Start a Microschool
The Face of Education Can be Yours
Bring your school vision to life with KaiPod Catalyst. Own and operate your Microschool with the freedom you deserve and the support you need.
Learn about KaiPod Catalyst
Join us to learn about the program, connect with our team, and start your Catalyst journey.
Application Clinic: Best Practices for Applying to KaiPod Catalyst
Hear from Successful Founders and the KaiPod Catalyst Team on how to strengthen your application to the KaiPod Catalyst Program
October 14, 2024 at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET
Start Your Own Microschool with KaiPod Catalyst
Get all the essential information about the KaiPod Catalyst program and take the next steps to become an education entrepreneur!
Webinar Recording - Watch anytime!
Start a Microschool
Welcome, Future Microschool Founders!
Learn why now is the perfect time to start a microschool with Catalyst, from KaiPod Learning Founder and CEO, Amar Kumar.
It's Your Moment to Start a Microschool
Millions of families in the United States are seeking better education options for their children. Microschools can succeed where traditional school models have fallen short.
Have More Impact
Create transformative experiences with personalized education, addressing each student's unique needs.
Bring Your Vision to Life
Realize your passion for innovative education by developing a learning environment that embodies your educational philosophy.
Gain Autonomy and Freedom
Take control of the educational process, allowing for creativity and flexibility without the limitations of traditional school systems.
Personal Growth
Enhance your professional journey by becoming a leader in your community.
Career Flexibility
Being a microschool founder also means being a business owner and a boss. Your future looks so much brighter when you're in control.
Transform Your Community
Starting a microschool offers the immense opportunity to shape the education landscape in your community while changing the lives of a generation of young learners.
Catalyst Provides All the Expertise You Need to Launch, Run, and Grow a Microschool
Marketing and Outreach
Community Engagement
Finance and Fundraising
School Location
Operations
Hiring
Academic Programming
Student Experience
Why Start a Microschool with KaiPod Catalyst?
- Your microschool is 100% owned and operated by you, with the freedom and autonomy to bring your vision to life
- Unlimited financial upside, so as your school thrives, so do you
- Support with the expertise, resources, and templates you will need to grow
- Ongoing marketing support (e.g., Facebook/Google ads, local and national PR support, KaiPod Marketplace)
- Ongoing support with local and state regulations to ensure your microschool stays in compliance
- Free access to Newton, KaiPod's microschool management software app
- Ongoing professional development for you and your team after you launch
- Curriculum discounts, plus strategic and crisis management planning tools
- A community of microschool leaders in your region and across the country
Catalyst is the first choice for education entrepreneurs wanting to start a microschool
Founders who have participated in the program since 2023
The success rate for founders launching a microschool compared to the national average
We support Founders for 3 years after their microschool launches, helping ensure their fullest potential
Start a Microschool
Ready to Become a Microschool Founder?
The KaiPod Catalyst application deadline is 10/20/2024
Meet Some of Our Founders
Start a Microschool
Not Ready to Apply?
Unsure about starting a microschool? We get it! Join our interest list and receive our Catalyst newsletter with great resources, founder stories, industry news, and upcoming application deadlines.
Need More Info?
Watch an On-Demand Webinar!
Get all the essential information about the KaiPod Catalyst program and take the next steps to become an education entrepreneur!
KaiPod Catalyst FAQ
Am I qualified to be a microschool founder?
Are you a creative thinker who is deeply passionate about education and eager to build a new school in your community? 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.
What do I need to start a school?
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
- 10-15 hours per week to commit to building their school
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.
How quickly can I open a microschool in my community?
Many of our Catalyst Founders have launched their Microschool within a year of beginning the program. It’s different for everyone, but that’s a reasonable time frame to strive for.
What kind of microschool can I create?
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.
Is there an upfront cost to participate in KaiPod Catalyst?
No, we don’t believe in that. We want you to be successful and want to be your partner for the long run. If you join our program and launch a school, then we continue providing you support (see below) in exchange for a 10% per-student fee (with a cap). That means you keep 90% of what your school earns with unlimited upside for you.
How does the program work?
The core information you need to start your own school is delivered via an online course, so you can work through it at your own pace in the evenings or weekends. In addition, you will be a part of a small group of other Founders for regular accountability meetings and have access to topic workshops, expert sessions, and the highly dynamic Catalyst Community forums. In addition, you’ll also receive regular 1:1 feedback and coaching from our experts.
What is the time commitment for KaiPod Catalyst?
Starting a school is hard. Our first microschool took approximately 1,500 hours of hard work to launch. Now that we’ve started or supported almost 70 school launches, we have boiled all the steps down and created templates to save you time and money. 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!
Can you help me with funding for my microschool?
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.
What services and support will I receive after I launch my microschool and for the the 3-year support period?
Marketing: Great marketing is a combination of air cover and ground cover. While you’re working locally to recruit families, we’ll be supporting you with geo-targeted Facebook and Google ads, pitching local and national journalists on your behalf, and placing you on our popular KaiPod Marketplace so local parents can find you. Our Founders have been profiled in dozens of local news stories, national press, and popular podcasts!
Regulatory Support: As much as we wanted to avoid it, we have become experts in understanding how local, state, and federal laws intersect and have now done this across just about every state! In addition, we have partnerships with attorneys to support you, when we need it!
Software: We wanted to remove the administrative burden of managing a school, so we developed Newton, our Microschool management app, for ourselves. Now, we are opening it up to our KaiPod Catalyst Partners. As our partner, you will always have free access to the latest version which will allow you to enroll families, handle billing, take attendance, message parents, send photos home, and do all the other things you need to manage your school! This, alone, will save you thousands of dollars a year!
Professional Development: Forget what you know about your school district’s PD. With 100+ educators in our network, we know that Microschool Founders need. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from community building and student assessment to marketing strategies and financial planning, ensuring you have the knowledge and skills to lead your Microschool successfully.
Cost Savings: As we grow, our scale becomes your benefit. We have negotiated discounts with curriculum providers, accountants, attorneys, insurance brokers, software providers, and our network continues to grow!
Community: When you’re part of the KaiPod Catalyst Community, you will never be alone again. This dynamic community is the best kept secret in Microschooling. We celebrate each other’s wins, support each other when we suffer a loss, and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. In addition, we will run local and regional events to give you a chance to meet each other in person!
I've started seeing a lot of programs online for starting a microschool. How is Catalyst unique?
Great question!
We have been operating our own Microschools for nearly three years and have the knowledge and experience on what it takes. That experience is reflected in the success rate for our program (6x as many Founders succeed in our program compared to the national average).
You have the freedom to design the school the way you want: the vision, the location, the curriculum, the tuition, and everything else! Our role is to help you bring your vision to life with the resources and expertise we have built. And once you launch, we continue to support you the way you need!
Finally, with our program, YOU own your school. You decide how big it gets, what you make, who you hire, etc. As an entrepreneur, you have unlimited upside…so as your school thrives, so do you!
What if I have more questions?
We’re happy to discuss any questions you have. Send us a message at [email protected]