What MakerKids does

MakerKids is a Toronto-based, for-profit STEM education provider founded in 2010, operating three physical locations in the Greater Toronto Area (Bloor West, Leaside, Mississauga South) plus a live virtual channel serving students worldwide. It targets children ages 6-13, segmented into Mini Makers (Grades 1-2), Idea Incubator (Grades 3-5) and Maker Mavericks (Grades 6-8), across three disciplines: Coding (Scratch, HTML, Python, Java, game design), Robotics (Arduino, BBC MicroBit), and Minecraft (Redstone logic, modding, server management).

Core product lines are organized by delivery format: recurring weekly subscriptions, full-day camps, after-school school-pickup service, virtual online classes, private/semi-private classes, birthday parties, school field trips, school programs and clubs, and teacher professional development. The proprietary curriculum was originally built by Singularity University/NASA-affiliated graduates and refined over 15+ years, with embedded social-emotional learning, a 7-step instructor vetting process, and instructor-to-student ratios of 1:10 in person and 1:5 virtually. The company has published two original titles, 'Every Child A Maker' and 'The MakerKid'.

MakerKids generates revenue through monthly subscriptions ($145 for 4 x 1-hour classes; $225 for 4 x 2-hour classes; $199-$249 for in-person tiered programs), pay-as-you-go camps ($125-$550/week), after-school daily enrollment ($35-$43/day), private classes (from $300/month) and event-based sales (birthday parties from CA$500). Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer via SEO, content marketing, free trial classes booked through Calendly/JotForm, and a $25 referral credit, supplemented by school-board partnerships, teacher PD programs, and corporate employee-benefit programs with Google, Twitter and Ultimate Software. The company appears founder-owned and bootstrapped across most of its history, with only ~$310K of disclosed external funding over 15 years, and reports a cumulative base of 16,862+ participants and 20,000+ families served.

Name

MakerKids

Legal name

MakerKids

Website

https://makerkids.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MakerKids is a Toronto-based STEM education provider founded in 2010, delivering proprietary coding, robotics and Minecraft programs to children ages 6-13 via three GTA locations, a live virtual channel, after-school pickup service, camps, school partnerships and corporate children's programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robotics & Engineering Summer Camps / Bootcamps (EDAMADAF), STEM & Coding Readiness for Early Learners (EDACANAF), STEM Teacher Tools, Curriculum & Lesson Planning Platforms (EDAFANAK)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Kids coding classes
• Youth robotics training
• After-school enrichment
• Minecraft education

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Weekly Classes (Subscription): Monthly subscription billing model with 4 classes per month. 1-hour classes at $145/month, 2-hour classes at $225/month. Flexible start/stop with monthly billing cycles.
2. Camps: Full day camps ranging $125-550. Single day and week-long options available with before/after care add-ons.
3. Private Classes: On-demand customized classes starting at $300/month. Semi-private options available for siblings or small groups.
4. Birthday Parties: 2-hour STEM birthday parties starting at $500+HST for up to 10 children. Additional guests at $25 per child.
5. After-School Program: Daily enrollment at $35/day with extended care option at $43/day. Semester-based enrollment (Fall, Winter, Spring). Early bird 12% discount for full-year registration.
6. Field Trips: Flexible length programs for school groups. Spaces can hold up to 40 kids.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MakerKids delivers project-based STEM education programs for children ages 6-13, centered on coding, robotics, and Minecraft disciplines. Programs are offered through multiple delivery formats including weekly subscription classes, full-day camps, after-school pickup services, virtual online classes, private instruction, and STEM birthday parties, available at three Greater Toronto Area locations plus virtual platforms worldwide.

