What b academics does

B Academics is a U.S.-based 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that operates a global membership network connecting educators, researchers, students, and practitioners around the study and promotion of B Corps and benefit corporations. The organization runs three core program verticals — Teaching, Research, and Engagement — anchored by a Resource Library of over 600 curated teaching, research, and engagement assets and by the B Impact Teams (BIT) student consulting model that pairs university teams with companies pursuing B Corp certification. B Academics operates 29 BIT programs globally (including exemplars at NC State, University of Florida, University of Georgia, and Universidad de Málaga) and has engaged over 1,000 students in consulting projects.

The organization monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue model: individual membership dues, a tiered Institutional Support Program (Gold and Platinum), transactional program fees ($500 per student for the Summer BIT Program, $300-$500 for the BIT Webinar, $2,500 for the BIT in a Box Workshop), and tax-deductible charitable contributions accepted via PayPal. Institutional supporters include six Founding University Members (NC State, Cal State Channel Islands, University of Florida, University of Alberta, DePaul, and University of Denver) plus Sistema B. Strategic partnerships with B Lab (global), Sistema B (Latin America), Universidad de los Andes and the Rockefeller Foundation (Umbral Research Fellowship, 2026), Strathmore University (Africa), and Waseda Business School / Japan Research Institute (Japan) anchor international expansion.

B Academics is led by Co-Founder and Executive Director Jessica Yinka Thomas (also Associate Professor of the Practice at NC State Poole College of Management), Co-Founder Rosanna Garcia (NC State), Vice President and Co-Founder Joel Gehman (University of Alberta), and Operations Director Rachel Haynes. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors with functional committees (Teaching, Research, Global Engagement, Membership, Communications, B Local Engagement). Recognitions include 2024 Candid Platinum Certification, 2023 Candid Gold, and 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner status (2025). The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no app, and no API; its infrastructure consists of a website, newsletter, membership directory, and event management system.

Name

b academics

Legal name

B Academics, Inc.

Website

https://bacademics.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

B Academics is a 501c3 nonprofit that operates a global membership network of educators, researchers, students, and practitioners advancing teaching, research, and engagement around B Corps and benefit corporations, anchored by a Resource Library and B Impact Teams consulting programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Business Academic Network

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable business education
• B Corp research network
• Academic membership organization
• Student consulting programs
• Benefit corporation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from individual academics, researchers, students, and practitioners who join B Academics to access resources, events, and networking opportunities.
2. Institutional Support Program: University and institutional memberships/financial contributions that represent a significant portion of B Academics' annual operating budget. Includes Founding University Members and institutional supporters.
3. Program Fees: Fees charged for participation in programs such as the Summer B Impact Teams Program ($500/student), B Impact Teams Webinar ($300-500), and B Impact Teams in a Box Workshop ($2,500).
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the mission. Accepts donations via PayPal and is a registered 501c3 nonprofit.
5. Charitable Contributions from Company Partners: Companies participating in B Impact Teams program may fulfill participation costs as charitable contributions to B Academics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

B Academics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a global membership network for academics, researchers, students, and practitioners focused on B Corp certification, benefit corporations, and sustainable business. It delivers value through an online Resource Library of 600+ teaching and research materials, the B Impact Teams (BIT) student consulting programs, faculty training workshops, quarterly Teaching/Research/Engagement Roundtables, the Summer B Impact Teams program, and the B Corp Case Competition.

