KaiPod Catalyst is a nationally recognized training program designed to help educators plan, launch, and grow their own microschool. It includes expert coaching, a step-by-step launch roadmap, and access to a national community of fellow founders.

Educators in San Antonio who are accepted into the KaiPod Catalyst program will participate in our nationally recognized training experience – designed to guide aspiring founders through every step of launching a successful microschool. In addition to the full Catalyst curriculum, San Antonio participants will be part of an exclusive local cohort that includes in-person workshops, networking events, and community meetups throughout the year.

This cohort is designed to create deep connections between local educators and provide added support as they work to launch microschools that serve the unique needs of San Antonio families. From expert coaching to peer collaboration, the San Antonio experience combines all the benefits of Catalyst with the power of local community.

Anyone can start a school – but it takes real commitment and capacity to do the hard work. In our experience supporting Founders across America, we have seen that the most successful Founders have:

• • 10-15 hours per week to commit to building their school

     

  • Personal savings and/or a supportive partner to rely on for the first year (if the school doesn’t hit full enrollment right away)

     

  • A willingness to take a risk and fail

If this sounds like you, KaiPod Catalyst will be there with you every step of the way and for three years after. If you commit to this journey, we’ll commit to you.

We’re excited about diverse, personalized learning environments. Whether your idea resembles a broad vision or a school focused on areas like STEM, Nature, or Neurodiverse learners, all microschools share the key values of student-centered learning, parental choice, and engaging environments.

While we generally do not accept online microschools in our program, as we feel they do not provide the same level of community, you are still welcome to apply for consideration.

You should anticipate spending ~10 hours a week (mostly evenings and weekends) for the first 6-8 months. As you get closer to launch, your time commitment increases, converting to full-time once you launch!

There is a one-time fee of $249 to secure your seat.  

In addition, there is a $99 monthly fee for 10 months. This fee is waived for scholarship recipients.  So your total upfront cost is the $249.  

We want you to be successful and want to be your partner for the long run. Once you launch a school, we continue providing you support (via marketing, regulatory guidance, management software, professional development, cost savings, and community) in exchange for a 10% per-student fee (with a cap) for 2 years. That means you keep 90% or more of what your school earns with unlimited upside for you.

It depends on your location and strategy. The biggest initial expense is the deposit needed to secure a physical space, though there are other expenses to set up your organization. Most founders will spend less than $5,000, sometimes significantly less, especially if you are creative about securing initial deposits for enrollment, or fundraising from your community prior to opening. Once you are open, if you are successful in your marketing and enrollment goals, the tuition should cover your salary and rent.

We help with introductions to funders, grant writing support, and recommendations to secure initial capital to get your school up and running. We also have a small grant fund of our own for qualified Founders.

The $100,000 Microschool Founders Fund is a unique initiative to support San Antonio educators who are ready to reimagine education in their communities.

This fund will provide scholarships of $1,000 each to 100 passionate educators committed to launching their own microschool in 2026.

We evaluate applications on a rolling-basis based on a few key factors:

• Commitment to launching a microschool by Fall 2026

• Passion for serving local families and addressing community needs

• Demonstrated leadership, initiative, or experience in education

• Clarity of vision and potential for impact

All applicants will be invited to a brief 1:1 virtual interview.

If you qualify, you will be awarded up to $1,000 based on the strength of your application and interview. You will only be required to pay the $249 deposit to secure your seat. When you launch your school, the KaiPod Catalyst revenue share agreement would go into effect.

Are you a creative thinker who is deeply passionate about education and eager to build a new school in San Antonio? Are you a force of nature with the grit and determination to push past any obstacles? If that sounds like you, then you’re qualified.

Most of our applicants are educators, community leaders, parents, and professionals. All are inspiring, and share a vision for improving education.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and scholarships are awarded until the 100 slots are filled prior to our Fall start date. We encourage interested applicants to apply early to secure their spot.

In addition to the core Catalyst program, scholarship recipients will join a private San Antonio cohort.

This includes exclusive in-person gatherings, workshops, and networking events with fellow local founders, all designed to help support you on your goal of starting a microschool in San Antonio!

We’re happy to discuss any questions you have. Send us a message at [email protected]