National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat)
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersThief River Falls, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat)
- Legal name
- National Center for Autonomous Technologies
- Website
- https://ncatech.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Technology Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Drones, UAVs & Aerial Robotics Programs (EDAMADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD), Certification & Credentialed Creator Programs (MPACALAI)
Keywords
Where National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thief River Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- NSF ATE Program Funding: Primary funding from National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grants. The center received a $7.3M NSF ATE investment in June 2024 and previously received grants including DUE 1902574, DUE 1501629, and DUE 1700615.
- Workshop and Training Fees: Revenue from professional training programs such as the Trusted Operator cohort training at $1,595 per participant.
- NASA Grant Funding: Grant funding from NASA to investigate Advanced AirMobility maintenance training requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One-time payment | Trusted Operator August 2026 Cohort - 4-day train the trainer event |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NCAT develops, curates, and disseminates autonomous-technology educational resources — including curriculum, equipment lending, professional development workshops, and industry-recognized training standards — for two-year colleges, high schools, and industry partners across the air (UAS/drones), land (automotive), and sea (maritime/ROV) domains. Its flagship programs include DRONETECH Educator Workshops, the Trusted Operator Program, a lending library of UAS and sensor equipment, and the Program Finder Map Tool for locating autonomous-tech educational programs nationwide.
Product overview
The National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT) operates as a national resource hub for autonomous technology education and career pathways, led by Northland Community & Technical College. NCAT does not offer a single unified product but rather provides a portfolio of interconnected educational services including equipment lending (Lending Library with various drone and robotics kits), educator professional development (DRONETECH workshops), student programs (STEM camps and competitions), certification pathways (Trusted Operator Program), and resource tools (Program Finder Map). The core offering centers on four pillars: LEAD (professional development), CONNECT (workforce engagement), INSPIRE (STEM engagement in education), and SERVE (educational resources).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DRONETECH Educator Workshop (Foundational)
Quantifiable outcome
- 7,000+ students participate annually in MATE ROV competitions across 41 regional events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat)
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, flagship, core and key.
- SenterasupportingHeadquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Provides UAS Operations Internships for students interested in precision agriculture, agronomy, and remote sensing.
- Northrop Grumman CorporationflagshipEstablished first technician-level internship program at Northrop Grumman Grand Sky site in 2020. Aviation maintenance with UAS focus internships for Northland students.
- Northland Community and Technical CollegecoreHost institution for NCAT. Northland Aerospace has provided 60+ years of aviation education and launched the nation's first UAS Maintenance Program in 2010. Leads UAS and Geospatial Information Technology technician education.
- St. Cloud State UniversitykeySchool of Public Affairs leads in Geographic Information Systems Technology. Supports DRONETECH Educator Workshops and conducts workforce assessments and heat maps for autonomous technologies industry.
- Minnesota State Transportation Center of ExcellencekeyFounded in 2013, focused on developing skilled workforce for high-demand transportation careers in Minnesota. Promotes collaborative communication and best practices sharing.
- MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II)key501(c)(3) non-profit supporting MATE ROV competition. Global ROV competition with 7,000+ students participating annually in 41 regional events worldwide.
- Center for Advanced Automotive Technology (CAAT)keyBased at Macomb Community College, Michigan. Launched in 2010 to meet expanding automotive industry workforce needs through curriculum development and educational opportunities.
- GeoTech - National Geospatial Technology CenterkeyLocated at Jefferson Community and Technical College, Kentucky. Produced the Geospatial Technology Competency Model for U.S. Department of Labor. Developed ten model courses and concept modules.
- FAA UAS Northern Plains Test SiteflagshipLocated in North Dakota region known as Silicon Valley for UAS developments. Part of ecosystem including University of North Dakota, Grand Sky UAS Business Park.
