Join pepelwerk in the Federal Challenge to help the most people upskill, reskill and relaunch careers.
The Connecting Talent to Opportunity is a pilot project to see if AI can help people get in-demand jobs, learning and resources in a better way. pepelwerk is a Talent Development Marketplace designed to meet every technical requirement of the Challenge while delivering immediate, measurable ROI for state and local agencies.
Deploy a production-ready marketplace in weeks, not years.
Built-in real-time tracking for every key performance indicator.
Seamlessly connect agencies, educators, and employers.
March 31, 2026
Submission date
PRE-PHASE
Consortium Building
April 30th
PHASE 1
Consortium Building
January – April
PHASE 2
System Integration
April – June
PHASE 3
Full Scale Launch
July 2026
Why should Organizations choose to join pepelwerk in this challenge?
More than a platform — a pre-built software solution designed to break down barriers to drive better results.
Impact
Turn high-level goals into granular, real-time data points that satisfy federal reporting and local stakeholder needs.
Partnerships
A pre-built ecosystem that facilitates collaboration between government, education, and industry players.
Data
Advanced data modeling that translates complex workforce signals into actionable intelligence for policy makers.
Interoperability
Built on open standards to ensure your marketplace talks to existing LMS, HRIS, and government legacy systems.
Stakeholder Engagement
Customized interfaces for every user — from students and job seekers to case managers and employers.
Sustainability
Business models and automation designed to keep the marketplace thriving long after the initial grant period ends.
How it Works
Consortium onboarding
Rapid setup of partner roles and data-sharing agreements across the ecosystem.
Actionable skills
Transform resume data into a dynamic skills taxonomy that identifies real gaps.
AI-guided pathways
Connecting individuals to the right training and jobs via personalized AI coaching.
Program management
Automated workflows for tracking progress, attendance and credential attainment.
Outcomes dashboards
Instant visualization of economic impact, placement rates and wage growth.
Why we are the best AI solution for this challenge?
We check off all the requirements and have been in business for 9 years.
Talent Marketplace
Definition: Digital environment where workers, learners, and employers interact.
How we handle it: Our core platform is a live, high-traffic marketplace serving 250k+ users.
Credential Registry
Definition: System to catalog and verify all regional certifications and degrees.
How we handle it: Integrated digital registry supporting over 5,000 unique credential types.
Skills-Based JD Generator
Definition: Tool for employers to create skill-centric job descriptions.
How we handle it: Native AI tool that converts traditional JDs into skill-matching profiles instantly.
LERs (Learning & Employment Records)
Definition: Comprehensive digital record of an individual's skills and work history.
How we handle it: Full LER implementation allowing users to own and export their data in machine-readable formats.
Public Availability
Definition: Platform accessibility to the general public without restricted walls.
How we handle it: Standard web-access protocols and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance.
Interoperability
Definition: Ability to exchange information across different technical platforms.
How we handle it: Open API architecture and support for W3C and IEEE standards.
LER-to-credential-to-competency
Definition: Mapping specific credentials directly to measurable workplace skills.
How we handle it: Proprietary mapping engine linking 100k+ competencies to global curriculum standards.
Simulate job application
Definition: Testing how LER data performs in an actual hiring workflow.
How we handle it: Integrated "Sandboxed" application portal for users to test their profiles against real-world criteria.
Sustainability plan
Definition: Strategy for financial and operational longevity post-grant.
How we handle it: Tiered employer pricing and value-add services that ensure self-funding within 24 months.
Proven Outcomes
Real numbers from our platform, not projections.
12,498
Total Job Placements
YTD across all consortium partners
250k+
Active Platform Users
Workers, learners & employers
9 years
In Operation
Proven, stable technology — since 2016
Deployment Tiers
Starting at
$30,500
/ year
Complete marketplace infrastructure for a single consortium.
5 Consortium Partners
Full Requirements Compliance
Basic Outcomes Dashboard
$6,000
/ per year module
Outcomes + Career Services
Full suite with dedicated modular growth capabilities.
Unlimited Partners
Advanced AI Guidance Modules
White-glove Onboarding
Are you prepared to join the pilot in 3 months?
Let's discuss your consortium and technical goals.
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