Brilliant Labs

What Brilliant Labs does

Brilliant Labs is an Atlantic Canadian-registered charity headquartered in Fredericton, New Brunswick, that delivers hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) education for middle and high school youth and educators. The organization operates a dual product portfolio: the b.Board, an open-source prototyping platform that integrates with BBC micro:bit and clickboard modules to support coding, electronics, and AI vision projects; and the Halo Glasses, AI-powered smart glasses being developed with on-device neural processing for real-time translation and AI-based memory. The company also runs an Open edX-powered learning portal offering freemium online courses in machine learning, game development, cybersecurity, and biomaking.

The business model combines one-time hardware sales (b.Board kits priced from CAD $50.99 for individual add-ons to CAD $1,879.99 for a 30-student classroom core kit), freemium online courses, and grant-funded educational programming — including after-school activities, innovation challenges, maker faire participation, and SDG-aligned community workshops across Atlantic Canada. Distribution runs through the company's own e-commerce marketplace (marketplace.brilliantlabs.ca) with worldwide shipping, supplemented by direct sales to schools and school boards in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The organization reports over 1.25 million cumulative youth experiences and is funded in part through Canadian government grants, including a CAD $1.5 million CanCode award in 2019 and additional Government of Canada support in 2025.

Name

Brilliant Labs

Legal name

Brilliant Labs, Inc

Website

https://brilliantlabs.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brilliant Labs is an Atlantic Canadian charity providing hands-on STEAM education through the b.Board open-source prototyping platform and AI-powered Halo smart glasses. It serves K-12 youth and educators with curriculum-aligned learning kits, online courses, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEAM Educational Hardware

NAICS

Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing (334412)

SIC

Printed Circuit Boards (3672)

akta.pro primary industry

Game-Based CS & Computational Thinking Platforms (EDAFANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D) (EDAMACAE), Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• STEAM education kits
• Microcontroller prototyping platform
• Wearable AI smart glasses
• Open-source hardware learning
• K-12 educational technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. b.Board Hardware Sales: Sale of b.Board prototyping kits and add-on components including Core Kits, Classroom Kits, Launch Add-On Kits, AI Add-On Kits, and Sensors Add-On Kits. One-time hardware purchases for educational institutions and individuals.
2. Online Learning Portal: Open edX-powered learning management system providing free online courses in coding, machine learning, cybersecurity, game development, and biomaking for youth and educators.
3. Educational Programs and Workshops: Revenue from after-school programs, innovation challenges, maker faire participation, and workshop delivery for youth and educators across Atlantic Canada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Brilliant Labs designs, builds, and sells the b.Board, an open-source microcontroller prototyping platform for K-12 STEAM classrooms, distributed as a Core Kit with modular add-on kits for motion/mechanics, AI vision, and environmental sensing. It also develops Halo smart glasses featuring on-device AI (real-time translation, AI memory) via partnerships with Alif Semiconductor, Neuphonic, and TheStage AI, sold alongside its products through the Brilliant Labs e-commerce marketplace.

Product overview

Brilliant Labs is an Atlantic Canadian charity offering a dual product portfolio: (1) The b.Board platform – an open-source prototyping ecosystem for K-12 STEAM education consisting of the b.Board Core Kit as the foundation, with modular add-on kits for Launch (motion/mechanics), AI (computer vision), and Sensors (environmental sensing), plus classroom bundle options; and (2) The Halo Glasses – AI-powered smart glasses for wearable AI featuring on-device neural processing for real-time translation and AI-based memory. The company also operates a learning portal (Open edX-based) offering online courses in coding, robotics, cybersecurity, and biomaking. These products work together to provide a comprehensive hands-on learning pathway from classroom prototyping (b.Board) to advanced wearable AI (Halo Glasses), all aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• b.Board: Open-source prototyping tool designed for hands-on learning, coding, and creative problem solving. Integrates with BBC micro:bit and clickboard modules.

