5 Tips on Launching a Successful Microschool/Learning Pod from KaiPod Founder Amar Kumar

When it comes to learning, one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable for everyone.

This is where micro-learning centers come into picture. Microschools and learning pods have gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional schooling, especially for families seeking more personalized and flexible education options. These learning centers offer a tailored learning experience, greater student engagement, and the ability to adapt to individual learning needs.  Most learning pods group students of different ages together, promoting cross-grade interactions and the opportunity for mentorship. They often foster a close-knit community, encouraging collaboration and peer learning among students. 

Starting a microschool or a learning pod can also serve as a promising venture for educational entrepreneurs. With low overhead costs compared to a traditional setup entrepreneurs can allocate resources more efficiently while designing unique curricula, teaching methods, and personalized learning environment. In a nutshell, micro-learning centers are the future of education and entrepreneurial world. I had the honor of sitting down with Amar Kumar, founder of KaiPod Learning, a co-working/studying pod for students to learn more about this unique idea and seek his advice on starting and scaling a successful learning center. 

• Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start this revolutionary educational model?

I have worked in education for more than 15 years and always felt concerned about the close relationship between where you live and the quality of your education. This just doesn’t feel fair. Everyone should have access to great schools that support their children’s needs and interests – no matter their zipcode.

When I discovered online learning, I marveled at the potential for any student anywhere in the world to access high-quality learning that’s flexible and more personalized. I joined one of the largest providers of online learning in the world and became a Chief Product Officer. 

 But, my excitement for this education model quickly turned to caution. I saw that working alone did not help students build the critical social skills they would need in life. I saw that parents were having to quit their jobs to support their children at home. So, many felt the stress of being both parent and educator. Over time, I got to understand why so many families left online schools so soon after they had joined.

That’s when I committed myself to make it better — more social, more personalized, more flexible, and more convenient for busy families. In many ways, I am building KaiPod Learning for my daughter. I want her to have a modern education, where she is supported and challenged, where she meets her best friend, and where she builds the skills she will need to succeed in life.

• Do you think this is a good time for entrepreneurs to venture into education? Why or why not?

 Absolutely – never before in the history of our society has it been easier to start a business. Whether it’s access to startup advice, easy access to capital, or favorable regulations for education enterprises, we are seeing hundreds of thousands of people taking the leap to entrepreneurship.

 That’s not to say it will be an easy journey. To disrupt or transform an entrenched system with plenty of vested interests is difficult and requires a unique entrepreneur with the experience and judgment to build. Thankfully the story of America is one of entrepreneurs seeing a problem and stepping in to solve it.

• What’s the #1 advice you have for educational entrepreneurs?

Take the time to reflect on your motivations for starting an education enterprise. Unlike other typical startups, education entrepreneurs are usually in it to drive change in their community, to support their own children, or to bring about their vision for what education could be. 

Building an education enterprise is difficult and on tough days, it’s helpful to have a touchstone on why you started this business.

• What defines a successful microschool/learning pod model?

 Microschools are the one-room schoolhouses of the past, but enabled by the technology of today. They represent the next wave of school choice and are a sustainable and transformative force for good in education.

The most important factor for a successful microschool or learning pod is the relationships between educators and students and among the students, themselves. We know that education is a deeply human endeavor and the more trust and care there is among students and their educators, the more likely we are to succeed.

 This is why I believe so deeply in the microschool model. Unlike large schools where relationships are sacrificed for productivity, microschool leaders have the ability to get to know each and every child, their preferences, their academic needs, and their family dynamics. These add up to a recipe of high-touch and high-quality support. 

• What are some of the struggles that educational entrepreneurs face?

As you’re starting out with a new learning model, it can be hard to prove your credibility with parents. After all, you are asking them to trust you with the most important part of their life: their children. Taking the time to build a relationship with the family, helping them understand your own motivations, and showing them what a typical day in the life for a student will be is key. Being part of a larger national network or highly-regarded organization can also be useful at building credibility quickly.

 Beyond that, many education entrepreneurs struggle to understand the patchwork of regulations that affect microschools and how to build a sustainable financial model. Fortunately, there are now many sources of support available for future microschool founders!

• Can you share some tips on launching and scaling an alternative educational system?

 1.  Define your educational vision

Before you start a microschool, it's important to define your educational vision. What are the ideal age groups for your microschool? What are your goals for your students? What methods do you want to use to achieve those goals? Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, it will be easier to determine what kind of microschool you want to create.

 2.  Research the laws in your state

Now that you have some sense of what your microschool will look and feel like, it’s time to think about regulations. In some areas, depending on the approach, microschools can live in a gray area when it comes to laws and regulations. Each state is different so it's important to do the research before you start. Typically, microschool entrepreneurs are at the intersection of four sets of regulations –  homeschooling, private schooling, childcare licensing, and zoning. The specifics that apply to you will be determined by your governance structure and whether you are a school of record. Based on what you find in your state, you may wish to revisit the items above.

 3.  Create a business plan

Your microschool is a small business. You’ll need to grow revenues and manage expenses to ensure you are sustainable from year to year. Writing a business plan helps you think about all of these questions in a structured way. This document should outline your goals for the school, how you plan to generate revenue (i.e., how much you’ll charge, how many children you can serve), and what you estimate as annual expenses (e.g., salaries, rent, utilities, supplies). If you are seeking investors or donors, your business plan will be an important tool in convincing them to support your venture.

4.  Find a location for your school

For parents, the location of your microschool is one of the most important decision factors. Your microschool needs to be conveniently located (for drop-offs and pick-ups), in a safe neighborhood, and within 20-30 minutes of their home. Inside, the space will need to have enough square footage for the total number of children you hope to serve, be brightly lit, and have flexible spaces so students are able to pursue their own learning. For many parents, it’s important for their children to have access to a park or similar outdoor space.

Since microschools are not large school buildings, you have a lot more choice in where to locate. You can lease your own retail storefront, rent space from a local business (e.g., tutoring center), or partner up with a church or community center. We even see some entrepreneurs locating microschools in their homes, although consideration should be given to zoning and whether your home can enable a professional learning environment for students.

 5.  Recruit students and families

Once you have a location identified for your microschool, it’s time to put on your sales and marketing hat. You’ll need to put together a simple website with your school’s name, logo, and educational philosophy as well as create social media accounts for the platforms where parents might find you (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest). Once those are live, reach out to local homeschooling groups, post flyers in community spaces, and list your school in online directories. In addition, there are many other ways to market a microschool, including online advertising, word-of-mouth marketing, and print marketing materials such as flyers and brochures.

You are the face of the school and it’s important for families to contact and meet you personally. These meetings are also a chance for you to ensure that families and students are a good fit for your school.

• Anything else you would like to share?

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. But sometimes it can be intimidating to even take that step. Rest assured, there are hundreds of thousands of education entrepreneurs just like you starting on this journey.

If you find yourself wanting a partner to go on this journey with you, KaiPod Catalyst is an accelerator program to help you launch your school. You will be matched up with a cohort of other microschool founders and can take advantage of KaiPod Learning’s full set of tools and resources to help you launch.

For more information, visit the KaiPod Learning website.