Innovative Companies 2026 Awards
EDUCATION: Courage Builder
Courage Builder, a North Kingstown workforce development firm, has been building career pathways into some of Rhode Island’s fastest-growing fields, from the blue economy to life sciences.
The two-person company designs leadership training and hands-on programs that connect students and early-career professionals to emerging industries. Its 2025 launches include a Blue Economy Career Pathways Program, funded by a $350,000 grant with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and a Blue Tech Externship backed by a $94,000 R.I. Commerce Corp. grant that gives high schoolers access to robotics kits, virtual reality and a new ocean technology lab.
“The programs are already in the market and we continue to evolve them to keep up with the economic landscape and market needs of the region,” said Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO.
Courage Builder drew more than $500,000 in grants for 2025 and 2026 and created paid summer externships and internships for 38 college students across majors from engineering to marine biology. Roy-Pope said participants have gone on to jobs at companies such as International Game TechnologyPLC, Wayfair, Amazon Web Services, Dell Technologies and Microsoft Corp. – roles she said many would not otherwise reach.
A companion Life Sciences Workforce Program, run with the R.I. Life Science Hub, reached more than 300 elementary students, while the company’s Impact Fund seeded four early-stage startups.
Roy-Pope said the company is now expanding its reach. It has a pending contract to advise a life sciences wearable technology company and is weighing a new venture.
“We are also exploring a potential new space-related K-12 program to increase workforce readiness in this sector,” she said.
(Editor’s note: This profile was written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations and applications. The material was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for style and accuracy by Providence Business News editorial staff.)
