Tumbles, the learning playground
Tumbles, the learning playground is a Houston-based private franchisor selling rights to operate kids' gym and STEAM education centers for children ages 4 months to 12 years, with 14+ franchise locations across the U.S. and Qatar. Franchised units generate revenue from classes, camps, birthday parties, and an optional indoor playground, with the franchisor earning an upfront $54,000 fee plus 8% royalties and a 1% advertising fund.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tumbles, the learning playground does
Tumbles, the learning playground (legal entity: Tumbles, LLC, headquartered in Houston, Texas) is a private franchisor of children's education and enrichment centers operating 14+ locations across 11 U.S. states and internationally in Qatar, with a regional headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia. The company sells franchise rights to entrepreneurs under a five-year agreement; franchised unit owners operate physical stores offering programs for children ages 4 months to 12 years built around two core product lines: kids' gym classes (developing motor skills, coordination, balance, agility, and flexibility) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) classes delivered via the company's proprietary kinesthetic learning methodology. Franchisees supplement the core offerings with add-on revenue streams including seasonal camps, birthday parties, Kids Night Out, daily and bulk passes, the optional Tumble Zone indoor playground, and To-Go mobile classes delivered at daycares, schools, and community centers. The franchisor monetizes via a $54,000 initial franchise fee (with a 15% veteran discount), an 8% ongoing royalty on monthly gross revenue, and a 1% advertising fund contribution; total unit-level investment ranges from $212,500 to $414,500.
Underlying the franchise system is a proprietary technology platform including an integrated POS and customer relationship management system for student registration and payment processing, individually customizable franchisee websites for online enrollment, a cloud-based video training and curriculum library, a centralized file sharing and resource hub, and an online franchise community platform for peer collaboration. The corporate management team is small (1-10 employees) with a tight executive bench covering operations (Joe Flanders, COO), digital/technology (Alex Popovic, CDO/Technology Officer), training and curriculum (Karen Kegerreis), sales (Kevin Hogan, Head of Domestic Sales), and franchise support functions. The company is owned via a partner/equity structure introduced by founder and CEO Manish Vakil, who acquired the brand in 2013 and repositioned it as a unified gym-plus-STEAM franchise concept.
Tumbles, the learning playground firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tumbles, the learning playground
- Legal name
- Tumbles, LLC
- Website
- https://tumbles.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tumbles, the learning playground is a Houston-based private franchisor selling rights to operate kids' gym and STEAM education centers for children ages 4 months to 12 years, with 14+ franchise locations across the U.S. and Qatar. Franchised units generate revenue from classes, camps, birthday parties, and an optional indoor playground, with the franchisor earning an upfront $54,000 fee plus 8% royalties and a 1% advertising fund.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Tumbles, the learning playground is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices16 records
Markets served
Tumbles, the learning playground business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Gym Classes: Weekly kids' gym classes for ages 4 months to 12 years covering foundational movement, introductory gymnastics, motor skills, coordination, balance, agility, flexibility and sports preparation in non-competitive, skills-based programs. Primary revenue driver with regular recurring income.
- STEAM Classes: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math classes for ages 4-12 using kinesthetic education in gym environment. Classes teach basic and advanced science/engineering principles, technology, out-of-the-box math thinking, hands-on activities and literature. Provides cross-sell opportunity within same customer base.
- Camps: Seasonal camps (summer and other breaks) providing extended childcare and programming. Creates higher-revenue periods and attracts families seeking full-day options.
- Birthday Parties: Party packages for children's birthdays utilizing gym facilities and equipment. High-margin, event-based revenue with strong word-of-mouth marketing potential.
- Kids Night Out: Evening drop-off programs providing childcare while generating revenue during non-peak hours. Utilizes existing facility and staff.
- Daily and Bulk Passes: Pay-per-visit options for independent play and drop-in usage of Tumble Zone indoor playground. Provides low-commitment entry point for new customers.
- To-Go Classes: On-site gym programs delivered at external locations including daycare centers, schools, and local parks. Expands market reach without requiring facility usage.
- Tumble Zone (Indoor Playground): Optional add-on indoor playground for qualifying locations. Provides independent play revenue and cardiac/pulmonary health, strength, and social interaction opportunities for ages 3-12.
- Franchise Royalty Fees: 8% royalty fee on monthly gross revenue from franchisees. Ongoing fee for licensed use of Tumbles system, trademarks, and continued support.
- Advertising Fund: 1% ad fund based on monthly gross revenue. Used for brand awareness, marketing materials, and services across franchise system.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Franchise Fee |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Total Investment Range |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Financial Requirements |
| Subscription | Monthly | Ongoing Royalty and Ad Fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Tumbles, the learning playground product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tumbles is a franchisor that licenses a combined kids' gym and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education brand to independent franchisees, who then operate physical locations offering Gym Classes, STEAM Classes, To-Go Classes, indoor playground (Tumble Zone), birthday parties, camps, kids night out events, and daily/bulk passes for children ages 4 months to 12 years. Franchisees pay a one-time franchise fee plus ongoing royalties and ad fund contributions in exchange for the right to use the Tumbles system, proprietary kinesthetic curriculum, training, and proprietary franchise management technology.
Product overview
Tumbles is a kids' gym and STEAM franchise business offering a unified portfolio of programs under one roof. The core offerings consist of Gym Classes and STEAM Classes (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) for children ages 4 months to 12 years, both based on developmental milestones. These are complemented by To-Go Classes for mobile programming at external venues, and the optional Tumble Zone Indoor Playground add-on. Additional revenue streams include Kids Night Out, Birthday Parties, Camps, and Daily/Bulk Passes. The franchise model combines physical fitness activities with educational STEAM content using kinesthetic learning methodology, allowing kids to physically 'feel' what they learn. All programs are designed to fight childhood obesity while providing multiple revenue opportunities for franchise owners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gym Classes: Foundational kids' gym classes helping children develop fine and gross motor skills, spatial awareness, coordination, balance, agility, flexibility and sports preparation in non-competitive, skills-based and age-appropriate programs for ages 4 months to 12 years.
