What Project Rise With Dr. Helen, Inc. does

Project Rise With Dr. Helen, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 33-2505510) founded in 2024 by technology executive Dr. Helen Uzamere to address leadership gaps for Black and Brown professionals, especially women, and others historically underrepresented in leadership. The organization delivers PMP certification preparation, applied project management training, and long-term mentorship programs through live virtual cohorts and select in-person events. Programs combine PMI-aligned instruction (predictive, Agile, hybrid), real-world practicum artifacts, executive presence coaching, and post-program career advocacy, with documented outcomes including a 100% PMI application acceptance rate and 92% first-time PMP pass rate among participants.

The business model blends tuition-based program fees, recurring mentorship subscriptions, employer talent placement fees, individual strategy sessions, and tax-deductible donations that fund scholarships. Tuition ranges from $2,995 (Accelerated PMP Path) to $5,495 (Signature Program); mentorship subscriptions span $756 (3 months) to $3,997 (6 months); employer placement fees run $2,500-$5,000 per hire with 90-day onboarding support; donations fund scholarships from $50 (test simulations) to $5,495 (full tuition). Distribution runs through an application-based enrollment funnel with a deposit to reserve seats, virtual cohort delivery (two evenings per week, 6:00-9:00 PM ET), Rise & Connect networking events in New York Metro and Indianapolis, and an Employer Talent Network that places alumni at companies including Salesforce, Optum Health, DFAS, Central National Gottesman, and others.

The company operates with a lean 1-10 employee headcount and a national virtual footprint, supplementing consumer programs with B2B revenue through the Just Ask Dr. Helen advisory sub-brand and employer partnerships. A seven-person board supports governance, including executives from Lumen, Boston Scientific, National CASA/GAL Association, Central National Gottesman, and Pace University. The core technology stack is minimal — Zoom and Calendly for scheduling, a Squarespace-hosted website, and Eventbrite for event ticketing — consistent with a service-led rather than platform-led organization.

Name

Project Rise With Dr. Helen, Inc.

Legal name

Project Rise w/DrH Inc.

Website

https://projectrisewithdrhelen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Development and Leadership Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Project, Program & Portfolio Management Certifications (EDAAANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM), Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

Keywords

• PMP certification training
• Leadership development programs
• Professional mentorship services
• Project management education
• Career advancement coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Programs: Tuition-based professional development programs including PMP certification preparation, leadership development, and project execution training. Programs range from $2,995 to $5,495 for full programs, with various cohort-based delivery formats. Revenue is earned through course fees paid by participants, with payment plans available.
2. Mentorship Services: Ongoing mentorship subscriptions providing extended coaching and career support. Mentorship programs range from 3 months ($756) to 12 months ($2,646), with bi-weekly 1:1 sessions and access to private communities. These provide recurring revenue from alumni and career-accelerating professionals.
3. Employer Talent Placement: Corporate talent placement fees charged to employers seeking certified project professionals. Flat placement fees of $2,500 for roles under $100k total compensation and $5,000 for roles $100k+. Includes vetting, matching, and 90-day onboarding support.
4. Individual Strategy Sessions: One-on-one clarity and strategy sessions with Dr. Helen. Individual sessions priced at $150, with introductory sessions at $49. These serve as both a revenue stream and a conversion funnel for full program enrollment.
5. Donations and Scholarships: Tax-deductible charitable donations from supporters sponsoring women's participation. Full scholarships of $5,495, half scholarships of $2,750, and partial support at various levels. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 33-2505510).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Project Rise With Dr. Helen, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers PMP certification preparation, applied project management training, leadership development, and long-term mentorship cohort programs for professionals, with a particular focus on Black and Brown women and others historically underrepresented in leadership. Core paid offerings include the flagship Project Rise Signature Program ($5,495), Accelerated PMP Certification Path ($2,995), Project Leadership & Execution Program ($3,995), Applied Project Leadership Lab, Leadership & Career Accelerator, multi-tier mentorship subscriptions, one-on-one strategy sessions with Dr. Helen, a curated Talent Network for employer placement, and signature Rise & Connect networking events.

Product overview

Project Rise With Dr. Helen, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership development organization offering a portfolio of training and career advancement programs centered on project execution and PMP certification. The core offerings include the Project Rise Signature Program (flagship), Accelerated PMP Certification Path, Project Leadership & Execution Program, and Leadership & Career Accelerator, with supplementary programs such as Applied Project Leadership Lab, mentorship tracks (Growth Starter, Career Accelerator, Leadership Mastery), individual strategy sessions, and talent network services. The organization hosts Rise & Connect networking events and provides organizational training and advisory services through Just Ask Dr. Helen. Programs combine live virtual instruction, practical application, PMI certification preparation, career positioning, and long-term mentorship to develop project leaders, particularly Black and Brown women and others historically underrepresented in leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rise & Connect: A signature networking experience hosted by Project Rise with Dr. Helen, bringing together professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, students, nonprofit leaders, recruiters, and community members for authentic conversations and career connections.
• Just Ask Dr. Helen

