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Could starting a microschool be your next step?

Answer five quick questions to see where you are in the journey to starting a school — and exactly what to do next.

✓ Your current Founder Stage

✓ A recommended next step based on where you are

✓ Resources chosen for your stage today

✓ The chance to apply for Catalyst if you’re ready

Start a Microschool
Microschool Basics
Founder Resources
Grow Your Microschool
# 1

Catalyst is the first choice for education entrepreneurs wanting to start a microschool

0 +

Founders who have participated in the program since inception

6 x

The success rate for founders launching a microschool compared to the national average

2 yrs

We support Founders for 2 years after their microschool launches, helping ensure their fullest potential

HOW IT WORKS

Five quick questions. One clear picture

The assessment looks at where you are today — not whether you have it all figured out. Based on your stage in the journey to starting a school, we’ll provide practical action steps for what to do next.

Your commitment

Your intended timeline

Your current progress

Community connections

Interested families

FIND YOUR PATH

Three paths. One assessment tells you which is yours.

JUST EXPLORING

Learn the fundamentals

"I'm curious about microschools and want to know what's really involved."

Your move: Master the basics with our free Microschool Basics course — no cost, no commitment.

Start the free course

BUILDING YOUR IDEA

Make a plan

"I want to start a school, but my plan isn't fully shaped yet."

Your move: Sharpen your concept, test demand with families, and get ready to apply to Catalyst.

Firm up your plan

READY TO START

Learn the fundamentals

"I know what I'm building and I've already taken steps to make it real."

Your move: Apply to Catalyst — our program for founders ready to build their school.

Apply to Catalyst

WHAT IS KAIPOD?

Keep your independence. Get expert support.

KaiPod is the nation’s fastest-growing network for independent microschools. You keep full control of your school — the vision, the model, the students. We bring the expertise, tools, and community to help you open it, and keep it thriving.

Expertise

Guidance from founders and operators who have launched real schools.

Tools

Tested frameworks and templates, plus Newton, our microschool management platform.

Community

A national network of hundreds of founders building alongside you.

★ Selective admission • Fall 2027 cohort applications now open

KaiPod Catalyst: The premier program for launching a microschool.

Catalyst is KaiPod’s selective program for serious founders ready to turn their plans into a viable, launch-ready school. Over a 12-week Build Phase and the launch work that follows, you build your actual school — vision, families, finances, operations, curriculum, and opening day — with proven systems and expert guidance.

FORMAT

Cohort-based, virtual

A 12-week Build Phase in six two-week cycles, plus launch support.

COMMITMENT

~10 hours a week

Weekly live sessions, lessons, and real school-building milestones.

OUTCOME

A school ready to open

You finish the course phase ~80% ready to open. Not just a plan on a shelf.

Apply to Catalyst →
Not sure you're ready? Take our assessment

Have questions? Book a free call with a Catalyst specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions About KaiPod Catalyst

What exactly is KaiPod Catalyst?

KaiPod Catalyst is a structured program that helps educators and founders start a microschool—or figure out early and honestly whether that path is right for them.

Catalyst is built for educators, school leaders, and community founders who want to create smaller, more personal learning environments for students.

KaiPod offers cohorts in November, January, and March – all to help you open your microschool in back-to-school season. Catalyst is designed to guide you through the full early-stage journey, from exploration and planning through becoming enrollment-ready. When you decide to open your school, you become part of KaiPod’s Partner Network with continued support for a small revenue share for two years after you open.

No. Many KaiPod Catalyst founders start with a rough idea or a sense that they want something different from traditional schooling. The program is designed to help you clarify your vision and turn it into a workable plan.

You have two options:

The first includes a low upfront fee for Catalyst that costs $249. This includes access to all training, tools, coaching, and community support. When you decide to open your school, KaiPod continues to support you for 2 years for 10% share of tuition revenue. 

Or you may select the fixed fee option of $15,000, which is spread between $5,000 upfront, $5,000 when your school opens, and $5,000 during your second year of operation.

You’re never obligated to open a school. If you don’t open, you don’t owe any revenue share. You’ll still benefit from the planning, guidance, and clarity you gain through the program.

The Catalyst program includes both self-paced content and live group coaching sessions, so you get flexibility plus real-time support.

Catalyst helps you understand the funding landscape for microschools and plan realistically for your situation. You’ll learn about common funding paths, how founders think about budgets and cash flow, and how to assess financial viability early.

While Catalyst does not provide direct funding, it equips you with the tools, frameworks, and guidance needed to plan, pursue, and manage funding options responsibly as you build your school.

No. KaiPod Catalyst supports a wide range of school models and educational approaches. You design the learning environment, curriculum, and structure that fit your students and your goals.

