# Opportunity@Work

> Opportunity@Work is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit social enterprise working to rewire hiring around demonstrated skills rather than four-year degrees. It coined the STARs framework for more than 70 million U.S. workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes and combines labor-market research, employer and government implementation support, data products such as STARSight, technology partnerships, grantmaking, and the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign.

- **Founded:** 2015
- **Headquarters:** Washington, D.C., United States
- **Founders:** Byron Auguste (CEO and Co-Founder), Karan Chopra (Co-Founder and Board Member)
- **Team size:** Approximately 114-120 employees in 2026, based on LinkedIn and supplied company data.
- **Products:** TechHire Action Network, STARs research and analytics, Tear the Paper Ceiling, STARSight, STARs Public Sector Hub
- **Notable:** Defined and popularized the STARs category for more than 70 million U.S. workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes., Co-launched Tear the Paper Ceiling with the Ad Council and nearly 50 organizations in 2022., Reported 3.3 billion campaign impressions and nearly 1,300 media mentions during the campaign’s first year.

## Products & services

- **TechHire Action Network** — The organization’s original network supporting communities that trained and connected overlooked workers to technology careers.
- **STARs research and analytics** — Research that defined, measured, and mapped workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes, their skills, occupations, and mobility pathways.
- **Tear the Paper Ceiling** — A national awareness and employer-action campaign led with the Ad Council and a coalition of employers, platforms, and workforce organizations.
- **STARSight** — An interactive labor-market data tool for exploring regional STAR talent pools, occupations, skills, and mobility opportunities.
- **STARs Public Sector Hub** — A network, implementation program, and toolkit helping governments turn degree-removal policies into skills-based hiring practice.
- **Powering STAR Breakthroughs** — An 18-month, $2 million grant program supporting eight organizations building mobility pathways in fields such as technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
- **AI Readiness Lab** — A six-month initiative with Brookings helping six regional economic-development groups analyze how AI may reshape local jobs and career pathways.

## Achievements

- Defined and popularized the STARs category for more than 70 million U.S. workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes.
- Co-launched Tear the Paper Ceiling with the Ad Council and nearly 50 organizations in 2022.
- Reported 3.3 billion campaign impressions and nearly 1,300 media mentions during the campaign’s first year.
- Acquired skills-based hiring startup Skillist in August 2020; the purchase price was not disclosed.
- Received a $20 million unrestricted grant from Yield Giving in July 2024.
- Awarded $2 million across eight Powering STAR Breakthroughs grantees in 2024.
- Reported nearly 600,000 jobs open to STARs in its employer network and 90,000 STARs experiencing upward mobility since 2022 in its 2026 impact reporting.
- Expanded the Transformers in the Public Sector accelerator from five to 15 governments in 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Launched the six-region AI Readiness Lab with Brookings to examine how AI is changing local jobs and career pathways.
- **2026-07** — Named former Indeed executive LaFawn Davis to its board as the skills-first movement confronted AI-era hiring systems.
- **2026-06** — Expanded its public-sector implementation accelerator from five to 15 governments.
- **2026-03** — Published the 2026 State of the Paper Ceiling, reporting almost 600,000 jobs open to STARs across its employer network.
- **2024-07** — Received a $20 million unrestricted grant from Yield Giving.

## Links

- Website: https://www.opportunityatwork.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/opportunity-work
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/OpptyatWork
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@opportunityatwork
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/opportunityatwork/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/opportunity-work
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-21