Products and services

• Project Rise Signature Program Flagship all-inclusive pathway that combines leadership development, project execution training, PMP certification preparation, applied practicum, career advancement support, employer connections, and twelve months of mentorship for professionals seeking to lead complex work. Priced at $5,495. For individuals seeking comprehensive leadership, PMP certification, and mentorship in one offering.
• Accelerated PMP Certification Path Streamlined PMP certification pathway providing live instructor-led preparation, PMI application guidance, study resources, simulation exams, and focused coaching. Designed for professionals whose primary goal is to earn the PMP credential without the extended applied practicum or 12-month mentorship of the Signature Program. Priced at $2,995.
• Project Leadership & Execution Program Comprehensive project management and leadership development program with live core training and a team-based applied practicum for professionals who lead products, teams, programs, systems, or strategic initiatives but are not making PMP certification the central goal. Priced at $3,995 full program, with an optional PMP Application & Exam Readiness Add-On ($1,000) for those who also want certification.
• Applied Project Leadership Lab Guided practicum for PMP-certified professionals and experienced project leaders to develop portfolio-ready artifacts using realistic project scenarios, hands-on workshops covering project charters, RAID logs, stakeholder maps, risk registers, and executive dashboards. Available as a small-group cohort ($1,750 per person) or a private one-on-one personalized experience ($2,495).
• Leadership & Career Accelerator Strategic career support program for experienced professionals seeking role transitions, promotions, or leadership opportunities. Includes coaching sessions, resume transformation, LinkedIn optimization, executive positioning, personal branding, networking strategy, interview preparation, and accountability. Available as a 3-month Leadership Career Accelerator ($2,497, six sessions) or a 6-month Leadership Career Partnership ($3,997, twelve sessions plus ongoing mentoring, interview debriefs, offer evaluation, salary negotiation, and 90-day success coaching).
• Mentorship Programs Long-term 1:1 mentorship subscriptions providing extended coaching and career support with bi-weekly 45-minute sessions, accountability check-ins, goal tracking, and access to a private Slack/Discord mentorship community. Three tiers are available: Growth Starter Mentorship (3 months, $756), Career Accelerator Mentorship (6 months, $1,386), and Leadership Mastery Mentorship (12 months, $2,646). For alumni and career-accelerating professionals seeking ongoing coaching outside the cohort programs.
• One-on-One Strategy Session with Dr. Helen Individual 45-minute clarity session with Dr. Helen Uzamere for career guidance, confidence rebuilding, navigating career gaps, tackling burnout, and mapping practical next steps for women at career crossroads. Priced at $49 (introductory) or $150 (comprehensive). Available to individuals as a standalone service and as an entry point into full programs.
• Project Rise Talent Network Curated national network connecting vetted, coached, and supported project professionals with employers seeking certified, mentored project talent for leadership roles. Professionals join free to gain visibility and consideration for opportunities. Employer placement fees are $2,500 for roles under $100,000 total compensation and $5,000 for roles $100,000 and above, including vetting, matching, and 90-day onboarding support. Placement fees help sustain scholarships for the next cohort.
• Rise & Connect Events Signature networking experiences featuring guided speed networking, thoughtful conversation starters, career connections, leadership discussions, food and refreshments, and giveaways. Hosted in cities including New York Metro/Westchester (next event August 13) and Indianapolis (next event September 15) with virtual variants. Brings together professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, students, nonprofit leaders, recruiters, and community members for authentic relationship building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% PMI application acceptance rate among participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Corporate Employers (General)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizations engage Project Rise to access a pipeline of certified, real-world-ready project managers who can deliver from day one. Employers gain access to PMP, PMI-ACP, or CAPM certified talent with applied project experience. Partners include corporations seeking to develop and retain diverse leadership talent through placement fees or sponsorship of employees into programs.
• Universities and Educational InstitutionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Rise partners with universities for organizational training, advisory support, and leadership development programs. The organization helps strengthen leadership pipelines and create shared language for project execution across academic environments.
• Professional AssociationssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with professional associations for hosting Rise & Connect events, expanding reach to members seeking leadership development and career advancement support. Associations benefit from providing high-value programming to members.
• Community OrganizationssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organizations host or co-host Rise & Connect events and refer professionals to Project Rise programs. These partnerships expand access to leadership development for underrepresented professionals.
• NonprofitssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit organizations partner with Project Rise for leadership development, workforce training, and talent pipeline support. Board member Dr. Sheryl Smikle serves as Chief Learning Officer at National CASA/GAL Association for Children, representing potential cross-organizational collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PMTraining: PMP exam preparation provider offering live instructor-led and on-demand PMP courses. Directly comparable because it competes in the same PMP certification prep category with similar cohort-style delivery and serves professionals seeking the same PMI credential.
• Generation (by McKinsey.org): Global nonprofit providing workforce training and job placement for underrepresented talent. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit combining cohort training with employer placement fees, though targeting different occupations.
• Velociteach (now part of Cprime): Long-standing PMP and PMI-ACP certification training provider, now operating within Cprime. Comparable as a direct PMP prep competitor with established instructor networks and corporate training offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Simplilearn: Large online professional certification platform offering PMP alongside many other credentials and bootcamps. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the PMP training space with substantially larger scale and lower price points.
• Coursera: Major online learning platform partnering with universities and companies to offer professional certificates, including PMP-related content. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing professional certification and management training content at scale.
• PMI (Project Management Institute): The credentialing body that issues the PMP certification and operates Authorized Training Partner programs. Comparable as the standards-setter whose exam Project Rise prepares students for, and as a broader incumbent offering its own learning products.

Others

• ADPList: Global mentorship platform connecting professionals with mentors across disciplines. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure provider in the mentorship space that Project Rise partially replicates in its 12-month mentorship offering.

Emerging players

• Fairygodboss: Career platform focused on women's workplace advancement, including reviews, salary data, and mentorship. Comparable in its women-focused career advancement positioning and employer partnership model.
• Maven: Cohort-based professional development platform for working professionals and managers. Comparable in live cohort delivery, premium pricing, and instructor-led format, though it spans many topics rather than PMP specifically.
• Girlboss: Media and community brand focused on women's career advancement and leadership. Comparable mission alignment (advancing women in leadership) and audience overlap, though its delivery model is content/community rather than cohort training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Project Rise With Dr. Helen, Inc.