- STEAM Classes
- To-Go Classes
- Tumble Zone
Products and services
- Gym Classes Licensed franchise package granting the right to operate a Tumbles kids' gym and STEAM franchise under the Tumbles brand, including 5-year franchise agreement, protected territory, training, proprietary curriculum, technology platform, and ongoing support. Sold to prospective franchisees with a $54,000 franchise fee and total investment of $212,500 to $414,500.
- Gym Classes Weekly kids' gym classes for ages 4 months to 12 years that develop fine and gross motor skills, spatial awareness, coordination, balance, agility, flexibility, and sports preparation through non-competitive, skills-based, and age-appropriate programs built on developmental milestones. Sold by franchisees to families with children.
- STEAM Classes Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math classes for ages 4-12 that challenge kids' minds through kinesthetic education in a gym environment, featuring basic and advanced science and engineering principles, technology, out-of-the-box math thinking, hands-on activities, and literature. Sold by franchisees to families with children.
- To-Go Classes
Quantifiable outcome
- Total investment range of $212,500 to $414,500 with franchise fee of $54,000
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tumbles, the learning playground
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tumbles, the learning playground technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Tumbles, the learning playground partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tumbles, the learning playground competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kidokinetics: Kidokinetics is a kids' sports and fitness franchise offering mobile and on-site multi-sport programs to schools, daycares, and communities. Its To-Go class model and developmental-milestone curriculum overlap directly with Tumbles' gym and mobile programming.
- Goldfish Swim School: Goldfish Swim School is a kids' activity franchise specializing in swim lessons for ages 4 months to 12 years. It serves the same family demographic, competes for the same franchisee buyer, and operates on a similar recurring-classes + parties model.
- Stretch-n-Grow: Stretch-n-Grow is a kids' fitness franchise offering on-site and mobile fitness programs for early childhood centers, schools, and communities. Its mobile delivery model and child-fitness focus directly overlap with Tumbles' gym classes and To-Go program.
- The Little Gym: The Little Gym is a direct competitor offering kids' motor-skill development and gymnastics-based classes through a global franchise network of 300+ locations. It targets the same age range (4 months to 12 years) and competes head-to-head with Tumbles on franchise sales and family enrollment.
- My Gym: My Gym operates a 200+ location franchise system providing structured fitness, gymnastics, and motor-skill classes for children from early infancy through preteens. It is one of Tumbles' closest direct competitors with comparable curriculum philosophy and franchise unit economics.
Emerging players
- Code Ninjas: Code Ninjas is a fast-growing kids' coding and STEM education franchise. It overlaps with Tumbles' STEAM curriculum positioning and competes for both franchisee capital and family enrichment spend on STEM activities.
- Bricks 4 Kidz: Bricks 4 Kidz offers STEM-focused enrichment programs using LEGO-based engineering curricula for ages 3-13+. It competes with Tumbles' STEAM offering for both franchisees and parent enrollment, particularly through after-school and camp channels.
Regional players
- School of Rock: School of Rock is a large music-education franchise with several hundred locations globally. While music-focused rather than fitness, it competes for the same parent enrichment spend and franchisee capital within the broader children's enrichment category.
Broad incumbents
- Gymboree Play & Music: Gymboree Play & Music is a long-established incumbent in parent-and-child play, music, and early-learning classes. While broader in scope, it targets the same age group and competes for the same family-enrollment wallet share.
- Sylvan Learning: Sylvan Learning is a broad incumbent in supplemental K-12 education with a large franchise network. It targets the same parent demographic and competes for the same enrichment dollars, especially for STEM and tutoring categories overlapping with Tumbles' STEAM classes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tumbles, the learning playground social profiles
Digital presenceTumbles, the learning playground financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tumbles, the learning playground leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Tumbles, the learning playground funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tumbles, the learning playground 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 Tumbles, the learning playground
What does Tumbles, the learning playground do?
Tumbles is a franchisor that licenses a combined kids' gym and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education brand to independent franchisees, who then operate physical locations offering Gym Classes, STEAM Classes, To-Go Classes, indoor playground (Tumble Zone), birthday parties, camps, kids night out events, and daily/bulk passes for children ages 4 months to 12 years. Franchisees pay a one-time franchise fee plus ongoing royalties and ad fund contributions in exchange for the right to use the Tumbles system, proprietary kinesthetic curriculum, training, and proprietary franchise management technology.
Is Tumbles, the learning playground a public or private company?
Tumbles, the learning playground is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tumbles, the learning playground founded?
Tumbles, the learning playground was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tumbles, the learning playground based?
Tumbles, the learning playground is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tumbles, the learning playground make money?
Ten revenue lines are on record. Gym Classes are the primary driver. The others are STEAM Classes, camps, birthday Parties, kids Night Out, daily and Bulk Passes, to-Go Classes, tumble Zone (Indoor Playground), franchise Royalty Fees and advertising Fund.
Who are Tumbles, the learning playground's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kidokinetics, Goldfish Swim School, Stretch-n-Grow, The Little Gym and My Gym. Emerging players are Code Ninjas and Bricks 4 Kidz. School of Rock is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Gymboree Play & Music and Sylvan Learning.
Does Tumbles, the learning playground have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tumbles, the learning playground.