Work-Based Learning Alliance
Work-Based Learning Alliance is a Delaware-based nonprofit that delivers free virtual work-based learning programs to high school students across 16 U.S. states, with a focus on historically marginalized populations. The organization connects students with industry partners through tiered 20- to 100-hour virtual internships that remove geographic and transportation barriers via mobile-first delivery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Work-Based Learning Alliance does
Work-Based Learning Alliance (WBLA) is a Delaware-domiciled, female-founded and -led nonprofit founded in 2022 that provides free virtual work-based learning experiences to high school students across the United States, with a deliberate focus on historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. The organization delivers three tiered programs — 20-hour virtual industry project experiences (3 weeks), 50-hour virtual internships (4-6 weeks), and 100-hour virtual internships (4-8 weeks) — through a mobile-first virtual learning platform that supports both synchronous and asynchronous student team collaboration. Programs are built on proven work-based learning templates aligned to real industry roles and tasks, with industry mentors providing structured feedback and project guidance.
The technology stack is centered on a mobile-first virtual delivery system that removes geographic and transportation barriers to participation. WBLA operates as the employer of record, paying students fair stipends directly (over $3 million to date) and absorbing HR and payroll burdens on behalf of industry partners. In less than two years, the organization reports delivery of more than 230,000 work-based learning hours to over 2,500 students across 16 states.
The revenue model is grant- and donation-driven, with income sourced from government bodies (notably the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council), nonprofit foundations (Britebound), and industry partner program fees. Distribution is delivered through channel partnerships with high schools, school districts, and state government entities, exemplified by the Massachusetts AI Hub-administered $500,000 public-private AI internship program that served 400 students across 66 Massachusetts school districts and 58 industry partners in healthcare, IT, and engineering.
Work-Based Learning Alliance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Work-Based Learning Alliance
- Legal name
- Work-Based Learning Alliance
- Website
- https://workbasedlearningalliance.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Work-Based Learning Alliance is a Delaware-based nonprofit that delivers free virtual work-based learning programs to high school students across 16 U.S. states, with a focus on historically marginalized populations. The organization connects students with industry partners through tiered 20- to 100-hour virtual internships that remove geographic and transportation barriers via mobile-first delivery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Work-Based Learning Alliance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development / Educational Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops (EDALABAG)
Keywords
Where Work-Based Learning Alliance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Work-Based Learning Alliance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government & Foundation Grants: Primary funding from government bodies (such as Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council) and nonprofit foundations (such as Britebound) to fund student internship and work-based learning programs. The organization has received $500,000 public-private investments for specific programs and has paid over $3,000,000 in stipends to students.
- Industry Partner Program Fees: Industry partners sponsor student projects, providing real business challenges for student teams to solve. Partners benefit from developing diverse talent pipelines aligned to in-demand industry roles, tasks, and skills.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Work-Based Learning Alliance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Work-Based Learning Alliance provides free, mobile-first virtual work-based learning experiences for high school students in the United States, partnering with industry employers to deliver real-world projects in programs of 20, 50, or 100 hours. Students work in teams synchronously and asynchronously on business challenges provided by industry partners, receive structured mentor feedback, and earn fair stipends paid directly by WBLA acting as employer of record. The model targets historically marginalized and underrepresented student populations and is designed to eliminate geographic, transportation, and financial barriers to participation.
Product overview
Work-Based Learning Alliance operates as a single-platform virtual work-based learning system offering three tiered programs: 50 Hour Virtual Internships (4-6 weeks), 100 Hour Virtual Internships (4-8 weeks), and 20 Hour Virtual Industry Project Experiences (3 weeks). These programs are designed for high school students and connect them with industry partners to complete real-world projects, develop employability skills, and receive fair stipends. The programs leverage a mobile-first virtual delivery model to eliminate geographic and transportation barriers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 50 Hour Virtual Internships A 4–6 week virtual work-based learning program where high school students complete real-world industry projects, receiving structured feedback from industry mentors while developing employability and technical skills. Offered free to students with fair stipends paid by WBLA acting as employer of record.
- 100 Hour Virtual Internships An extended 4–8 week virtual internship program providing deeper industry engagement, where students work in teams on business challenges for industry partners while earning fair stipends. Designed for high school students seeking a more immersive work-based learning experience.
- 20 Hour Virtual Industry Project Experiences A condensed 3-week virtual industry project program enabling students to gain hands-on experience solving real business challenges while exploring career pathways in partnership with industry mentors. Designed as a lighter-weight entry point to work-based learning for high school students.
- Massachusetts AI Internship Program A state-administered four-week paid virtual AI internship program in which high school students work on applied AI projects with industry mentors from 58 participating businesses across healthcare, IT, and engineering sectors. Delivered in partnership with the Massachusetts AI Hub, the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, and Britebound.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of students believe they developed their employability skills during programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Work-Based Learning Alliance
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Work-Based Learning Alliance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Work-Based Learning Alliance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Massachusetts AI HubcoreThe Massachusetts AI Hub administered the $500,000 public-private AI internship program for 400 high school students across 66 Massachusetts school districts. WBLA partnered with the AI Hub to deliver virtual paid internships with industry mentors guiding student teams on applied AI projects.
