Q&A With the Render Competition Winners, BrainSTEM

Last fall, we announced the eight winners of the inaugural Render Competition. Each startup received a $100,000 investment to scale their solution within and beyond the Greater Louisville region. Now, we’re catching up with each of the winning founders to hear about their competition experience, lessons learned, advice to future applicants, and an update on what’s ahead.

First up, we’re excited to hear from Ricky Mason, CEO and founder of BrainSTEM University. BrainSTEM University is an educational tech startup that provides a virtual learning environment and social network teaching students of all ages programming, engineering, robotics, and entrepreneurship. They are creating a pipeline that leads kids from STEM students to STEM professionals.

Why did you decide to apply for the Render Competition?

I applied because I was excited about this type of investment in Louisville startups. We knew $100K and the support of a local VC would be huge for BrainSTEM’s success in the exploding edtech market.

What was something you learned from the application process?

We learned that preparation pays off. From the time we finished the first application until hearing BrainSTEM named a Render Capital winner, we continually refined our pitch.

What did you take away from your interactions with the judges?

The judges made us realize we needed to focus on our value-add in our marketing and customer acquisition strategy, rather than competing against free options.

What’s your favorite part about Louisville’s startup ecosystem?

My favorite part is being a part of it. Born and raised in Louisville, it brings a sense of pride to be part of the change and growth we’re experiencing in Louisville and Southern Indiana.

How are you using the $100K, and how will it help you scale?

We’re using the $100K to increase the number of students participating in BrainSTEM programs, release new curriculum for K-2 students, build the BrainSTEM VLE 2.0, and gamify learning, further blurring the lines between gaming, social media, and education.

What role do you see your startup playing in the regional economy over the next 5 years?

In the next five years, BrainSTEM will be the flagship STEM education provider for schools, homeschool students, and after-school programs in the Midwest and beyond, leading students from kindergarten to STEM careers solving the tough problems of the future.

How has your business had to pivot or adjust over the past year?

Before COVID-19, we provided in-person programs through partnerships with schools and community organizations. When schools closed, we had to stop programs that included over 100 students. We started developing our Virtual Learning Environment in March, designing a platform specifically for STEM education. In only three months, our founder developed an online platform with live video, chat, and limitless storage for STEM content. In July, we hosted our first virtual STEM camp with 30 students.

What inspires you to continue to grow your business every day?

The future is STEM, and we must ensure our youth are prepared for it. STEM education changed my life, knowing that BrainSTEM is inspiring the next generation of leaders, dreamers, creators, and innovators is all the motivation I need.