Tinkering Labs
Tinkering Labs designs and sells hands-on STEM education kits for children ages 8+, centered on the Electric Motors Catalyst product line. The company serves families and educational institutions through Amazon, direct e-commerce, and an exclusive distribution partnership with Lab-Aids for the 30-Student Classroom Module.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tinkering Labs does
Tinkering Labs is a private, bootstrapped STEM education company that designs, manufactures, and sells hands-on engineering kits for children ages 8 and up. The company's core product is the Electric Motors Catalyst, a kit containing more than 50 parts, including two electric motors with detachable wires, a battery pack with switch, wooden chassis, 12 wooden wheels in six sizes, wooden connectors, metal axles, hardware, safety glasses, and a deck of 10 challenge cards. The kit is deliberately designed around open-ended challenges ("Build a machine that can scramble an egg") rather than step-by-step instructions, with a methodology emphasizing wide solution spaces, reusability, and rapid iteration using rubber-band and simple-connection construction. The company also publishes a 128-page NGSS-aligned Curriculum Guide (4 units, 29 lessons) and a 64-page Challenge Guide for educational buyers.
Tinkering Labs serves two primary customer segments. Families and small groups purchase individual Catalyst kits and expansion packs (Light Pack, Motor Pack, Wooden Parts, Bushings) through Amazon and the company's own e-commerce storefront, supported by a 5% educator discount and volume pricing for 100+ kit orders. Schools, camps, and after-school programs acquire the Electric Motors Catalyst 30-Student Classroom Module, a 15-kit bundle with 192 pages of curriculum materials and a wooden storage cabinet, distributed exclusively through Lab-Aids, a 60-year science education publisher with a nationwide network of Curriculum Specialists. Co-founded by Gever Tulley (also founder of Tinkering School, Brightworks School, and the Institute for Applied Tinkering) and Chris McCargar, the company has been operating since its founding in the mid-2010s and remains privately held with 1-10 employees, no disclosed institutional funding beyond accelerator participation with Pear VC and SkyDeck Berkeley, and a customer base that the company describes as "hundreds of classrooms worldwide."
Tinkering Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tinkering Labs
- Legal name
- Tinkering Labs
- Website
- https://tinkeringlabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tinkering Labs designs and sells hands-on STEM education kits for children ages 8+, centered on the Electric Motors Catalyst product line. The company serves families and educational institutions through Amazon, direct e-commerce, and an exclusive distribution partnership with Lab-Aids for the 30-Student Classroom Module.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tinkering Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational STEM Kits
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused) (EDAMADAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), DIY Kits, STEM Electronics & Maker Bundles Retail (CRACAKAN), Teacher Training & Curriculum Providers (Robotics/Maker Education) (EDAMADAM), Math & Science Interactive Learning Platforms (STEM Core) (EDAFANAH)
Keywords
Where Tinkering Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tinkering Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electric Motors Catalyst Kit Sales: One-time sale of the flagship Electric Motors Catalyst kit for ages 8+ containing 50+ reusable parts. Sold individually to families and in bulk packs (10-Pack) for classrooms and programs. Primary revenue driver through Amazon and direct website sales.
- Expansion Packs and Spare Parts: Additional product line including Light Pack (wired LEDs), Motor Pack (additional motors, battery pack, casings, wires), Wooden Parts (laser-cut replacement parts), and Bushings Pack (motor and axle connectors). Sold individually to expand or replace components in existing kits.
- 30-Student Classroom Module: Comprehensive classroom solution including 15 individual kit sets, 192 pages of curriculum and challenge guides, beautiful wooden storage cabinet with 10 drawers, and teacher materials. Sold exclusively through Lab-Aids for elementary school teachers.
- Safety Glasses and Accessories: Safety glasses 10-pack for classroom use, fitting most kids ages 6 to 13. Sold as add-on for Catalyst 10-Pack to enable 20 students to work in pairs.