Products and services

• b.Board Core Kit An individual starter hardware kit (b.Board + BBC micro:bit + accessories) for hands-on STEAM learning, coding, and prototyping aimed at students and hobbyists.
• b.Board Classroom Core Kit (30-Student Set) A 30-student classroom bundle of the b.Board Core Kit components designed for educators and schools to deliver group coding and digital logic lessons.
• b.Board Add-On Kit – Launch An expansion kit providing motors, servos, and sensors that attach to the b.Board to enable motion-based, mechanical, and automation projects for individual learners.
• b.Board Add-On Kit – Classroom Launch (30-Student Set) A 30-student classroom bundle of the Launch add-on kit (motors, servos, sensors) for educators running group motion and automation projects.
• b.Board Add-On Kit – AI An AI add-on kit featuring the Smart AI Lens that lets learners build intelligent projects involving computer vision, robotics, and automation on the b.Board.
• b.Board Add-On Kit – Sensors An environmental sensing add-on kit for the b.Board including weather, motion, ultrasonic, and neopixel components used to teach data collection and automation.
• Bio/Steam Microphotography Exploration Kit A classroom kit that lets students build a microphotography tool, introducing scientific observation and lab-style investigation.
• Halo Smart Glasses AI-enabled smart glasses developed in collaboration with Alif Semiconductor, Neuphonic, and TheStage AI, performing on-device speech, translation, and generative AI for privacy-first wearable use.
• Brilliant Labs Learning Portal A free online learning management system (Open edX-based) delivering courses in coding, machine learning, game development, web development, cybersecurity, and biomaking for youth and educators.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Alif SemiconductorcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 March 2026Partnership to develop AI silicon for smart glasses, focusing on Halo Glasses with Alif's low-power microcontroller featuring neural processing capabilities. Collaboration aims to enhance features like real-time translation and AI-based memory while maintaining long battery life and privacy. Plans to expand on custom hardware for next-generation wearable devices.
• NeuphoniccoreTechnology or Integration · 3 March 2026Partnership to develop on-device AI for wearable glasses, focusing on privacy and low latency. The collaboration includes launching Halo smart glasses with integrated AI features in early 2026. Approach contrasts with cloud-dependent AI models, emphasizing local processing to enhance privacy and responsiveness.
• TheStage AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 March 2026Partnership to bring privacy-first, cloud-free AI to smart glasses. Collaboration with Neuphonic and Brilliant Labs for on-device AI development. Includes launching Halo smart glasses with integrated AI features in early 2026, emphasizing local processing for enhanced privacy and responsiveness.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• micro:bit Educational Foundation: The Micro:bit Educational Foundation distributes the BBC micro:bit microcontroller used in classrooms globally. Brilliant Labs' b.Board integrates directly with micro:bit, making the foundation both a partner/dependency and a direct comparable in microcontroller-based STEAM education.
• Ozobot: Ozobot produces small educational robots (Evo, Bit) with STEAM curriculum and coding lessons for K-12 classrooms. Comparable as a compact STEAM learning hardware platform with curriculum, sold into school districts.
• Arduino Education: Arduino's education division offers open-source microcontroller boards, CTC curriculum, and STEAM kits used in schools worldwide. Highly comparable to b.Board's open-source, micro:bit-adjacent STEAM learning proposition with similar maker/educator customer base.
• Makeblock: Makeblock produces STEAM education hardware (mBot, Codey Rocky, HaloCode) and software (mBlock) for K-12 classrooms globally. Directly comparable to Brilliant Labs' b.Board ecosystem as a hardware-plus-software STEAM learning platform targeting schools and educators.
• KiwiCo: KiwiCo delivers hands-on STEAM activity kits (Kiwi Crate, Eureka Crate, Maker Crate) for kids and classrooms via subscription and one-off purchase. Comparable to Brilliant Labs' kit-based STEAM learning model and K-12 educator buyer.
• Sphero: Sphero produces programmable robots (BOLT, indi, RVR) and STEAM kits for K-12 classrooms. Comparable to b.Board as a hardware-based STEAM learning platform sold to schools, with curriculum and educator resources bundled in.
• Tynker: Tynker is a K-12 coding and STEAM learning platform combining self-paced courses, classroom tools, and physical hardware integrations (micro:bit, drones, robots). Comparable to Brilliant Labs' Learning Portal + b.Board integrated coding-to-hardware pathway.
• DFRobot: DFRobot designs and manufactures open-source hardware (Boson, Gravity, micro:Maqueen) widely used in STEAM education and makerspaces. Comparable to Brilliant Labs as an open-source maker hardware supplier integrating with micro:bit and serving educator/maker customers.

Broad incumbents

• VEX Robotics: VEX Robotics offers K-12 robotics kits, competitions, and curriculum (VEX IQ, V5, VEXcode). Comparable to Brilliant Labs' STEAM/robotics angle via the b.Board Add-On Launch kit and Mission: Mars program, serving the same school robotics buyer.
• LEGO Education: LEGO Education is the established incumbent in hands-on K-12 STEAM learning, offering SPIKE, WeDo, and Mindstorms kits integrated with curriculum. Comparable as a hardware-plus-curriculum STEAM education platform sold to schools at scale.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brilliant_labs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHS8Qt5t543Xoxgx6SvZXBQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/brilliantlabslabosbrillants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brilliant-labs
• Instagraminstagram.com/brilliant.labs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brilliant Labs