RAISE US

What RAISE US does

RAISE US is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan national nonprofit organization launched on June 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C., built to help American workers transition into an AI-driven economy. The organization is co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo (also CEO) and former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and operates through a platform-plus-programs architecture built around four focus areas: AI-Ready States, Education and Training, an Employer Coalition and Pilots, and a Policy Lab. At launch the organization has secured over $500 million in multi-year commitments against a stated $1 billion fundraising goal, drawn from an anchor coalition that includes Amazon, Anthropic, Microsoft, and the OpenAI Foundation alongside twenty-plus additional employer and philanthropic partners, with executive-level state pilots already running in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah.

Its core product is Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways; the same AI capability stack also powers teaching, coaching, and labor market analytics used across the program portfolio. Secondary programs include the Bank of America-sponsored national Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship platform and a Policy Lab research arm structured to operate independently of corporate funding, anchored by research partnerships with Burning Glass Institute, Opportunity Insights (Raj Chetty on the Advisory Board), and Brown University's Watson School.

The business model is donation-driven rather than revenue-generating. RAISE US does not charge fees for its workforce transition programs and instead deploys flexible philanthropic and corporate capital to co-design state workforce funding formulas, pilot training models, and underwrite national platforms. The organization operates with a 1–10 person headquarters staff in Washington, D.C., relying on embedded in-state teams, pro-bono advisory support from Accenture, BCG, and McKinsey, and its employer coalition for operational scaling.

Name

RAISE US

Legal name

RAISE US

Website

https://raiseus.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RAISE US is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit launched in June 2026 that partners with governors, employers, and training organizations to help American workers transition into an AI economy, with active state pilots in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF), Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB), Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Workforce, Employability & Youth Skills Partnerships (EDADALAI)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• AI career navigation
• Apprenticeship pathway programs
• Labor market analytics
• AI economy training

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Philanthropic Donations: RAISE US raises funds from major technology companies (Amazon, Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI Foundation), employers (ADP, AMD, Cisco, IBM, etc.), and philanthropies (Rockefeller Foundation, Emerson Collective, etc.) to fund workforce training programs and policy pilots. The organization aims to raise $1 billion in multi-year commitments.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RAISE US is a nonpartisan national nonprofit that partners with governors, employers, training organizations, and workers to help American workers transition to an AI-driven economy. It operates four coordinated programs: AI-Ready States (state partnerships in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah), Education and Training, Employer Coalition and Pilots, and a Policy Lab. The organization deploys AI-powered career navigation tools, funds innovative training models including apprenticeships and earn-and-learn pathways, and tests workforce policies such as wage insurance and short-time compensation.

