LA STEM Collective

What LA STEM Collective does

LA STEM Collective is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit coalition that functions as the regional STEM ecosystem for Greater Los Angeles. Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as an informal collaboration of STEM education organizations responding to remote-learning needs, the Collective has grown into a network of more than 150 member organizations spanning formal, informal, out-of-school, and higher-education STEM providers, alongside civic, business, and industrial partners. It serves children and youth across Los Angeles County — particularly those from marginalized and under-resourced communities — with programs addressing STEM deserts and inequitable access to science education. Since 2020, the Collective reports reaching more than 200,000 students across LA County.

The Collective's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based: the Ecosystem Network itself, the Science Explorers 9-week afterschool enrichment program (delivered at 46 LAUSD Beyond the Bell sites serving approximately 500 students weekly through 17 member organizations), Education and Access Programs (field trips, teacher professional development, community events), Professional Learning for member staff, Career Pathways connecting youth to corporate and university partners, quarterly Ecosystem Convenings, and the Cities Connecting Children to Nature Los Angeles County initiative. There are no proprietary technology products, software platforms, APIs, or AI/ML components — the underlying "technology" is coordination infrastructure, governance, and convening power rather than code. Distribution flows through three principal channels: direct LAUSD partnership, member-organization delivery in schools, museums, and community centers, and large public events such as City of STEM (20,000+ attendees).

The business model is nonprofit grant- and donation-funded. Anchor funding comes from The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation (since 2020), with additional support from the Adams Legacy Foundation, National League of Cities, California Community Foundation, and individual/organizational donations. All programs are offered free to students and schools. The organization is currently transitioning from a fiscal-sponsor model under Wildwoods Foundation (a project of Community Partners) to independent 501(c)(3) status under new fiscal sponsor Oceanographic Teaching Stations, Inc., as of May 2026. Jamecca Marshall became the first Executive Director in March 2025, leading a small all-woman staff team (approximately 5–10) including an Ecosystem Manager and Program Manager.

Name

LA STEM Collective

Legal name

Oceanographic Teaching Stations, Inc.

Website

https://lastemcollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LA STEM Collective is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit coalition coordinating a network of 150+ STEM education organizations that deliver free programming to K-12 youth across LA County, with a focus on underserved communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education Ecosystem Coordination Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL), STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• STEM education ecosystem
• Youth STEM programs
• Nonprofit education network
• After-school enrichment
• STEM coordination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: LA STEM receives anchor funding from foundations including The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation for operational support and organizational development.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations support hands-on afterschool enrichment, community STEM fests, and collaborative youth mentoring programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LA STEM Collective operates as the backbone STEM ecosystem coordinator for Los Angeles, convening 150+ STEM education organizations, schools, civic groups, and businesses to collaboratively deliver STEM programming to LA youth. Founded in 2020 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it provides network coordination, capacity-building programs (Science Explorers afterschool enrichment, Professional Learning, Career Pathways), and acts as the neutral backbone organization for the regional STEM collective-impact initiative.

