What Inventionland Institute does

Inventionland Institute (operating as Inventionland Education) is the K-12 division of Inventionland, LLC, a private Pittsburgh-based company founded by George Davison that has run a 30-year corporate invention factory and holds 40+ patents and trademarks. The education division, developed roughly a decade ago, sells a complete applied-STEM ecosystem to public and private K-12 schools: custom-designed Innovation Labs® that convert existing school spaces into themed immersive environments (treehouses, pirate ships, castles, maker spaces) installed in 2–4 days; a standards-aligned K-12 Innovation Science Curriculum built around a proprietary 9-step inventing method; professional learning workshops and Day of STEM Innovation programs for teachers; regional and national invention contests held at the 61,000-square-foot Pittsburgh headquarters; and complementary teacher resources, The Inventsons comic series, and a Virtual Mentoring Program.

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-time Innovation Lab design-and-installation contracts (often funded via ESSER or EANS), recurring district-level curriculum subscriptions, professional services for educator workshops, hardware/supplies sales through an online store, and licensing royalties on student inventions commercialized via partners such as Jokari Corporation. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales to school boards and superintendents, supplemented by event-driven demand generation (invention contests, tours of the Pittsburgh facility), content marketing (an ESSER funding guide, white papers, case studies, a Discovery/Science Channel TV show), and channel partnerships that extend the curriculum internationally (e.g., Amideast and the Jordan Ministry of Youth).

The customer base is K-12 school districts, with the deepest penetration in Pennsylvania and Ohio; international expansion is at pilot scale via the Jordan Youth Innovation Project. The company has no public listing, no external funding rounds, and operates under founder leadership, with Nathan Field serving as Executive Director of the education division.

Name

Inventionland Institute

Legal name

Inventionland, LLC

Website

https://inventionlandeducation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Inventionland Institute (dba Inventionland Education) sells K-12 applied STEM innovation ecosystems — themed Innovation Labs, a 9-step inventing curriculum, teacher professional learning, and invention contests — to public and private school districts in the United States and select international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 STEM Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Math & STEM Learning Technology (incl. Coding/Robotics Platforms) (EDAJAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering Design & Project-Based Learning Programs (EDAMADAB), K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA), STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL), 3D Printing, CAD & Digital Fabrication Programs (EDAMADAH)

Keywords

• K-12 STEM curriculum
• Innovation lab design
• Professional development
• Invention education programs
• Maker space learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Innovation Labs® Design and Installation: Schools and districts purchase custom-designed Innovation Labs that transform underutilized or outdated spaces into immersive learning environments. Revenue is generated through design agreements and build/install contracts, typically funded through ESSER, EANS, or general school capital budgets.
2. Curriculum and Courseware Licensing: Schools license the K-12 Innovation Science curriculum via agreement with the school's board of education or superintendent. The license covers student and faculty access to educational materials. Teachers receive professional development and ongoing support including PD, email, and live chat.
3. Professional Learning and Workshops: Professional development programs for K-12 educators including topical workshops (2, 4, or full-day sessions), Day of STEM Innovation (1-3 day immersive experiences), and maker technology training covering 3D printing, vinyl cutting, laser cutting, plasma cutting, electronics kits, Raspberry Pi/Arduino, stop-motion animation, prototyping with cardboard, video production, logo and package design, prototyping with blue foam, and working with silicone.
4. Product Licensing Royalties: Student inventions that win contests and earn licensing agreements are brought to market through partnerships with companies like Jokari Corporation. Royalties flow back to the student inventors; the company's licensing partner relationships generate product distribution revenue through the partner network.
5. Teacher Resources and Supplies: Sale of teacher resources including charts, posters, maker kits, maker boxes, and other instructional supplies available through the online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Inventionland Institute (DBA Inventionland Education) designs, builds, and licenses K-12 applied STEM invention education programs, anchored by custom-themed Innovation Labs®, a standards-aligned 9-step inventing curriculum, professional learning workshops for educators, and capstone invention contests. The offering is sold primarily to K-12 schools and school districts through license agreements, with teacher resources and student-invention products sold through an online store and licensing partners.