Product overview

RAISE US is a nonpartisan national nonprofit organization structured as a platform-plus-programs architecture. The organization serves as a central hub that combines four interconnected programs: State Partnership Programs (working with Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Utah), an Employer Coalition (including Amazon, Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI Foundation as anchor partners), Education and Training Programs (funding AI-enabled training models), and a Policy Lab (for research and policy innovation). Core offerings include Arkansas LAUNCH (an AI-powered career navigation platform), an Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program (sponsored by Bank of America), and various workforce transition pilots co-designed with employers and state governments. The organization leverages AI capabilities to power career navigation, teaching, coaching, and labor market analytics across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arkansas LAUNCH State-branded AI-powered career navigation platform launched in Arkansas that helps workers identify in-demand roles, map skill gaps, and connect to training and job opportunities in the AI economy.
• Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program Apprenticeship and earn-and-learn program that prepares workers for advanced manufacturing roles, including positions related to AI-driven production.
• AI-Ready States Program Program that partners with governors and state agencies to launch state-branded workforce initiatives (such as Arkansas LAUNCH) focused on AI-economy readiness, worker training, and employer engagement.
• Employer Coalition and Pilots Coalition of employers that co-design, fund, and pilot innovative worker training and transition programs, with pilots focused on priority sectors affected by AI-driven change.
• Education and Training Programs Program that funds and supports innovative education and training models — including community colleges, universities, and nonprofits — that prepare workers for AI-economy roles.
• Policy Lab Research and policy experimentation initiative that designs, tests, and evaluates federal and state workforce policies — such as wage insurance and short-time compensation — to support workers affected by AI-driven labor-market change.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• ADPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026ADP is a founding partner providing workforce innovation insights from serving 1.1 million+ clients globally. CEO Maria Black noted AI is reshaping work at the task level, creating new job categories even as it changes others.
• AMDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026AMD is a founding partner. Chair & CEO Dr. Lisa Su stated realizing AI's full potential requires investing in people and helping workers build skills to participate in and benefit from the AI economy.
• AutodeskcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Autodesk is a founding partner focused on expanding access to technology, training, and credentials that help prepare the workforce. President & CEO Andrew Anagnost stated every company with capacity has responsibility to step forward.
• Boston Consulting GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026BCG is a founding partner providing research and advisory contributions. Also providing pro bono support alongside Accenture and McKinsey to help shape RAISE US's approach.
• CiscocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Cisco is a founding partner. Chair & CEO Chuck Robbins stated AI is reshaping industries faster than education and training systems can evolve, and Cisco is proud to support RAISE US to ensure workforce has ability to adapt.
• CognizantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Cognizant is a founding partner. CEO Ravi Kumar S stated over 90% of U.S. jobs are already exposed to AI's impact, and RAISE US provides a platform to co-design and scale workforce transition models with industry and state partners.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Deloitte is a founding partner, contributing to the employer coalition efforts for workforce transition.
• Eli Lilly and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Eli Lilly is a founding partner. CEO David A. Ricks stated RAISE US is tackling a defining challenge of the AI era: ensuring workers have skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
• General MotorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026GM is a founding partner joining the employer coalition to support workforce transition efforts.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026IBM is a founding partner. Chairman & CEO Arvind Krishna stated IBM has helped businesses navigate major technology shifts for over a century and is proud to support this effort to help workers build new skills.
• InfosyscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Infosys is a founding partner committed to advancing economic mobility of American workers through reskilling, collaboration and innovation. CEO Salil Parekh stated Infosys is eager to bring expertise to help realize RAISE US's ambition.
• MastercardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Mastercard is a founding partner. CEO Michael Miebach stated AI's full promise will come when people have skills, confidence and human insight to put it to work, and RAISE US puts people at the center of AI's future.
• Rockwell AutomationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Rockwell Automation is a founding partner. Chairman & CEO Blake Moret stated employers can't wait for workforce systems to evolve on their own and have responsibility to help shape it.
• ServiceNowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026ServiceNow is a founding partner contributing to the employer coalition efforts.
• UPScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026UPS is a founding partner joining the employer coalition to support workforce transition efforts.
• WorkdaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Workday is a founding partner contributing to the employer coalition for workforce transition.
• Stand TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Stand Together is a research partner and supporter. CEO Brian Hooks stated new technology creates extraordinary opportunity to help people realize their potential, and Stand Together is thrilled to partner with RAISE US.
• Burning Glass InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Burning Glass Institute is a lead research partner with strength in labor market analytics and deep expertise in AI impact analytics. President Matt Sigelman stated the partnership combines their analytical strengths with RAISE US's ability to catalyze industry, education, and government to turn intelligence into action at scale.
• Opportunity InsightscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Opportunity Insights is a research partner, with Director Raj Chetty serving on the Advisory Board. Their research on economic mobility and opportunity will help RAISE US build new infrastructure and evidence for the changing economic landscape.
• Brown University Watson School of International and Public AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Watson School at Brown University is a research partner, with Dean John Friedman serving on the Advisory Board.
• AccentureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 June 2026Accenture is providing pro bono support alongside BCG and McKinsey to help shape RAISE US's approach through research and advisory contributions.
• McKinsey & CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 June 2026McKinsey is providing pro bono support alongside Accenture and BCG to help shape RAISE US's approach through research and advisory contributions.
• Khan AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Khan Academy is an advisor to RAISE US. Founder & CEO Sal Khan stated America's workforce challenge is not just a skills gap but a broken bridge between learning, trusted credentials, and good jobs, and RAISE US is one of few efforts serious about building that bridge at scale.
• Jobs for the FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Jobs for the Future is a partner. President & CEO Maria Flynn stated organizations must stop working in silos and build real solutions together to better support workers.
• WGU (Western Governors University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026WGU is an advisor to RAISE US. President Scott Pulsipher stated the old assumption that one kind of credential delivered one way fits every worker has never been true, and AI is making that gap impossible to ignore.
• ASU (Arizona State University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026ASU is a partner through President Michael M. Crow, who stated RAISE US is engaging employers, educators and states to create more flexible and inclusive pathways to success.
• Arkansas (State Government)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Arkansas is an initial state partner with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. RAISE US is supporting Arkansas LAUNCH initiative - an AI-powered career navigation platform connecting students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways. Goal is to make Arkansas a leader on education, workforce training, and upskilling.
• Connecticut (State Government)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Connecticut is an initial state partner with Gov. Ned Lamont. Partnership focuses on practical steps including policies, coalitions, and resources to help workers gain new skills, support families through periods of change, and connect people to growing careers.
• Maryland (State Government)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Maryland is an initial state partner with Gov. Wes Moore. Collaboration involves expanding service-year pathways into healthcare and education, launching competitive fund for innovative career transition models, and creating accelerator program for displaced workers pursuing entrepreneurship.
• Utah (State Government)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Utah is an initial state partner with Gov. Spencer Cox. Gov. Cox stated RAISE US puts government, employers, and educators at the same table to actually get something done.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Code.org: Nonprofit expanding access to computer science education and tech skills. Comparable as a large education nonprofit working with employers, states, and philanthropies to scale skills training, though K-12-focused.
• Guild Education: For-profit education platform partnering with employers to fund and deliver workforce education and reskilling. Comparable employer-funded training model and career navigation focus, though commercially oriented versus nonprofit.
• Khan Academy: Nonprofit providing free online learning and an AI-powered tutor (Khanmigo). Already a RAISE US advisor; comparable in using AI to deliver free, scalable learning and credential pathways.

Direct peers

• Year Up: Large nonprofit providing skills training, career navigation, and job placement for young adults. Operates employer-paid training programs directly comparable to RAISE US's earn-and-learn model.
• National Skills Coalition: Nonprofit policy and advocacy organization working at the federal and state level on skills training and workforce funding. Comparable on the state-federal workforce policy lever that RAISE US also targets.
• Opportunity@Work: Nonprofit focused on expanding career opportunities for workers without four-year degrees (STARs). Directly comparable mission of helping mid-career, non-degree workers access better jobs through employer and policy engagement.
• Burning Glass Institute: Research nonprofit specializing in labor market analytics and AI impact analytics. Currently a RAISE US research partner, but operates in the same labor-market intelligence niche with directly comparable analytical capabilities.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and career placement to underserved adults. Comparable target population (mid-career, non-degree workers) and tech-skills training focus.
• Markle Foundation (Rework America): Foundation initiative focused on workforce transformation and rewiring the labor market for technology-driven change. Comparable mission around workforce infrastructure, employer engagement, and policy advocacy.
• Jobs for the Future: National nonprofit workforce intermediary focused on skills training, credentialing, and career pathways for underserved workers. Most direct operational peer; JFF is itself a RAISE US partner, making the comparison especially tight.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/raiseus_ai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/raise-us

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 RAISE US