization is structurally similar to Seeds of Fortune's approach.

Broad incumbents

• Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Jack and Jill of America is a national nonprofit supporting African American youth through educational, cultural, and leadership programming. It shares Seeds of Fortune's demographic focus but operates more as a family/membership organization rather than a direct college-prep service provider.
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund: TMCF is a large national organization providing scholarships, capacity-building, and recruitment pipelines for students at HBCUs. Its scholarship administration and corporate partner (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan) ecosystem overlap significantly with Seeds of Fortune's college/corporate network.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): UNCF is a major national scholarship provider and advocate for Black students' higher education access. While broader in scope and scale, its scholarship distribution, college partnerships, and corporate fundraising model are functionally similar to Seeds of Fortune's scholarship assistance work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk-ULqUR1hEXfOob-iKGGQQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/seedsoffortune
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seeds-of-fortune-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/seedsoffortune
• TikToktiktok.com/@seedsoffortunescholars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Seeds of Fortune Inc.