steame

STEAMe is a social impact technology company headquartered in Chicago, dedicated to facilitating seamless connections within the workforce development ecosystem. Its mission is to empower individuals by simplifying the process of qualifying for and applying to skills-based employment opportunities, thereby enhancing lifetime earnings and fostering community prosperity. By pioneering a multi-sided digital infrastructure, STEAMe integrates job seekers, workforce intermediaries, learning providers, and employers to drive skills-based employment initiatives and uplift communities.

Key Strategic Focus

STEAMe's strategic focus centers on developing a comprehensive digital and data platform that streamlines workforce development pathways to employment. The platform is engineered to support learners, reduce attrition, and ensure employers access candidates with the appropriate skills at the right time. Key objectives include:

• Managing and Integrating Partner Workflows: Configuring workflows, roles, and permissions while integrating with partner source systems.

• Navigating and Qualifying Learners: Intaking and pre-qualifying learners to assess current skills and training needs.

• Referring and Supporting: Facilitating referrals for wraparound services such as coaching, interview preparation, transportation, and childcare.

• Training and Engaging: Connecting learners to classroom or on-the-job training and tracking progress with AI-driven interactions.

• Verifying and Assessing: Confirming training completion, relevant certifications, and assessing job readiness.

• Connecting and Employing: Matching qualified learners to job openings and capturing post-placement data.

The platform's analytics infrastructure provides secure data and insights to monitor learner progress, understand workforce pipelines, and measure impact.

Financials and Funding

As a privately held company, specific financial details and funding history for STEAMe are not publicly disclosed. The company focuses on leveraging its resources to develop and enhance its digital platform, aiming to create sustainable impact within the workforce development sector.

Pipeline Development

STEAMe's platform is designed to support workforce development systems across various sizes and sectors. It caters to:

• Workforce Intermediaries: Enhancing efficiency and scaling impact by connecting system partners.

• Learners: Exploring career pathways, enrolling in programs, and accessing training opportunities.

• Learning Providers: Boosting learner success and increasing successful placements with employers.

• Employers: Accessing qualified candidate pipelines to fill positions efficiently.

The platform's development is ongoing, with continuous enhancements to meet the evolving needs of the workforce development ecosystem.

Technological Platform and Innovation

STEAMe's platform is a multi-sided digital infrastructure that enables seamless collaboration among all stakeholders in the workforce development process. Notable technological features include:

• Proprietary Technologies: A configurable system that integrates with partner workflows and source systems.

• AI-Driven Capabilities: Utilization of AI chat loops to track and manage learner progress.

• Data and Analytics: A robust analytics infrastructure providing secure data and insights at the learner, initiative, and system levels to inform decision-making and measure impact.

These innovations position STEAMe as a leader in creating efficient and effective workforce development solutions.

Leadership Team

STEAMe's leadership team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to driving the company's mission:

• Rachel Kohler, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer: A social impact entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in investment banking, management consulting, and global business operations. Previously CEO and co-owner of NowPow, a SaaS platform connecting individuals to social care resources.

• Dr. Stacy Lindau, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer: Professor of OB-GYN and Medicine at the University of Chicago, with a career dedicated to research, education, and social innovation. Founder of MAPSCorps and NowPow, focusing on community-engaged research and technology solutions for social care.

• Dr. Nichole Pinkard, Co-Founder and Chief Systems Officer: Alice Hamilton Professor of Learning Sciences at Northwestern University, specializing in creating digital learning environments for underserved youth. Founder of the Digital Youth Network and STEAMville.org.

• Mike Wolf, Chief Technology Officer: Over 20 years of experience in building software products and leading engineering teams. Former CTO of Armadillo and Head of Technology at NowPow.

• Emmanuel Noel, Chief Revenue Officer: Founder of Skilbi, focusing on upskilling students and connecting them to career opportunities. Former Head of Growth at Upkey.

• Kelly V. Hague, Chief Marketing & Operations: Over 20 years of experience in business transformation, operations, sales, and marketing. Former Vice President of Marketing at OneCause.

• Agnes Shore, Chief Data & Analytics Officer: Accomplished analytics leader with experience in data science and strategy development. Former Director of Analytics Execution at Unite Us.

Leadership Changes

In February 2025, Dr. Nichole Pinkard, Co-Founder and Chief Systems Officer, was appointed to the National Academy of Education, recognizing her contributions to education and digital learning environments.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The workforce development sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for skills-based employment solutions and the integration of technology in education and training. The market is characterized by a focus on enhancing employability, reducing unemployment rates, and addressing skill gaps across various industries.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the workforce development technology space include:

• SteamaCo: Founded in 2012, SteamaCo develops IoT-based metering platforms for utility management services, integrating with distribution networks to gather and analyze data. The company has raised approximately $10.9 million in funding and operates primarily in the business/productivity software industry.

• Cuculus: A venture capital-backed company based in Ilmenau, Germany, focusing on utility management solutions.

• SparkMeter: Based in Washington, DC, SparkMeter provides smart metering solutions for utilities in developing countries.

• Beacon Power Services: Operating in Lagos, Nigeria, the company offers energy management solutions to improve electricity distribution.

These competitors focus on utility management and energy services, differentiating STEAMe's emphasis on workforce development and employment pathways.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

STEAMe collaborates with various stakeholders within the workforce development ecosystem, including workforce intermediaries, learning providers, and employers. These partnerships aim to enhance the platform's effectiveness in connecting learners to employment opportunities and supporting community prosperity.

Operational Insights

STEAMe's platform offers distinct competitive advantages, such as seamless integration with partner workflows, AI-driven learner engagement, and robust analytics infrastructure. These features position the company to effectively address the complexities of workforce development and provide value to all stakeholders involved.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Looking ahead, STEAMe plans to expand its platform's capabilities, incorporating advanced technologies to further streamline workforce development processes. The company aims to scale its impact by reaching a broader audience and forming additional strategic partnerships to enhance employment outcomes and community resilience.