STEMblazers

What STEMblazers does

STEMblazers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 81-2771300) headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, that delivers STEM programming to girls and young women. Founded in 2013 by Wendy Merchant, a licensed mechanical engineer with 20 years of experience in the construction industry, the organization targets middle and high school girls across the metro Denver area — spanning Weld County to Douglas County — on the thesis that girls often decide whether to pursue STEM by age 13. Core products include the STEM Launch chapter program (free for grades 6-8, capped at 25 students per chapter), the NextGen Innovating! Summer Programs held at the University of Colorado Denver's Auraria Campus ($75/week with scholarships), the post-secondary Workforce Program for professional development and internship connections, and the STEMblazers Podcast (now in Season 6, distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Buzzsprout).

The organization has no proprietary technology stack; delivery is human-led through in-person chapters, summer camps, mentorship pairings, industry tours, and signature events including the annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Sip & Support, and Mocktail Networking Social. The technology profile is limited to standard nonprofit tooling: a Squarespace website, a Salesforce-based contact form, GiveLively for donations, Mailchimp (list-manage.com) for newsletters, and YouTube/Buzzsprout for podcast hosting.

Revenue mechanics are donation-driven: individual monthly and one-time donations, corporate sponsorships (recurring partners include CDM Smith, Benesch, 360 Engineering, Hyde Engineering, Feavel Family, Redmond Construction, Deloitte, and Comcast), and modest program fees from summer programming (with scholarships available). The 2024 Golf Tournament Fundraiser raised $81,000 against a $70,000 goal. STEMblazers operates with a small staff (1-10 employees), supplemented by a Board of Directors, a Young Professionals Board, and an Advisory Board. In 2025 the organization made its first out-of-state expansion move, appointing a Program Coordinator for North Carolina.

Name

STEMblazers

Legal name

STEMblazers

Website

https://stemblazers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STEMblazers is a Colorado-based nonprofit that runs STEM chapters, summer programs, mentorship, and a podcast for middle and high school girls in the metro Denver area, with a Workforce Program supporting women into STEM careers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL), STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Girls in STEM
• STEM mentorship
• Youth workforce development
• STEM career pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Highlands Ranch

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual monthly donors and one-time donors provide financial support to fund workshops, mentoring programs, and student experiences. Major annual events include golf tournament fundraisers ($81,000 raised in 2024) and Sip & Support events.
2. Program Registration Fees: Summer programs charge $75/week per student. Scholarships are available for students who cannot afford the registration fee.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide funding and employee engagement opportunities. Companies sponsor programs, participate in events, and offer internship opportunities for program participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

STEMblazers delivers STEM educational programs for middle and high school girls in the metro Denver area, including free school-based chapter programs (STEM Launch), paid summer programs on the University of Colorado Denver campus, workforce development programming for young women beyond high school, and a podcast featuring female STEM professionals. The organization also produces mentorship, workshops, scholarships, and annual fundraising events to support its mission.

Product overview

STEMblazers is a non-profit educational organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on empowering girls and young women to pursue STEM careers. The core offerings include: (1) Chapter Programs for middle and high school students providing regular meetings, hands-on activities, guest speakers, mentoring, and industry tours; (2) NextGen Innovating! Summer Programs for in-person STEM experiences; (3) a Workforce Program for post-high school professional development and internship connections; and (4) the STEMblazers Podcast featuring interviews with female STEM professionals. Additional offerings include annual fundraising events (Golf Tournament, Sip & Support, Mocktail Social), mentorship programs, STEM workshops, and scholarships. Programs are delivered in partnership with schools across the metro Denver area and are designed to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of women in STEM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STEM Launch 2025-2026 Middle School Chapter Free year-long chapter program for middle school girls (grades 6-8) providing regular chapter meetings, hands-on STEM activities, guest speakers, mentoring, industry tours, snacks, and a club t-shirt. Limited to 25 students per chapter.
• NextGen Innovating! Summer Programs In-person summer STEM program for students entering grades 5-12 held at University of Colorado Denver's Auraria Campus, four days (10am-2pm) with snacks included. $75/week per student with scholarships available.
• High School Chapter Program School-based chapters operating at high schools across metro Denver area (including Highlands Ranch High School, Cherry Creek High School, Northglenn High School, Rangeview High School, Vista PEAK Preparatory) offering STEM competitions, robotics challenges, environmental projects, internships, career panels, and mentorship.
• Workforce Program Ongoing programming for young women beyond high school offering professional development workshops, internship opportunities, and mentorship to help launch young women into the STEM workforce pipeline.
• STEMblazers Podcast Ongoing podcast featuring interviews with female STEM professionals who share their stories, insights, and words of encouragement to inspire the next generation of young women. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Buzzsprout.
• Mentorship Programs Connects girls with female professionals in STEM fields, providing guidance, shared experiences, and advice to help mentees navigate their educational and career paths.
• STEM Workshops and Camps Hands-on workshops and camps providing girls with opportunities to engage in STEM activities, learn new skills, and explore potential career paths.
• Scholarships and Financial Support Scholarships and financial support to help girls pursue STEM degrees and careers, addressing financial barriers that can impede education.
• Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser Annual community-building, networking, and fundraising event bringing together partners and supporters for a fun day on the course to raise vital support for empowering the next generation of women in STEM.
• Sip & Support Event Signature fundraising event designed as an inspiring evening of connection with the STEMblazers Board, Young Professionals Board, and executive STEM leaders across the greater Denver metro area.
• Annual Mocktail Networking Social Signature event bringing together students in high-school chapters with trailblazing women working in STEM fields, featuring networking activities and connections with women role models and mentors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Goal to reach 1 million girls in 20 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 and minor.