- Grand SkykeyNation's first UAS Business Development Park. Part of the regional UAS ecosystem in the Northern Plains with access to large-scale UAS platforms.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- UAV Coach: Commercial drone training provider offering Part 107 prep courses, drone business courses, and a job board. Comparable as an autonomous-tech education provider targeting the same student and workforce-development audience, but with a private, for-profit commercial model.
- Pilot Institute: A private drone-pilot training company focused on Part 107 certification and commercial drone operator courses. Comparable because it competes for the same learner segment NCAT serves, but offers paid online courses rather than free grant-funded curriculum and competitions.
Broad incumbents
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: A leading aeronautical university offering bachelor's and master's degrees in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science and related fields. Comparable to NCAT because both train UAS technicians and pilots, but Embry-Riddle is a degree-granting four-year institution with broader scope and substantially larger resources.
- University of North Dakota (UND Aerospace): Home of the first UAS-focused degree program in the U.S. and a major partner in the Northern Plains UAS ecosystem alongside NCAT. Directly comparable as a UAS technician and operator training provider, though UND is a research university with broader degree programs.
- Kansas State University Polytechnic (UAS Program): Operates a well-known UAS degree and certificate program with a dedicated flight operations lab. Comparable to NCAT because it is a higher-education UAS training provider competing for the same student pipeline of UAS technicians and operators, though at the four-year degree level.
Others
- ASTM International (NCATT Committee): Standards body that absorbed NCATT and with which NCAT co-developed the UAS Maintenance Technician standards. Comparable as a co-standards-setter rather than a direct competitor, but its standards committee work directly overlaps with NCAT's curriculum authority.
- AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International): The largest industry association for unmanned systems and autonomy, which runs the Trusted Operator certification program that NCAT's Trusted Operator Cohort trains instructors to deliver. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct educator, with overlapping standards influence.
Direct peers
- REC Foundation (Robotics Education & Competition Foundation): Operator of the Aerial Drone Competition and other K-12 robotics competitions, partnered with NCAT to launch the first REC Aerial Drone Competition. Comparable as a competition and curriculum provider competing for the same educator and student audiences in autonomous technology.
- VEX Robotics (Robotics Education & Competition Foundation): Supplier of robotics curricula, hardware, and the VEX Robotics Competition used in K-12 and post-secondary STEM. Directly comparable because NCAT hosts and promotes VEX Robotics events and uses similar competition-driven engagement with students and educators in autonomous-tech education.
- MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II): 501(c)(3) that runs the global MATE ROV Competition (7,000+ students, 41 regional events), which NCAT hosts and sponsors. Directly comparable as a nonprofit providing ROV/maritime autonomous technology education and competitions to students and educators.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) social profiles
Digital presenceNational Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) 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 National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat)
What does National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) do?
NCAT develops, curates, and disseminates autonomous-technology educational resources — including curriculum, equipment lending, professional development workshops, and industry-recognized training standards — for two-year colleges, high schools, and industry partners across the air (UAS/drones), land (automotive), and sea (maritime/ROV) domains. Its flagship programs include DRONETECH Educator Workshops, the Trusted Operator Program, a lending library of UAS and sensor equipment, and the Program Finder Map Tool for locating autonomous-tech educational programs nationwide.
Is National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) a public or private company?
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) founded?
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) based?
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) is headquartered in Thief River Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. NSF ATE Program Funding is the primary driver. The others are workshop and Training Fees and NASA Grant Funding.
Who are National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat)'s main competitors?
Emerging players on record are UAV Coach and Pilot Institute. Broad incumbents are Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota (UND Aerospace) and Kansas State University Polytechnic (UAS Program). Others are ASTM International (NCATT Committee) and AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International). Direct peers are REC Foundation (Robotics Education & Competition Foundation), VEX Robotics (Robotics Education & Competition Foundation) and MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II).
Does National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat).
What industry is National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat) in?
National Center For Autonomous Technologies (ncat)'s product category is Autonomous Technology Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAJ, Drones, UAVs & Aerial Robotics Programs, with a secondary code of EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.