Jennifer Bellamine, a determined entrepreneur, and Devina Bhojwani, president and co-founder of IDEA Lab Kids, are working together to make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education more accessible in Union County, North Carolina. As the franchisee of IDEA Lab Kids in Wesley Chapel, Bellamine has built a thriving business that offers innovative after-school programs, summer camps and birthday parties — all while responding to the specific needs of her community.

Bellamine’s journey with IDEA Lab Kids began under challenging circumstances. “I bought right before the pandemic,” she said. “So I opened IDEA Lab Kids in Union County/Wesley Chapel area virtually and during the pandemic. I was doing online camps and after-school programs — even birthday parties — all virtually during the pandemic, and then I opened my storefront in November of 2022.” Since then, Bellamine has seen steady growth, particularly in her after-school programs.  

The inspiration for starting IDEA Lab Kids came from Bellamine’s desire to provide better after-school options for families like hers. “I have a son, and at that time when I was looking, I was trying to find an option for him because both my husband and I were working full-time in corporate jobs,” she said. “The only thing available were martial arts kind of after-school programs in our area, so I started looking at what are the other options for educational programs, and IDEA Lab Kids stood out amongst the rest.”

With IDEA Lab Kids, Bellamine has introduced programs that blend education with fun, offering children opportunities to explore coding, robotics, science experiments and more. “Our coding platform is really, really good compared to other types of coding learning centers,” Bellamine said. “I think that we do an exceptional job with providing dynamic and really interesting games for kids to build on. The robotics program is pretty strong. I think that when we look at science and art and math, the ideas are there and the flexibility for us really comes into having unique teachers and their points of view.”

For Bhojwani, it’s the passion of franchisees like Bellamine that drives the brand forward. “Something I see in Jennifer and each and every one of our franchises is the need and the want to make the community better,” she said. “There wasn’t anything like IDEA Lab right in her community, and she wanted every child in the neighborhood to be able to be exposed to STEAM classes.”

Bellamine’s focus on community-building has led to impressive achievements. “Our first year, we had about 18 kids,” she said. “Now we’ve got about 45, and my goal is 60. We’ve really been able to grow that after-school community, and that’s the thing that makes the franchise profitable, in my opinion.”

Looking ahead, Bellamine is excited to expand her programs even further, with plans to launch homeschool support and half-day preschool options. “For me, homeschool is really important — that we have that community, that kids still get that socialization,” she said. “And as kids get older, there are concepts that are harder to teach in homeschooling. I really want IDEA Lab to be a resource for the homeschool community.”

Her dedication to meeting families’ needs is reflected in the deep connections she’s built with children in her programs. “One story I have with one child — he is autistic and very high-functioning — he came to us this summer, and I worked with his parents to try to understand how we could best serve him,” Bellamine said. “Now he comes in every day and he just yells my name. I mean, we have such a loving and good connection, both parents and this little boy.”

For Bellamine, IDEA Lab Kids is more than just a business — it’s a way to bring joy to her life and the lives of children in her community. “I told my husband, ‘I just want to do something that brings joy into my life,’” she said, “and kids are one of the best ways to do that.”

With her creativity, dedication and focus on STEAM education, Bellamine has created a thriving IDEA Lab Kids franchise that continues to make a meaningful impact on Wesley Chapel’s families. “It’s really hard to be an entrepreneur in general and to run your own business,” Bhojwani said, reflecting on Bellamine’s success as a franchisee. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”

ABOUT IDEA LAB® KIDS:

IDEA Lab® Kids was founded as a way for kids to explore their love of science, technology, engineering, art, and math subjects. The award-winning Houston-based education franchise system offers after-school classes, camps, birthday parties, open labs, and much more to children. The brand has positioned itself to be a leader in the growing STEAM education space with franchises in the U.S., Canada, and internationally.  IDEA Lab Kids franchises are only offered or sold in states where they are registered or compliant with applicable franchise laws.

The franchise fee of $35,500 provides an assigned territory for establishing a location and for offering IDEA Lab On-the-Go?.  The startup costs for an IDEA Lab Kids franchise can range from $163,000 to $465,000. To learn more about franchising with IDEA Lab Kids, visit https://1851franchise.com/lyricoslearning/info.