Product overview

Inventionland Education provides a complete STEM ecosystem for K-12 schools consisting of physical Innovation Labs® (themed immersive learning spaces), a K-12 applied STEM invention curriculum following a 9-step inventing process, professional learning programs for educators, invention contests, and teacher resources. The ecosystem also includes the Tomorrow's World Today television show and vodcast series, The Inventsons comic book series, and a virtual mentoring program connecting students with industry professionals. The company leverages its 30-year history of helping corporations bring products to market through its parent company Inventionland (America's largest invention factory) to provide authentic, real-world learning experiences for students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innovation Labs: Award-winning immersive learning spaces designed for K-12 schools, featuring themed environments such as treehouses, pirate ships, castles, and maker spaces to inspire creativity and innovation.
• Innovation Science Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• Student inventions have earned licensing agreements and reached commercial market (No Cry™ Hair Tie, Amazing Lid), demonstrating a direct pathway from classroom curriculum to real-world products sold globally.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and flagship.

• AmideastmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Amideast, in partnership with the Jordan Ministry of Youth, collaborated with Inventionland Education on the Youth Innovation Project. The program engaged Jordanian students in the invention curriculum, culminating in the Amazing Lid invention earning a licensing agreement and being showcased at the 2024 Inspired Home Show in Chicago. Amideast facilitates career development and English language programs across the Middle East, Western Asia, and North Africa.
• Jordan Ministry of YouthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-sponsor of the Youth Innovation Project alongside Amideast and Inventionland Education, enabling Jordanian youth to access applied STEM invention education and earn real-world licensing agreements for their inventions.
• STEM Education CoalitionminorOthers · 1 January 2023Inventionland Education is a member of the STEM Education Coalition leadership council alongside other blue chip companies. The company participated in a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staffers on challenges in STEM teaching in May 2023.
• STEMM Opportunity AllianceminorOthers · 1 January 2023Inventionland Education joined the STEMM Opportunity Alliance, a new national initiative to provide equitable access to STEMM education.
• Jokari CorporationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2022Jokari Corporation, an international product distribution company based in Texas, works with Inventionland Education to bring student inventions to market through licensing agreements. George Davison directly connected Mia and Madison (Grove City Middle School inventors) with Jokari's president, resulting in the No Cry™ Hair Tie product being sold on Amazon. Jokari also helped bring the Amazing Lid invention from Jordanian students to market.
• Discovery ChannelflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Tomorrow's World Today, the Emmy-nominated TV show hosted by George Davison, airs on the Discovery Channel. The show features stories from corporate and government innovation labs and is now in its ninth season. The Inventionland Education episode became the show's most-watched feature. The show reaches 100,000+ YouTube subscribers and serves as a primary marketing and brand awareness channel.
• Science ChannelflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Tomorrow's World Today also airs on the Science Channel, expanding reach to science and technology enthusiast audiences. The show explores innovation through four lenses: Inspiration, Creation, Innovation, and Production.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project Lead the Way (PLTW): Largest US provider of STEM curriculum and teacher training for K-12 schools, with similar district-license, PD-bundled, and standards-aligned model. The most direct head-to-head competitor for Inventionland's curriculum and PD offerings.
• Destination Imagination: K-12 project-based STEM program culminating in team-based invention/creativity contests judged by professionals. Closely comparable contest-as-capstone model and target audience.
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): Operates K-12 STEM programs (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics Competition) combining project-based learning with national/international competitions. Comparable school-district sales motion and contest-driven engagement model.

Emerging players

• KiwiCo: Hands-on STEM/STEAM kits and curriculum for kids with strong K-12 and afterschool presence. Comparable in the maker-education category, though more consumer/kit-led rather than immersive-environment-led.
• Maker Ed: Nonprofit focused on maker education in K-12 schools and informal learning environments. Competes for the same maker-education and curriculum-adoption dollars at the district level.

Broad incumbents

• LEGO Education: Global K-12 STEM solutions provider combining physical kits, curriculum, and PD. Broader portfolio than Inventionland, but competes head-on for makerspace and applied STEM budgets in districts.
• Curriculum Associates (iReady): Major K-12 instructional materials and assessment company with a recurring district license model. Represents the broader competitive set for district STEM/instructional budget share.
• BrainPOP: K-12 digital curriculum platform with subscription licensing to districts. Comparable subscription GTM motion and target buyer (district curriculum directors), though broader academic content rather than maker-focused.

Others

• STEMfinity: K-12 STEM products distributor and curriculum provider including 3D printers, robotics, and maker equipment — overlap with Inventionland's PD workshop curriculum and the maker-technology stack it trains teachers on.
• MakerBot (Stratasys): Provider of 3D printing hardware and K-12/education solutions. Adjacent through the maker-technology stack Inventionland trains teachers on and through which it designs Lab installations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/inventionland
• Instagraminstagram.com/invent2educate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Inventionland Institute