Product overview

B Academics is a global academic membership network that serves as the central hub for educators, researchers, students, and practitioners studying B Corps, benefit corporations, and sustainable business. The organization operates a platform-plus-programs model centered on its core Resource Library of 600+ teaching, research, and engagement resources, supported by flagship programs including the B Impact Teams (BIT) Program for student consulting with businesses, the B Impact Teams in a Box Workshop and Webinar for faculty training, and quarterly Teaching, Research, and Engagement Roundtables. The membership program provides individual and institutional tiers (Gold and Platinum) with access to community, events, and premium resources. Regional initiatives include B Academics Spain and the Umbral Research Fellowship (with Universidad de los Andes and Rockefeller Foundation). The organization also runs the B Corp Case Competition, publishes annual Impact Reports, and maintains an events platform, membership directory, blog, and newsletter. B Academics is incorporated in the U.S. (EIN 84-3398405) and operates virtually, headquartered in Durham, NC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Resource Library Digital repository of over 600 teaching, research, and engagement resources on B Corps, benefit corporations, and business as a force for good, with tag and category-based search for academics, students, and practitioners.
• B Impact Teams (BIT) Program Student consulting team program where college and university students assist businesses in measuring and improving their social and environmental impact using the B Impact Assessment as a roadmap; delivered through 29 university programs worldwide.
• Summer B Impact Teams Program Global virtual summer experiential learning program pairing diverse student teams with companies seeking B Corp certification, providing 9 weeks of consulting support using the B Impact Assessment at $500/student with multiple B Corp-sponsored scholarships.
• B Impact Teams in a Box Workshop 4-hour customized virtual workshop providing tools, resources, and a roadmap for faculty to develop, launch, and run a B Impact Team program at their college or university; priced at $2,500 and included with Platinum Institutional Support.
• B Impact Teams Webinar 90-minute virtual webinar presented by B Academics board members covering how to develop, launch, and run a B Impact Team on campus; $300 for members and $500 for non-members, with follow-up BIT Conversation Series access.
• B Impact Teams Conversation Series Biannual virtual roundtable bringing together BIT experts and faculty running BIT programs globally to share best practices, resources, and discuss program successes and challenges.
• Membership Program Individual and institutional membership providing access to the B Academics community, Resource Library, events, networking, and voting rights in board elections for academics, students, practitioners, and policymakers.
• Institutional Support Program Tiered institutional sponsorship (Gold and Platinum levels) giving universities formal engagement with B Academics, including access to workshops, resources, and revenue-generating program guidance such as the BIT in a Box Workshop.
• Teaching Roundtables Annual virtual events exploring teaching tools, strategies, and approaches for engaging students around B Corps and business as a force for good, including B Impact Teams models and case study methods.
• Research Roundtables Annual workshops bringing together researchers studying B Corps and sustainable business to share findings, discuss methodologies, and advance academic understanding of the movement.
• Annual Roundtable (Engagement) Flagship annual gathering of the global B Academics community featuring research presentations, curriculum development sessions, and networking with B Corp practitioners.
• B Corp Case Competition Global student competition challenging participants to develop solutions for real-world business scenarios related to B Corps and balancing financial performance with social and environmental impact.
• B Academics Spain Regional initiative in partnership with B Lab Spain to develop the academic and professional community around the sustainable business movement in Spanish-speaking regions, including B Academics Spain Day events.
• Umbral Research Fellowship Year-long research fellowship partnership with Universidad de los Andes and Rockefeller Foundation supporting fellows from Latin America and globally to bridge academic theory and practice for medium-sized enterprises' sustainability transitions.
• Events Platform Virtual and in-person event management system hosting quarterly Teaching, Research, and Engagement Roundtables, committee meetings, webinars, and the annual global B Academics Roundtable.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 students have participated in B Impact Teams programs globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Umbral Research Unit at Universidad de los Andes – ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Strategic partnership with the Umbral Research Unit at Universidad de los Andes – Colombia, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. This collaboration focuses on creating real-world impact for SMEs and purpose-driven businesses across Latin America through research, methodology development, and fellowship programs. The inaugural cohort of 10 Umbral Research Fellows was announced in June 2026.
• B LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB Lab is the nonprofit network transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. B Academics works closely with B Lab to share best practices, conduct research, and support teaching around B Corporation certification and benefit corporations.
• Sistema BcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSistema B is the Latin American B Corp network. Listed as a Founding University Member and strategic partner supporting the B Corp movement in Latin America. B Academics collaborates with Sistema B on research, teaching, and regional engagement initiatives.
• North Carolina State UniversitycoreOthersFounding University Member and institutional supporter. Home to the Business Sustainability Collaborative and B Corp Clinic program, which has served as a model for B Impact Teams globally.
• California State University, Channel IslandscoreOthersFounding University Member and institutional supporter. Home to founding board member Maria Ballesteros-Sola who led membership program development.
• University of FloridacoreOthersFounding University Member and institutional supporter. Home to the Business for Good Lab program and Chair of Teaching Dr. Kristin Joys.
• University of AlbertacoreOthersFounding University Member and institutional supporter. Home to co-founder and Vice President Joel Gehman.
• DePaul UniversitycoreOthersFounding University Member and institutional supporter. Co-founder Summer Brown served as Secretary.
• University of DenvercoreOthersFounding University Member and institutional supporter.
• Strathmore UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in B Academics' first joint research seminar in Africa. Collaboration with Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya, marking expansion of B Academics' African engagement.
• Japan Research Institute (JRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner contributing to white paper on B Corp movement in Japan. Partnered with Waseda Business School to pioneer the first B Corp course in Japan.
• Waseda Business School (WBS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner pioneering the first B Corp course in Japan. Collaboration with Japan Research Institute on advancing the B Corp movement through academia in Japan.
• 1% for the PlanetminorOthersEnvironmental partnership program. B Academics is an Environmental Partner, committing to environmental giving.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Emerging players

• EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development): EFMD is a global membership organization for business schools and management education, focused on quality and innovation in management education. Comparable as a network advancing sustainability and responsible management in business school curricula and research.
• GlobeScan: GlobeScan is a sustainability-focused research and insights consultancy producing data, benchmarks, and reports used by both corporations and academics. Comparable as a research-driven organization informing the sustainable business evidence base.
• Social Enterprise Alliance: Social Enterprise Alliance is a membership organization supporting social enterprises and impact-driven businesses in North America. It is comparable as a membership/community model for impact-oriented practitioners and educators, though broader than B Corp-specific academic research.
• Future Fit Foundation: Future Fit Foundation promotes the Future Fit Business Benchmark and related tools for sustainable business transformation. Comparable as an adjacent organization developing frameworks, tools, and educational resources used by academics and practitioners studying sustainable business.

Broad incumbents

• GreenBiz Group: GreenBiz is a media, events, and research company covering sustainable business, with the annual GreenBiz conference and emerging-leader recognition programs. It overlaps with B Academics in convening sustainable-business leaders and producing research content.
• Aspen Institute Business & Society Program: The Aspen Institute's Business & Society Program convenes business leaders, scholars, and students to address leadership, corporate purpose, and stakeholder capitalism. Comparable as a mission-aligned convening and research organization in the sustainable business space.
• B Lab: B Lab is the nonprofit network behind the B Corp certification standard and is B Academics' closest strategic partner and the subject of much of its research and teaching. It is comparable as the broader incumbent defining the ecosystem B Academics serves.

Direct peers

• PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education): A UN-backed initiative engaging business schools to embed responsible management and sustainability into curricula and research. Directly comparable in mission to advance academic study and teaching of sustainable business.
• Net Impact: Net Impact is a global nonprofit mobilizing students and professionals to use their careers to tackle social and environmental challenges. It is highly comparable to B Academics in serving the sustainable-business student and professional community with chapters, conferences, and career resources.

Others

• 3BL / CSRwire: 3BL Media (parent of CSRwire) is a communications platform for corporate social responsibility and sustainability news and content. Comparable as an adjacent enabling organization supporting ESG/sustainability communications that intersect with academic and practitioner communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b-academics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about b academics