Yes. Catalyst includes guidance on both the operational and enrollment sides of starting a microschool. This includes a comprehensive marketing course designed to help founders build an enrollment pipeline for their school, spending about 15 minutes each day—covering positioning, outreach, and practical strategies for reaching families.

You’ll also work through operational considerations like budgeting, timelines, and systems needed to run your school, with tools and support to help you apply what you’re learning to your own context. That includes access to Newton, KaiPod’s all-in-one microschool management software.

Yes, the program was designed to require about 10 hours per week, so the pace is manageable for those who are working while planning their school. The program is structured with clear milestones and flexibility, so you can make steady progress without putting the rest of your life on hold.

When you launch your microschool, your support doesn’t end — it shifts.

Your KaiPod Catalyst membership rolls into becoming a KaiPod Partner Network school. You’ll be supported with ongoing tools, community access, and guidance designed to help you grow sustainably, including:

  • Dedicated Partner Support – You’ll work with a Partner Success Manager who knows your school and helps you think through real-world decisions, from enrollment strategy to hiring, pricing, and expansion.

  • Newton: Your All-in-One School Operations Platform – Continued support with the most widely used microschool management platform in the country. Newton helps you manage:

    • Enrollment and applications

    • Billing and tuition collection

    • ESA tracking (where applicable)

    • Attendance

    • Family communication

  • Founder Community Access – You remain connected to a national network of microschool founders. Whether you’re navigating compliance questions, refining your program, or planning growth, you have peers to lean on.

  • Enrollment & Marketing Support  Opening is one milestone — sustaining enrollment year after year is another. You receive guidance on positioning, tuition strategy, messaging, and marketplace visibility to help keep your seats filled. Plus, your school will be listed in our widely used Microschool Directory for families.

  • Compliance & Growth Guidance – Regulatory questions don’t stop after launch. You receive support navigating licensing, zoning, accreditation pathways, and long-term planning as your school evolves.

Opening your microschool is the beginning. The Partner Network exists to help you build something stable, sustainable, and aligned with your vision over time.

Register Now for the Webinar!
Register Now for the Webinar!
# 1

Catalyst is the first choice for education entrepreneurs wanting to start a microschool

0 +

Founders who have participated in the program since inception

6 x

The success rate for founders launching a microschool compared to the national average

2 yrs

We support Founders for 2 years after their microschool launches, helping ensure their fullest potential

Real Stories from Catalyst Founders

"KaiPod gave me two big things: a supportive community of microschool founders and a team that truly became my own. I've never felt alone on this journey, and I'm so thankful to have such great thought partners in this work!"
Joanna CervantezA Fuller Education
Joanna Cervantez
"KaiPod Catalyst has been instrumental in launching and growing Apogee Dripping Springs, providing invaluable mentorship, resources, and support that continue to shape and strengthen my vision for education."
Sarah PevehouseApogee Dripping Springs
Sarah Pevehouse
"The KaiPod Catalyst program has been a game-changer for The Attuned Community School, providing the support, community, and resources needed to help our microschool thrive. The guidance from experienced mentors and the collaborative network of like-minded educators have empowered us to grow with confidence."
Latoya NelsonThe Attuned Community School
Latoya Nelson
"When I set out to launch my Arizona microschool, I had a clear vision but lacked a roadmap. KaiPod’s Catalyst program gave me the guidance, resources, and network I needed to turn my ideas into reality. I may be forging my own path, but thanks to the Catalyst community, I’m never walking it alone."
Tom DowellMoreana Boys Academy
Tom Dowell
"KaiPod creates a community where microschool founders don’t just grow—they thrive. The outreach, support, and shared knowledge make all the difference in building something truly meaningful!"
Candice HiltonHilton Horizons Academy
Candice Hilton
"KaiPod Catalyst provides us with community, mentorship, and peer support—a true lifeline in the challenging world of launching and sustaining a small educational business."
Jaclyn JohnsonDesert Sun Ranch Academy
Jaclyn Johnson
KaiPod does more than just guide you from start to finish—they surround you with a community of entrepreneurial friends you never knew you needed. It’s not just about sharing knowledge for success; they genuinely prioritize your well-being first, knowing that true success follows when you’re supported and cared for.
Deja HillisFaithscape Learning
Deja Hillis
“The KaiPod Catalyst team not only helped me launch my microschool, they helped me sustain and grow. Their guidance has been vital to the success of my program and my own development as a leader in innovative education.”
Mercedes GrantPath of Life Living
Mercedes Grant
Apply Now to KaiPod Catalyst's Next Cohort

Ready to Take the Next Step?

You don’t have to figure out how to start a microschool alone. With KaiPod Catalyst, you’ll have the guidance, tools, and community to launch with confidence.