- School Volume Discount Program: Volume discount program offering 25% discount for schools using Electric Motors Catalyst in distance learning plans (code: C19). Higher discounts available for orders of 100+ kits. Supports schools managing COVID-19 and distance learning transitions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Electric Motors Catalyst (Single Kit) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catalyst 10-Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Safety Glasses 10-Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Light Pack Expansion |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Motor Pack Expansion |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wooden Parts Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bushings Pack |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 30-Student Classroom Module |
| Subscription | Annual | Educator Discount Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | School Distance Learning Discount |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Tinkering Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tinkering Labs designs, manufactures, and sells the Electric Motors Catalyst, a hands-on STEM learning kit featuring 50+ reusable parts (electric motors, wooden chassis, wheels, hardware, safety glasses) and a deck of 10 challenge cards for open-ended invention learning by children ages 8 and up. The company also offers a 30-Student Classroom Module for schools distributed through Lab-Aids, plus expansion packs (Light Pack, Motor Pack, Wooden Parts, Bushings Pack) and a 10-Pack bundle for classrooms and programs.
Product overview
Tinkering Labs offers hands-on STEM learning kits centered around the Electric Motors Catalyst product family. The core offering includes the original Electric Motors Catalyst kit for families (50+ parts including 2 motors, battery pack, wooden chassis, wheels, connectors, hardware) and the Electric Motors Catalyst 30-Student Classroom Module distributed exclusively through Lab-Aids for educational institutions. The company also provides expansion packs including Light Pack (LEDs), Motor Pack (additional motors), Wooden Parts (replacement wood), and Bushings Pack, plus bulk packaging options (10-Pack) and safety accessories. All products follow a challenge-based, open-ended learning approach with no step-by-step instructions, aligning with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Electric Motors Catalyst: The original best-selling tinkering kit featuring 50+ parts, 10 challenge cards, and hands-on STEM learning for ages 8+. Available in individual, classroom, and bulk pack configurations.
- Electric Motors Catalyst 30-Student Classroom Module
Products and services
- Electric Motors Catalyst (Original/Family Kit) The flagship STEM kit containing 50+ high-quality parts (2 electric motors, battery pack, wooden chassis, 12 wooden wheels, connectors, hardware, safety glasses) plus 10 challenge cards. Designed for open-ended invention learning with no step-by-step instructions. Targeted at families and small groups for hands-on STEM learning at home.
- Electric Motors Catalyst 30-Student Classroom Module Comprehensive classroom solution including 15 individual Catalyst kits, 192 pages of curriculum (128-page NGSS Curriculum Guide with 4 Units and 29 lessons, and 64-page Challenge Guide with 15 challenges), a wooden storage cabinet with 10 drawers, and a teacher's box with spare parts. Designed for 30 students working in teams of two. Available exclusively through Lab-Aids for elementary school teachers.
- Catalyst 10-Pack Bundle of 10 individually packaged Electric Motors Catalyst kits, suitable for 20 students working in pairs. Designed for classrooms, maker spaces, camps, and after-school programs.
- Light Pack Expansion pack containing 6 wired LEDs for adding colored lights to inventions, plus a 3-battery battery pack for power boost. Batteries not included.
- Motor Pack Expansion pack with battery pack, two motors with wires, casings, and bushings for supercharging inventions. Batteries not included.
- Wooden Parts Laser-cut, 100% wood replacement and expansion parts for the Electric Motors Catalyst.
- Bushings Pack Pack of 20 custom-designed bushings for motor and axle connections in the Electric Motors Catalyst.
- Safety Glasses 10-Pack Pack of 10 child-sized orange safety glasses fitting most kids ages 6 to 13. Designed as an essential add-on for the Catalyst 10-Pack to enable 20 students to work in pairs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Used in hundreds of classrooms worldwide
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tinkering Labs
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tinkering Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Tinkering Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lab-AidscoreExclusive partnership for the 30-Student Classroom Module. Lab-Aids serves as the sole distributor for classroom products, leveraging nearly 60 years of experience in science education publishing. Lab-Aids' nationwide network of Curriculum Specialists supports school and district adoption of the Electric Motors Catalyst curriculum.
- Tinkering SchoolcoreTinkering School, founded by Tinkering Labs co-founder Gever Tulley, runs online summer camps using the Electric Motors Catalyst. Every camper receives a free kit. Camps have sold out with hundreds of children participating. Partnership drives both revenue and brand awareness in the maker education community.
- Brightworks SchoolminorSan Francisco K-12 lab school founded by Gever Tulley in 2011. Developed and shared a comprehensive Distance Learning Plan during COVID-19 that was used as a resource by other schools. Related organization sharing pedagogical approaches and educational philosophy.
