Work-Based Learning Alliance

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.

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

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

• Virtual work-based learning
• High school internships
• Workforce development programs
• K-12 career readiness
• Industry mentor programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts AI HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026The 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 PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Industry 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 PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Healthcare 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 PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Clean 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 PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Biotechnology 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wblalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Work-Based Learning Alliance