Janet's Planet

What Janet's Planet does

Janet's Planet, Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-3920479) headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, delivering space and STEAM education to children through a multi-format media franchise. Founded and led by CEO Janet Ivey-Duensing, the organization has produced content for 27+ years, anchored by four touring live shows — Tour of the Solar System, Unsung Genius, CTRL-ALT-PB&J, and Astronaut/Aquanaut — alongside the JP AstroCast podcast, the Unsung Genius book series, an Online Astronaut Academy, and branded merchandise. The company applies a proprietary 6 E's framework (Encounter, Explore, Experiment, Evaluate, Experience, Express) and aligns curriculum with national/state educational standards and Bloom's taxonomy.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining one-time product sales (apparel $3–$28, books $19.99–$24.99), professional services (live performances and keynote speaking booked through Siegel Artist Management), and tax-deductible donations (via Donorbox). Customer segments span families/children (ages 5–14), parents and educators, institutional buyers (schools, space camps, museums, performing arts centers), and space/STEAM enthusiast households. The go-to-market is community-led through the JP Space Crew membership program, event-driven via touring shows and school bookings, and direct-to-consumer through the janetsplanet.com e-commerce storefront and Amazon marketplace.

The company holds 12 Regional Emmy Awards, 5 Gracie Awards, the 2022 Sally K. Ride Excellence in Education Award, and founder affiliations with NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, the National Space Society Board of Governors, and Explore Mars (where Janet Ivey-Duensing serves as President). Strategic partnerships include the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (Space Camp), NASA Space Apps Challenge (2025), and Discovery Station (25-year partnership). Scale is small — 1–10 employees, no disclosed funding, no institutional investors, and no public revenue.

Name

Janet's Planet

Legal name

Janet's Planet, Inc.

Website

https://janetsplanet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Janet's Planet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering space and STEAM education to children through touring live shows, podcasts, books, online academy, and merchandise, serving families, schools, and space camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's STEAM Education Services

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMABAE

Space & Astronomy Programs

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/STEM Enrichment & Science Programs

SECONDARYMPACALAD

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Digital Media & Content Platforms (Online Video, Podcasts, Creators)/Online Learning Content Platforms (Creator-Led Courses)

SECONDARYBPAMAJAL

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Media Streaming, Publishing & Content Platforms

SECONDARYEDAGALAF

STEM & Lab Simulation Media (Virtual Labs, AR/VR)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Educational Media & Multimedia (Video, Audio, Interactive)

Keywords

• Children's STEAM education
• Space science programming
• Educational live performances
• STEM learning media
• Youth science content

Headquarters

HQ city

Goodlettsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Merchandise & Books): E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats), accessories (stickers, mugs, travel mugs, scrunchies, beanies), spiral notebooks, and published books (Unsung Genius series). Products are sold directly through the online storefront on a one-time purchase basis.
2. Private Mentoring Sessions: One-on-one mentoring sessions with Janet Ivey-Duensing available in half-hour ($30) and full-hour ($55) formats, scheduled via email. These represent direct service revenue from individual customers.
3. Live Performances & Speaking Engagements: Revenue from keynote speaking, live touring shows (Tour of the Solar System, Unsung Genius, CTRL-ALT-PB&J), and school/space camp performances. Booking handled through Siegel Artist Management for performing arts centers and directly for school engagements.
4. Donations & Nonprofit Revenue: Janet's Planet operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 81-3920479). Accepts tax-deductible donations through Donorbox to support the Space Camp Fund, indicating a charitable nonprofit revenue stream alongside commercial activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Janet's Planet is a nonprofit educational organization that develops and delivers children's STEAM/STEM programming centered on space exploration. Its core offerings include touring live stage shows, a podcast (JP AstroCast), published children's books, an online learning platform (Online Astronaut Academy), a paid membership tier (JP Space Crew), and private one-on-one mentoring sessions. Programming targets K-12 audiences and is delivered both through institutional bookings (schools, museums, performing arts centers) and direct-to-consumer channels.

Product overview

Janet's Planet is an educational media company focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education for children. The portfolio centers on four touring live shows: 'Janet's Planet: Tour of the Solar System,' 'Unsung Genius,' 'CTRL-ALT-PB&J' (exploring code, AI, and robots), and 'Astronaut/Aquanaut' (co-created with Jennifer Swanson). Supporting the shows are the JP AstroCast podcast for kids, the Unsung Genius book series featuring biographies of women scientists (Wally Funk, Mary Anning), and an Online Astronaut Academy providing virtual learning. The company also offers private mentoring sessions with CEO Janet Ivey-Duensing and operates the JP Space Crew membership program. A merchandise line includes branded apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats), accessories (mugs, stickers, scrunchies, notebooks), and educational books. The offering combines live performances, digital content, and physical products to deliver informal space science education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JP AstroCast: The JP AstroCast is Janet's Planet's first podcast for kids, featuring conversations with space experts and space news.
• Unsung Genius
• JP Space Crew