Product overview

MakerKids is an award-winning STEM education provider offering a multi-format platform for children ages 6-13 (Grades 1-8) organized into three age-tiered programs: Mini Makers (Grades 1-2), Idea Incubator (Grades 3-5), and Maker Mavericks (Grades 6-8). The core product portfolio centers on three disciplines — Coding (Scratch, HTML, Python), Robotics (Arduino, MicroBit), and Minecraft (Redstone, Modding) — delivered through multiple program formats including Weekly Classes, STEM Camps, After School Pick Up, Virtual Classes, Private Classes, Birthday Parties, Field Trips, School Programs, and Professional Development for Teachers. Programs are available at three physical GTA locations (Bloor West, Leaside, Mississauga) and virtually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coding Program Coding education programs teaching children foundational to advanced coding skills using platforms including Scratch, HTML, Python, and game design, structured by age group from Grades 1-8.
• Robotics Program Robotics education programs where children design, plan, program, and build electronic inventions using industry-standard microcontrollers including Arduino and BBC MicroBit, with hands-on projects such as nightlights, motion-activated alarms, and rovers.
• Minecraft Program STEM education programs using Minecraft as a learning medium to teach coding concepts, Redstone logic, 3D design, server management, and mods, organized across beginner through advanced levels.
• Mini Makers STEM program for Grades 1-2 (ages 5-7) covering introductory Coding (Scratch), Robotics, and Minecraft through skill-circuit and topic-specific classes.
• Idea Incubator STEM program for Grades 3-5 (ages 8-11) covering Coding (Scratch), Minecraft, Robotics, and Introductory Python through skill-circuit and topic-specific classes.
• Maker Mavericks

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't been invented yet (Dell study)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRan programs for Google employees' children as corporate employee benefit program.
• TwitterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRan programs for Twitter employees' children as corporate employee benefit program.
• Ultimate SoftwareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRan programs for Ultimate Software employees' children as corporate employee benefit program.
• IntelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIntel has endorsed MakerKids programs and provided support for their social-emotional approach to STEM education.
• Ontario School BoardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with school boards to implement makerspaces, provide school clubs, and support coding curriculum. Teacher professional development programs.
• LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrained educators and helped libraries implement makerspaces.
• NASA (Singularity University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum built by graduates of Singularity University program at NASA. Founded first makerspace for kids in world with educational approach from NASA-affiliated program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Code Ninjas: Code Ninjas is the largest kids coding franchise in North America, offering after-school, summer, and birthday-party programs teaching coding and STEM skills to children. It is the closest direct competitor to MakerKids' subscription class model, with overlapping age range, curriculum philosophy, and franchise/storefront distribution.
• iCode: iCode runs a national franchise of STEM and coding schools for children, delivering after-school, summer, and homeschool programs with hands-on maker, robotics, and coding curriculum. Direct overlap with MakerKids' age-tiered classes, camps, and STEM birthday party offering.
• The Coder School: The Coder School is a U.S. franchise of in-person and online coding schools for kids and teens with project-based curriculum and small coach-to-student ratios. Highly comparable to MakerKids' weekly subscription class structure and 1-on-1 / small-group private offerings.
• Create & Learn: Create & Learn is an online STEM education platform offering live coding, robotics, and AI classes for kids ages 5–15 with small instructor-to-student ratios. Directly comparable to MakerKids' virtual program in delivery format, curriculum topics, and target age range.
• CodeWizardsHQ: CodeWizardsHQ delivers live, online coding classes for kids and teens using project-based curriculum and structured curricula (Scratch through Python and JavaScript). Compares directly to MakerKids' virtual weekly classes and Maker Mavericks Python fixed-term course.

Others

• Maker Ed: Maker Ed is a U.S. nonprofit that supports maker education in K-12 schools through professional development, curriculum, and community building. Comparable because both MakerKids and Maker Ed focus on makerspaces, hands-on STEM pedagogy, and educator training, though Maker Ed operates as an enabler rather than a direct-to-consumer school.

Emerging players

• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): FIRST runs the global FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition programs for K-12. MakerKids' robotics program using Arduino/MicroBit, its FIRST-affiliated instructor (Noohn H on Team Canada 2024), and its emphasis on tournament-style robotics competitions place it in close conversation with FIRST as an adjacent ecosystem participant.
• Code.org: Code.org is a nonprofit promoting K-12 computer science education through free curriculum, teacher PD, and the Hour of Code. While free and not-for-profit, it competes for the same K-8 STEM coding attention and curriculum adoption; MakerKids' professional development for teachers and school-clubs offering directly confronts Code.org's school reach.

Broad incumbents

• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a large-scale, free online education platform with K-12 STEM, computer science, and AI content created in partnership with institutions like Pixar and NASA. As a free, ad-free incumbent, it sets the floor for what paid STEM coding platforms must justify, including MakerKids' pricing model.
• Sylvan Learning / Sylvan STEM: Sylvan Learning is a large national tutoring and enrichment brand offering STEM and coding programs for K-12 across franchise centers. Compares to MakerKids' school programs, after-school and camp offerings from a broad-incumbent playbook perspective.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/makerkids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 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 MakerKids