Dads, IT Pros and Cricket Teammates: Friends Bring USA Ninja Challenge to Leander

Although they both come from the tech world, Anand Panchal and Tarang Vora didn’t meet in a boardroom; they met on a cricket pitch. After relocating from California and New Jersey, respectively, the two found a shared community in the Austin area through their love of sport and their roles as fathers. While both have successful careers in the IT industry, they each separately had an interest in building a business that would get the next generation away from the keyboard and onto the obstacle course.

The decision to launch USA Ninja Challenge in Leander, Texas, came when they realized their entrepreneurial goals and parenting styles were aligned. After visiting a location in Katy to see the gym through a parent's eyes and seeing kids who weren't dragging their feet at the end of a workout but running out with more energy than they started with, they were sold. Now, balancing full-time tech roles with the high-energy demands of a one-year-old and two young boys, Panchal and Vora are bringing that “ninja” confidence to families in Liberty Hill, Georgetown and beyond.

Panchal and Vora sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how their shared mindset led to a new business venture. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Anand Panchal: I spent about 18 years in Southern California before moving to Austin six years ago for work. I’m a dad to two boys, ages 9 and 7, and I’ve always been active in sports. My family has found a great community in Texas, and I had been considering opening a business for some time. I realized I wanted to do something that made an impact on the kids growing up here, just like mine. My boys are already so excited. They’re asking for the water bottles and T-shirts so they can rep the gym to their friends.

Tarang Vora: I moved here three years ago from New Jersey. I’ve been in IT for 14 years and I just recently became a dad to a one-year-old girl. Even though she’s tiny, you can already see she’s a ninja. I had been looking for the right opportunity on my own, but when Anand and I met while playing cricket, we quickly realized we shared the same mindset about being active parents and business owners. It just made sense to team up.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Panchal: We love our careers, but we wanted a business that offered wholesome development for kids, like discipline and problem-solving through fitness. We learned how, even during the pandemic, the model sustained itself. That kind of resilience gave us confidence.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Vora: I personally looked at many options, from daycares to other after-school programs. I realized I didn’t want a business that was just about managing huge overhead and a ton of employees. I wanted to manage an experience. With USA Ninja Challenge, you see that the franchise really knows how to train its instructors. When we visited other locations, the instructors were just great with the kids, even though they didn't know we were interested in a business. That’s the power of the model. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Panchal: It was our visit to the Katy location. We went there essentially as parents and ended up watching these kids conquer obstacles and the parents were just as excited as the kids were. They didn't realize their children were capable of that kind of strength. Usually, kids are tired and dragging after a class, but these kids were running out of the gym with so much energy. Seeing the confidence boost on those kids and the smiles on the parents' faces was what sold us.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Panchal: Our focus right now is establishing this gym as a go-to spot for families in Liberty Hill, Georgetown and Cedar Park. Our location is interesting because if you drive five minutes in any direction, you hit one of those three cities, so we’re right in the middle of it all. We’re savoring this phase of life where our kids are young and active. If this proves as successful as we believe it will, we plan to expand into multiple gyms across Texas.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Vora: Our partnership works because we have the same mindset and fill in each other's gaps. We both balance full-time IT roles and young families, but we’re not the type to just sit on the couch and watch TV. We want to be active. This gym is an extension of who we are as parents and as friends.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Panchal: Know your interests first. There are hundreds of franchises out there, but if you narrow it down to what you are passionate about, the list of hundreds becomes a list of five very quickly. For us, it was sports and kids. Visit a location as a customer. See if the instructors are engaged and watch if the customers are smiling. If they are, you’ve found your business.

ABOUT USA NINJA CHALLENGE:

USA Ninja Challenge is the leading kids' Ninja franchise, offering an exciting obstacle-based fitness experience for children across the United States. Since its founding over a decade ago, USA Ninja Challenge has grown into a trusted brand nearing 40 gyms, with more in development. The franchise combines fun and fitness by teaching kids agility, balance and problem-solving through a series of structured obstacle courses. Partnered with the USA Pentathlon Multisport Olympic Team, USA Ninja Challenge is raising awareness for Ninja's Olympic debut in 2028. With low initial investment, high margins and rapid ROI, USA Ninja Challenge offers franchisees the opportunity to build profitable businesses while making a lasting impact on children's physical fitness and confidence. For more information on USA Ninja Challenge or to learn about franchise opportunities, visit www.usaninjachallenge.com.