- Advanced Manufacturing Sector PartnersminorIndustry employers across advanced manufacturing provided real business challenges for student teams to solve as part of virtual AI internships, with industry mentors guiding project work.
- Healthcare Sector PartnersminorHealthcare industry employers provided real business challenges for student teams to solve as part of virtual AI internships, with industry mentors guiding project work.
- Clean Energy Sector PartnersminorClean energy industry employers provided real business challenges for student teams to solve as part of virtual AI internships, with industry mentors guiding project work.
- Biotechnology Sector PartnersminorBiotechnology industry employers provided real business challenges for student teams to solve as part of virtual AI internships, with industry mentors guiding project work.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Work-Based Learning Alliance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NAF (National Academy Foundation): NAF operates career academies within high schools focused on industries like healthcare, IT, and engineering, providing students with work-based learning experiences and industry mentors. Directly comparable to WBLA's industry-aligned, mentor-driven work-based learning model for high schoolers.
- Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning is a nonprofit network of career-focused high schools centered on real-world internships and project-based learning. Comparable to WBLA in its mission of integrating authentic work experiences into high school education, though delivered primarily through school redesign rather than virtual programs.
- Nepris: Nepris is a virtual platform that connects K-12 students with industry professionals for career-exploration sessions, mentorship, and project-based engagements. Directly comparable to WBLA as it operates in the same work-based learning / career-readiness space for high school students via virtual delivery.
- SkillsUSA: SkillsUSA is a nonprofit career and technical education organization serving middle, high school, and college students preparing for skilled trades and industry careers. Comparable to WBLA in its work-based learning focus and industry alignment, though oriented around competitive skills events and chapter-based programs.
- Junior Achievement: Junior Achievement is a long-standing nonprofit providing K-12 students with workforce readiness, career exploration, and entrepreneurship experiences delivered through schools and industry volunteers. Comparable to WBLA in mission and target population, though typically classroom-delivered rather than virtual internship-based.
- iCould: iCould is a UK-based career exploration platform offering video-based career guidance and labor market information to young people. Comparable to WBLA in its mission to expand career awareness for young people through digital delivery, though focused on UK students and primarily informational rather than project-based.
Others
- Jobs for the Future (JFF): JFF is a national nonprofit focused on transforming the American workforce and education systems, working with states, employers, and educators on workforce development initiatives. Comparable to WBLA as an ecosystem intermediary shaping WBL funding and policy, though JFF operates as a research and capacity-building organization rather than directly running student programs.
Broad incumbents
- Year Up: Year Up is a workforce development nonprofit providing young adults (18-24) with technical training, mentorship, and corporate internships leading to jobs. Comparable to WBLA in work-based learning and employer-of-record-style stipend/internship model, though serves older participants and operates in-person programs.
- Discovery Education: Discovery Education is a major K-12 digital content provider with career-readiness and STEM resources adopted by school districts nationally. Comparable to WBLA in the school-district channel and career exploration space, though primarily a content publisher rather than a work-based learning operator.
- EVERFI: EVERFI is a large-scale education technology company providing digital career-readiness, financial literacy, and SEL courses to K-12 schools. Comparable to WBLA in the career-readiness content area and school-district distribution, though it sells digital curricula rather than virtual work-based learning experiences.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Work-Based Learning Alliance social profiles
Digital presenceWork-Based Learning Alliance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Work-Based Learning Alliance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Work-Based Learning Alliance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Work-Based Learning Alliance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Work-Based Learning Alliance
What does Work-Based Learning Alliance do?
Work-Based Learning Alliance provides free, mobile-first virtual work-based learning experiences for high school students in the United States, partnering with industry employers to deliver real-world projects in programs of 20, 50, or 100 hours. Students work in teams synchronously and asynchronously on business challenges provided by industry partners, receive structured mentor feedback, and earn fair stipends paid directly by WBLA acting as employer of record. The model targets historically marginalized and underrepresented student populations and is designed to eliminate geographic, transportation, and financial barriers to participation.
Is Work-Based Learning Alliance a public or private company?
Work-Based Learning Alliance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Work-Based Learning Alliance founded?
Work-Based Learning Alliance was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Work-Based Learning Alliance based?
Work-Based Learning Alliance is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Work-Based Learning Alliance make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government & Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are industry Partner Program Fees.
Who are Work-Based Learning Alliance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NAF (National Academy Foundation), Big Picture Learning, Nepris, SkillsUSA, Junior Achievement and iCould. Jobs for the Future (JFF) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Year Up, Discovery Education and EVERFI.
Does Work-Based Learning Alliance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Work-Based Learning Alliance.
What industry is Work-Based Learning Alliance in?
Work-Based Learning Alliance's product category is Workforce Development / Educational Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAMAL, Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAMAKAB, Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.