Pillar 2
Organizations advancing learning, training, and staffing solutions to build the foundation for the next generation of innovators.
The FITCI Companies working in Education and Workforce Development:
Community Enrichment Laboratory for Learning Sciences (CELLS)‘s mission is to empower our community through collaborative, hands-on exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math (STEAM) fields, with a strong emphasis on emerging technologies, such as biotechnology. We strive to foster innovative thinking and cultivate informed decision-makers and responsible advocates who can actively engage with and shape the ethical development and application of emerging technologies for sustainable, environmentally friendly practices and the benefit of our health and daily lives. We aim to establish a supporting environment for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage in hands-on scientific learning and mentorship opportunities through a cluster of innovative Makerspaces and a community biotechnology laboratory — BioMakerSpace.
DaKiwi is where future innovators begin. As FITCI’s youth robotics team, DaKiwi empowers students to design, build, and compete using real-world engineering and coding skills. More than just robots, DaKiwi is about teamwork, creativity, and preparing the next generation of STEM leaders — one challenge, one breakthrough, one student at a time.
Heyma Consulting is a strategic growth‑partner for startups and early‑stage companies—especially those navigating federal innovation funding and commercialization pathways. We help visionary founders decode SBIR/STTR grants, secure DoD and NSF contracts, and build a roadmap from prototype to market. With Heyma’s expert guidance, companies move fast, stay compliant, and scale confidently.
At Serious About Science, we like to say we’re democratizing science for the next generation. But what does that really mean? It means we’re committed to making science accessible to all students, regardless of their educational background—whether they come from public, private, or home schools. We believe every student deserves the opportunity to engage with science in a hands-on, interactive way. At Serious About Science, we give students the tools to explore biotechnology concepts early on, allowing them to not only learn about DNA but also copy, visualize, and analyze it using the same techniques professionals in biotech labs use.
Justice Jobs, whose Youth Rise Program is located in FITCI, was established in August 2018 to serve the Frederick, Maryland community by helping individuals from all backgrounds overcome barriers to employment. Since then, we’ve grown to serve job seekers across all of Maryland. No matter where you come from or what challenges you face, we’re here to support you. Our mission is to connect job seekers with opportunities and provide ongoing resources like workshops and morale-boosting events. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for career advancement, we’re committed to helping you achieve a livable wage and build a brighter future. At Justice Jobs, everyone deserves a chance to succeed.
Living Well Youth Works empowers young people in Frederick, Maryland with the life skills, mentorship, and real‑world exposure they need to defy the odds and thrive. Through evidence‑based curricula, college and career tours, and peer mentoring, they prepare students to move beyond survival and into success — equipping tomorrow’s leaders with confidence, vision and purpose.
Minnodi LLC, A Maryland based certified Woman Owned Small Business, has 15+ years of Science/Pharma, Information technology consulting, staffing solutions and regulatory advisory services to the scientific, information technology and business community. We can assist in augmenting your internal resources to deliver optimum solutions on time and within budget. It is our goal to simply do it right. We work every day to create value and build trust with our clients, employees, partners and vendors.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics. We build robots for the First Tech Challenge. It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team. A different kind of robot is built each year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build their robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for $80M+ in college scholarships.
The Geneva Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances military medicine through research, development and education. Leveraging more than 30 years of experience, Geneva partners with academia, industry and the Department of Defense to turn breakthrough science into real‑world solutions for service members, veterans and the broader community. Whether navigating complex federal contracts, running clinical studies or accelerating commercialization, Geneva delivers mission‑ready medical innovation that strengthens readiness and improves lives.
U-Connect, established in 2004, is a leading global Human Resources Consulting firm with headquarters in Lekki Peninsula, Nigeria, and operations in the United States and across Africa. We provide world-class HR solutions in Personnel Outsourcing, Talent Search, Verification & Background Checks, Pre-Assessment Testing, Learning & Development, and HR Advisory Services, helping businesses across industries build high-performing teams, achieve operational excellence and transform into customer loyalty centers.