• University of Colorado Denver (Auraria Campus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer programs and activities are held on the University of Colorado Denver's Auraria Campus, providing students with access to university facilities and exposure to higher education environments.
• Vista PEAK PreparatorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where students participate in STEM competitions, land internships, and make connections with industry professionals through the STEMblazers program.
• Highlands Ranch High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where students engage in robotics challenges and environmental projects through STEMblazers programming.
• Cherry Creek High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where students benefit from mentorship and career panels provided through STEMblazers.
• Northglenn High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where students report increased confidence in STEM abilities through STEMblazers community involvement.
• Rangeview High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where students work on environmental science projects that directly impact their local community through STEMblazers.
• Prairie Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where middle school girls actively participate in engineering projects, learn to code, and lead teams during STEMblazers events.
• Arrowhead Golf ClubminorOthersVenue for annual golf tournament fundraiser event.
• Gallantry Coaching (Stephanie Shivar)minorOthersEvent narrator and auctioneer for golf tournament fundraiser.
• Corporate Sponsors (Redmond Construction, 360 Engineering, Benesch, Hyde Engineering, Feavel Family)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors for golf tournament and ongoing program support. Gold Sponsor Feavel Family is described as a STEM family that has shown consistent support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit running coding clubs, summer programs, and college-loops for girls; comparable as a gender-focused STEM nonprofit serving K-12 girls with clubs/programs and corporate partnerships, but operating at much larger national scale than STEMblazers.
• Black Girls CODE: National nonprofit providing technology education and exposure for girls of color through workshops, hackathons, and after-school programs; directly comparable mission of closing gender/identity gaps in STEM with chapter-based programming and corporate support.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Large professional society running outreach programs (SWENext, SWE Future Leaders) for K-12 girls in STEM; comparable as a women-in-STEM organization with school chapters, mentorship, and corporate partnerships, though anchored in professional members rather than direct program delivery.
• National Girls Collaborative Project: Network of organizations serving girls in STEM through collaboration, mini-grants, and program directories; comparable as a nonprofit infrastructure player in the girls-in-STEM space, though positioned as a network/umbrella rather than direct program operator.

Direct peers

• Girlstart: Nonprofit empowering girls in STEM through after-school programs, summer camps, and community events; highly comparable as a community-based, chapter-driven STEM nonprofit for girls, with similar reliance on school partnerships and corporate sponsorships.
• STEM NOLA: New Orleans-based nonprofit running family STEM events, camps, and school programs to expose underrepresented youth to STEM; comparable as a regional, community-led STEM nonprofit with hands-on events, summer camps, and volunteer/partner ecosystems.
• Million Women Mentors: National initiative supporting girls and women in STEM through mentoring relationships with industry professionals; directly comparable to STEMblazers' mentorship-driven model linking girls to female STEM professionals via schools and corporate partners.
• TechGirlz: Nonprofit that encourages middle school girls to explore technology through free workshops and a library of TechShopz curricula; directly comparable as a middle-school-girls-focused STEM enrichment nonprofit with free chapter-style programming and volunteer-driven delivery.

Emerging players

• Kode With Klossy: Nonprofit running free summer coding camps for girls and gender-expansive teens; comparable as a gender-targeted STEM enrichment nonprofit focused on summer/camp programs for high school girls with scholarship access.

Others

• EngineerGirl: National Academy of Engineering program encouraging girls to pursue engineering through competitions, profiles, and classroom resources; adjacent peer sharing the girls-in-engineering mission with school-based engagement, though delivered as content/resources rather than local chapters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7jykT3lXtas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 STEMblazers