Product overview

LA STEM Collective is a collaborative network that functions as the STEM Ecosystem for Greater Los Angeles. It is not a single unified product but rather a network of 150+ STEM organizations coordinated through various programs and services. The core offering is the Ecosystem Network itself, which facilitates resource sharing, equitable access, and collaboration among member organizations. Direct service programs include the Science Explorers afterschool enrichment initiative. Additional services encompass professional learning opportunities for member organizations, career pathway connections with corporate and university partners, and quarterly ecosystem convenings. The organization also leads the Cities Connecting Children to Nature Los Angeles County initiative in partnership with the Children & Nature Network and National League of Cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LA STEM Ecosystem Network A regional collective-impact backbone network serving 150+ STEM education organizations, schools, civic groups, and businesses across LA County. Provides coordination, convening, and resource pooling for the Los Angeles STEM ecosystem.
• Science Explorers A 9-week afterschool STEM enrichment program designed for K-12 students in Los Angeles County, delivered through partner schools and community organizations with a focus on underserved communities.
• Professional Learning Professional development and capacity-building programming for educators, STEM program providers, and member organizations to strengthen STEM teaching and program delivery across the LA region.
• Career Pathways Career exposure and pathway programs that connect LA youth to STEM career opportunities, including exposure to STEM professionals, higher education pathways, and workforce development.
• Cities Connecting Children to Nature (LA County) A partnership-based environmental and nature STEM initiative operated in LA County that connects children to nature through outdoor and environmental STEM learning experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000+ students reached since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Oceanographic Teaching Stations, Inc. (Roundhouse Aquarium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026New fiscal sponsor for LA STEM Collective as of May 2026, supporting organizational transition to independent nonprofit status.
• Public CounselcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Legal organization assisting LA STEM in transition to 501(c)(3) independent nonprofit status.
• Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022National initiative partnership between Children & Nature Network and National League of Cities. LA STEM is one of five state/regional organizations selected for technical assistance and grant funding to increase equitable access to nature. Includes 26-month engagement with CCCN national experts.
• Wildwoods FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Backbone organization providing essential operational support and 501(c)(3) status. Hosted LA STEM Collective starting June 2021. Executive Director Dwain Wilson served as backbone agency leader.
• LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner. LAUSD engaged LA STEM as intermediary to provide virtual after-school enrichment programs. Continued partnership for Science Explorers program at 46 schools.
• GPSN (Greatest Possible Self Now)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Summer of Joy programming - in-person STEM programming for LA youth. Partnership spans multiple years (Summer of Joy #1 through #4).
• CicLAviamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to create STEM Stations along CicLAvia routes where member organizations conduct STEM education experiences for children and families at public parks.
• LA Promise FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of StudentsBuild 2026 event where 30+ LA STEM member organizations participated. Also operates Amgen Biotech Experience as member organization.
• STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of PracticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network. LA STEM is a proud member, aligning with other STEM ecosystems across the country. Backed by TIES (The Engineering Institute of America).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): National K-12 STEM engagement organization running robotics competitions; FIRST Robotics California is an LA STEM member. Comparable mission around hands-on STEM access for youth, but at far larger national scale.
• MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement): Long-established statewide and national STEM equity program operating in California and other states, focused on underrepresented students in pre-K through graduate school. A larger, broader incumbent working on adjacent STEM access and equity goals.
• Code.org: Large national nonprofit driving K-12 computer science education access. Overlaps with LA STEM's equity-focused STEM mission and operates with much broader geographic scope and resources.

Others

• Afterschool Alliance: National advocacy organization promoting afterschool programs, including STEM enrichment. Overlaps with LA STEM's after-school Science Explorers delivery model and shared interest in expanded learning opportunities for youth.
• Children & Nature Network: National partner that co-leads the Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative with LA STEM. Adjacent ecosystem-convener focused on nature access, not direct peer in STEM education but a strategic collaborator.

Direct peers

• STEM Next Opportunity Fund: National nonprofit that operates the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice, of which LA STEM is a member. Operates the same ecosystem-convening model at national scale and is the closest structural analogue to LA STEM Collective.
• STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice: National network of regional STEM ecosystems (including LA STEM) coordinating cross-sector STEM education. Backed by TIES, it is the umbrella body whose regional chapters LA STEM belongs to and is the most direct peer in mission and operating model.
• Bay Area STEM Ecosystem: California-based STEM Learning Ecosystem chapter also focused on cross-sector K-12 STEM access in a major metro. Closest geographic peer to LA STEM and comparable in scale and member-driven structure.
• Chicago STEM Ecosystem: Regional STEM Learning Ecosystem serving the Chicago metro with a similar cross-sector convening model. Comparable mission around equitable STEM access and member-driven program delivery.
• Pittsburgh STEM Ecosystem: One of the founding STEM Learning Ecosystems and a fellow regional chapter. Comparable structure: cross-sector coalition of schools, museums, universities, and employers coordinating STEM access for K-12 youth in a single metro area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/collectivestem
• Facebookfacebook.com/LASTEMCollective
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-stem-collective
• Instagraminstagram.com/collectivestem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about LA STEM Collective