We build businesses with kids so they're ready for the real world.
Founded by business owners who've built, bought, and sold companies — and seen firsthand what young adults are missing. This is where they get their reps.
Make allowance work harder.
Allowance is a great start. But most of us — ourselves included — aren't great at the follow-through. Does your kid understand variable compensation? Budgeting for something they actually want? What happens when you take your money, add your creativity and time, and turn it into something worth more?
That's what we teach. And whether you invest that allowance into Learning Labs or not, we'll even coach you on how to make allowance more intentional at home.
See How It WorksWhat if your kid could…
Hands-On Learning
Real Businesses. Real Reps.
Some businesses run year-round so students can jump in anytime. Others get launched, operated, and wound down by a cohort — the full lifecycle.
Coffee & Donut Cart
OngoingBrew, bake, serve, and manage a mobile food business from open to close
Screen Printing
OngoingDesign and print custom t-shirts, totes, and merch for real clients
Mural & Wall Painting
OngoingDesign and paint murals for local businesses and community spaces
Marketing & Brand Kits
OngoingCreate logos, brand guides, and marketing materials for real businesses
Web Design
Cohort-LaunchedBuild real websites for real local businesses, mentored by professionals
Pop-Up Events
Cohort-LaunchedPlan, pitch, and execute events for local businesses and organizations
The Laboratory
Hypothesize. Test. Review. Revise.
Enroll & Get Started
Parents make a tax-deductible donation. Students jump into the current module and start getting reps immediately.
Build & Run
Students work in real businesses alongside experienced mentors. They make decisions, serve customers, and own the outcome.
Earn & Grow
Students earn educational grants for achievement, real W-2 wages for work, and a portfolio of experience that sets them apart.
Built by Kids Challenge
at the Oregon State Fair
Teams of students compete head-to-head, running their own booths at the Oregon State Fair. Real products, real customers, real competition. Who will earn the most?
Learn MoreLet's be clear about what this is.
This isn't child labor where a corporation profits off kids. Donations fund equipment, serve clients, provide grants, and pay real W-2 wages to students. We're not here to undercut local businesses — many of them are our partners. We're here to train the next great waiter, barista, manager, or founder.
Equipment
Funds go to tools, supplies, and infrastructure students need
Grants
Students earn educational grants and merit-based scholarships
Real Wages
Some students earn actual W-2 employment with Learning Labs
Available at no cost. But not free.
Things that are free get devalued. We don't often appreciate what doesn't cost us something. We're told the best things in life are free, but the reality is we don't live that way.
So we appreciate donations from families, from businesses they might own, from anyone who sees value in what we're doing. But there's no fixed amount expected, and cost will never be an inhibitor for Learning Labs. Period. If your family can't make a donation, that's fine. We'll find someone who can — that's our job.
And if we're really good at this, then when a student graduates and kills it, they'll come back. Make a donation. Teach a class. Volunteer and share their experience with the next generation. We're good with that.
$0
No fixed donation amount
Can't donate? We'll find a sponsor
All donations are tax-deductible
Cost will never be a barrier