Products and services

• Tour of the Solar System (Live Stage Show) A live touring stage show about space and the solar system, performed for K-12 school assemblies, museums, and performing arts center audiences as part of the company's institutional booking catalog.
• Unsung Genius (Live Stage Show and Book Series) A live touring show and accompanying children's book series that highlight unsung contributors in science and exploration, primarily targeting K-12 audiences and school/family programming.
• CTRL-ALT-PB&J (Live Stage Show) A live touring stage show from Janet's Planet's performance catalog, performed for school and family audiences through institutional bookings.
• Astronaut/Aquanaut (Live Stage Show) A live touring stage show covering life in space and undersea exploration, delivered to school assemblies and family audiences via institutional bookings.
• JP AstroCast (Podcast) A children's podcast focused on space, exploration, and STEAM topics, distributed on podcast platforms and used by parents, educators, and classrooms.
• Online Astronaut Academy An online course platform delivering structured STEAM/space-themed learning modules to children and families, accessed directly via the Janet's Planet website.
• JP Space Crew (Membership) A paid recurring membership tier for children and families that provides access to exclusive Janet's Planet content, learning materials, and community experiences.
• Daring To Dig: Mary Anning (Children's Book) A children's book in the Unsung Genius series that profiles paleontologist Mary Anning, sold through the company's website and Amazon for home and classroom use.
• Higher Faster Longer: Wally Funk (Children's Book) A children's book in the Unsung Genius series profiling aviator Wally Funk, sold through the company's website and Amazon for home and classroom use.
• Private Mentoring Sessions One-on-one paid mentoring sessions offered to children and families on STEAM, space, and exploration topics, delivered personally by Janet Ivey-Duensing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highly engaged daily participation from children in lessons, with parents reporting children setting alarms to attend sessions on time
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Explore MarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExplore Mars is a nonprofit organization advocating for human exploration of Mars. Janet Ivey-Duensing serves as President of Explore Mars, creating a deep organizational alignment. The partnership enables joint programming, conference participation (Humans to Mars Summit), and shared mission around space exploration education.
• U.S. Space & Rocket Center (US Src)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial sponsor and partner. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is home to Space Camp and Aviation Challenge. Janet's Planet programming is delivered at space camps operated by the USSRC, creating an integrated educational experience.
• NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanet Ivey-Duensing serves as a NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, representing NASA's educational outreach initiatives. This official NASA partnership provides credibility, access to NASA resources, and alignment with NASA's learning resources for kids and educators.
• NASA Space Apps ChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanet's Planet participates in the 2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge as a collaborator, supporting NASA's global hackathon and engagement activities for kids and students.
• Above SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a sponsor and partner on janetsplanet.com, indicating a commercial or promotional partnership in the space education ecosystem.
• Hunt Brothers PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor on janetsplanet.com, providing promotional or marketing support for the organization and its programs.
• Siegel Artist ManagementcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBooking representation for Janet's Planet live shows and performing arts center appearances. Contact: Jennifer Morris (Office: 570-824-2266, Cell: 617-930-4925). Handles talent booking logistics for live performances and keynote speaking engagements.
• Discovery StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscovery Station (Hagerstown, MD) has partnered with Janet's Planet for 25 years, celebrating 'intellect and curiosity' programming. Long-standing institutional partner hosting space education events.
• National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Midsouth Chapter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanet Ivey-Duensing serves on the Board of Governors for the Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the organization that confers the Emmy Awards.
• National Space SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanet Ivey-Duensing serves on the Board of Governors for the National Space Society, a nonprofit advocacy organization promoting space exploration and settlement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Planetary Society: The world's largest nonprofit space advocacy organization. Highly comparable as a space-focused nonprofit that produces educational media, events, and advocacy programming; operates at a much larger scale and serves a broader (adult-leaning) audience than Janet's Planet.
• Khan Academy Kids: Free, large-scale EdTech platform for early learners covering math, reading, and STEAM. Comparable as a free children's educational content destination competing for the same family audience's time, with significantly greater resources and brand recognition.
• National Geographic Kids: Major children's educational media brand covering science, space, and exploration through magazines, videos, books, and digital content. Comparable as a large-scale publisher of children's space/science educational content competing for the same family audience.
• Bill Nye the Science Guy: Iconic children's science education brand with a founder-led format spanning TV, live shows, books, and merchandise. Shares the celebrity-host, multi-format STEAM education model with Janet's Planet, but at a vastly larger and more established scale.

Direct peers

• Emily's Wonder Lab: Netflix kids' STEAM show hosted by Emily Calandrelli featuring hands-on science experiments. Most directly comparable as a personality-driven children's STEAM video product, though distributed via a major streaming platform rather than live touring.
• Tumble Science Podcast for Kids: Independent kids' science podcast featuring stories about scientific discovery with kid co-hosts. Closely comparable to JP AstroCast in format, audience (children and parents), and indie/small-team production model.
• Cosmic Kids: Kids' video platform combining yoga, mindfulness, and STEAM-adjacent content with a strong on-screen personality. Comparable as a personality-led, direct-to-consumer children's educational media brand with subscription and merchandise revenue.
• Wow in the World: NPR-distributed kids' science podcast hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas. Highly comparable as a top-of-funnel kids' science audio product using storytelling and experts — directly competes for the same podcast-listening audience as JP AstroCast.
• Steve Spangler Science: Science education company producing hands-on experiment kits, TV appearances, and teacher resources with a celebrity STEM educator (Steve Spangler). Closely comparable as a founder-led STEAM brand monetizing via merchandise, live appearances, and educator customers.
• Mystery Science: K-6 science curriculum platform sold to schools, combining standards-aligned lessons with multimedia video. Comparable in the children/STEAM education space with overlapping customers (teachers and schools), but with a digital-first curriculum model rather than live touring.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/janetsplanetofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/JanetsPlanet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/janet-s-planet
• Instagraminstagram.com/janetsplanetofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@janetsplanetofficial?lang=en
• Pinterestpinterest.com/jpjanetsplanet
• Xx.com/janetsplanet

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Janet's Planet