- Institute for Applied TinkeringminorOrganization founded by Gever Tulley focused on applied tinkering pedagogy. Related to Tinkering Labs through shared founder and educational philosophy.
- Greater Ridgewood Youth CouncilminorNot-for-profit 501(c)(3) education organization in Queens, NY operating programs in 30+ schools. Uses Electric Motors Catalyst extensively in after-school STEM programs for thousands of students. Featured as 'Educator in Action' case study on Tinkering Labs website.
- Bennett Day SchoolminorIndependent school in Chicago founded in 2014 with mission of nurturing children's inquiry and curiosity. Colin Reynolds serves as Senior Kindergarten Teacher and TinkerLab Curator. Featured as 'Educator in Action' case study. Uses Catalyst in TinkerLab curriculum.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tinkering Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Engino: Construction and robotics kits for STEM education. Comparable product category (snap-fit construction kits with STEM/engineering focus) and similar age range targeting (elementary school children).
Direct peers
- Makeblock (mBot): Educational robotics and STEAM kits targeting K-12 with both consumer and classroom offerings. Comparable in target audience (ages 8+, schools) and in offering hardware-based STEM/maker kits.
- KiwiCo: Subscription-based STEM/arts activity boxes for kids. Strongly comparable to Tinkering Labs given overlapping target audience (kids/families), hands-on STEM focus, and multi-channel retail presence.
- littleBits (Sphero): Snap-together electronic building blocks for kids. Strongly comparable given shared focus on hands-on electronics learning, age range, and B2C/B2B (consumer + classroom) GTM.
- Wonder Workshop: Educational robots (Dash, Dot, Cue) for K-12 STEM classrooms. Comparable in targeting elementary classrooms with hands-on STEM robotics products, with strong curriculum integration.
- Snap Circuits (Elenco): Electronics-learning kits for children using snap-together components. Directly comparable in product category (electronics + circuit STEM kits) and target customer (ages 8+ kids and education market).
- Thames & Kosmos: Science and engineering kits for children covering physics, chemistry, electronics, and engineering. Directly comparable product category (consumer + school STEM kits) and similar classroom distribution model.
- VEX Robotics: Education-focused robotics kits, parts, and competition platforms. Comparable target market (K-12 STEM, makerspaces, robotics clubs) with similar hardware-plus-curriculum offering model.
Broad incumbents
- Pitsco Education: Established K-12 STEM education solutions provider offering hands-on kits, curriculum, and classroom packages. Comparable in serving schools with bundled hardware + curriculum kits across STEM subjects.
- LEGO Education: Broader incumbent in hands-on STEM/robotics education within schools via WeDo, Spike, and Mindstorms. Operates at much larger scale across K-12 globally with formalized curriculum and teacher training.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tinkering Labs social profiles
Digital presenceTinkering Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tinkering Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Tinkering Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tinkering Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tinkering Labs
What does Tinkering Labs do?
Tinkering Labs designs, manufactures, and sells the Electric Motors Catalyst, a hands-on STEM learning kit featuring 50+ reusable parts (electric motors, wooden chassis, wheels, hardware, safety glasses) and a deck of 10 challenge cards for open-ended invention learning by children ages 8 and up. The company also offers a 30-Student Classroom Module for schools distributed through Lab-Aids, plus expansion packs (Light Pack, Motor Pack, Wooden Parts, Bushings Pack) and a 10-Pack bundle for classrooms and programs.
Is Tinkering Labs a public or private company?
Tinkering Labs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tinkering Labs founded?
Tinkering Labs was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tinkering Labs based?
Tinkering Labs is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tinkering Labs make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Electric Motors Catalyst Kit Sales are the primary driver. The others are expansion Packs and Spare Parts, 30-Student Classroom Module, safety Glasses and Accessories and school Volume Discount Program.
Who are Tinkering Labs's main competitors?
Engino is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Makeblock (mBot), KiwiCo, littleBits (Sphero), Wonder Workshop, Snap Circuits (Elenco), Thames & Kosmos and VEX Robotics. Broad incumbents are Pitsco Education and LEGO Education.
Does Tinkering Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tinkering Labs.
What industry is Tinkering Labs in?
Tinkering Labs's product category is Educational STEM Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAN, Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused), with a secondary code of EDAMABAA, Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs). Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 3944.