The pitch
Unruly Splats is transforming how children learn STEM by turning physical activity into coding adventures. Their interactive floor tiles and curriculum empower kids to build their own games, blending movement, creativity, and problem-solving – so every child can see themselves as a maker. Since 2027, they have reached schools across 49 US States and 6 Canadian Provinces, bringing STEM and play to all areas of a school including Music, Language Arts, PE, and core STEM subjects. Unruly Splats is a testament that active play and coding can go hand in hand.
The team
A group of educators, parents, goofballs, and lifelong learners. who believe that every student should have the same opportunities to unlock STEM and play.
And the Adivsory board – renowned figures in education and toys development, notably Amon Millner, the co-inventor of Scratch Programming Language. With a team like this, it comes as no surprise they Unruly Splats was named one of Tech and Learning 2021 best learning tools.
Check out their Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bryanneleeming/unruly-splats-active-stem-play?term=edtech&total_hits=113&category_id=334
Yes, I will invest in this venture. Unruly Splats already got my attention with the 2-minute video about the organization’s history, goals, and dedication to helping kids learn coding in a simple yet interactive teaching method. Bryanne Leeming, the founder, found a creative method to teach the students the complexity of coding. This shows her commitment to education by integrating play with learning. I saw the passion to go beyond an educator’s calling and exemplify a deep understanding of both educational needs and product development. This alone shows a potential for success.
Today, the edtech market is booming, and Unruly Splats took this opportunity to offer a unique product. They were able to intersect physical education and computer science. Schools are seeking innovative tools that make learning engaging and interactive. Definitely, Unruly Splats hit the spot by offering a solution that addresses these needs.
The product promotes active learning, creative thinking, and inclusivity. They made STEM education more accessible and fun.
NO, I would not invest in this venture (as I pretend to be a school principal that places value on technology created for equitable access) — which may surprise you after reading the first bit of my review.
The video was attractive in its design and appealing in its vision, rooted on sound learning theory. The CEO, Bryanne Leeming, is enthusiastic about both her product, learning to code, and STEM learning. Unruly Splats has assembled a dynamic team to inform the design of their product and service and the product is original and appealing — in that it marries the engagement of physical activities with learning how to code.
My concerns lie with market size and product support. How affordably priced is the technology to access global education markets (not just the United States)? How accessible is product support in a global context? While STEM learning experiences and technologies are popular in education and the educational marketplace, they typically require a certain level of technology infrastructure and expensive hardware in need of reliable product support and training. As a startup company, I am concerned about pricing, updates, and the level of support offered to buyers as the product develops through iterations. If the teachers I buy this product for to use in classrooms don’t know how to use it or are in need of support and can’t access it in a timely fashion, it will not be used and therefore a waste of money.
The venture, while interesting and charming, is too much of a logistical and financial risk.