10 years after its founding, the continued efforts of IDEA Lab Kids, the fast-growing STEAM-based education franchise, have allowed students to explore their love of science, technology, engineering, art and math. The brand has continued to push the limits of childhood  curriculum in an ever-changing educational space.

Adam Gockley was IDEA Lab Kids’ first franchisee, and is now a full-time owner of Austin, Texas’ location. His franchise location was recently voted “Best STEAM camp” by the readers of the Austin Family Magazine.

“When we were doing it 10 years ago, people were surprised to hear we were starting programs centered around robotics and engineering camps. We knew it was an opportunity to jump into a hot theme in education, and it has taken off from there,” Gockley said. “Being in a very tech-savvy city, it’s been a huge honor to be recognized by the people of greater Austin.”

“When the brand first started 10 years ago, STEM was the buzziest of buzzwords. Now, STEM education is progressing to where many people know what it is — we’ve made it a mission to embrace the arts and truly make it STEAM learning,” Gockley said. IDEA Lab Kids’ educational boundaries are no longer limited to science, technology, engineering and math, as the brand strives to mix art into all facets of its curriculum as well. Over the brand’s history, this priority has ensured students receive a well-rounded education with loads of hands-on experience.

Gockley says that the IDEA Lab Kids curriculum was ahead of its time. Now a decade later,, each franchise is able to boast a proven model where others might be scrambling to add a STEAM curriculum to their school.

Gockley said, “It used to be where I would teach one group of 10 kids, and now I’ve got 10 teachers who each get to teach 10 kids.” The rapid expansion of the brand has caused it to gain a momentous following throughout several markets as it adapts to meet the growing expectations of STEAM-based education.

Suniti Barua is a former teacher and an IDEA Lab Kids franchisee in Bellaire, Texas, one of the flagship franchises in the greater Houston area. “I’ve been in education for most of my life, and from a teacher’s perspective, I know that students learn by doing things hands-on. That is what first attracted me to this company,” she said. “When I was little, there wasn’t a school that offered the programs we have now.”

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, IDEA Lab Kids was forced to pivot its operations like many other businesses. “Our corporate office was proactive in navigating the pandemic,” Barua said. She says their adaptive arrangements satisfied the needs of their students, as well as parents that looked to supplement school lessons. “We are believers of science and technology, and we adopted the appropriate measures to act as a model for our community,” she said.

The current model is still growing. As Barua says, “We’re still learning as instructors, too.” 

IDEA Lab Kids President Devina Bhojwani says she is excited to see the brand’s franchisees come in with a commitment to communities and the brand. 

“Reaching the 10-year anniversary is a huge accomplishment for our organization, and we couldn’t have done it without a team of franchises that have continued to put their best foot forward. We’re excited to keep rolling out more programs for kids at both our current and new locations,” she said.

After 10 years of renowned operation, IDEA Lab Kids pursues a continual effort to push the boundaries of STEM education. The brand has inspired educators and franchisees alike to take notice.

The startup costs for an IDEA Lab Kids franchise range from $98,100 to $271,000. The franchise fee is $35,500. To learn more about franchising with IDEA Lab Kids, visit https://www.franchise.idealabkids.com.