Brooklyn Robot Foundry Announces Three New Franchise Partners in the Big Apple

July 12, 2024, NEW YORK, NY – Brooklyn Robot Foundry has announced its next three locations opening in New York this year. The unveiling of these three new locations, all owned and operated by women, is a milestone for the brand as they work to bring accessible STEAM programs to children throughout the state.

Caroline Crilly will be serving the areas of Williamsburg, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Maspeth, Bed-Stuy, Oceanhill, Glendale, Ridgewood, Middle Village and Elmhurst starting in Summer of 2024. Crilly has lived in New York for 15 years – as her daughter is growing up local, she is excited to connect to the community now as a business woman and entrepreneur in addition to being a parent.

“It’s important that students have access to programs like Brooklyn Robot Foundry, so that they get exposed to STEAM concepts through joyful play experiences. I’m excited to make these available in neighborhoods for schools that might that not have anything like this,” Crilly said. “Growing up, I was very curious about math, science and engineering, but I think that because I was a girl, it was not as fully embraced as it might have been if I was a boy. I hope to provide the space for little girls to explore STEAM in a way that I didn’t.”

Alison Khalaf will be serving the areas of Brownstone Brooklyn (Park Slope, Greenwood, BoCoCa, Red Hook, Prospect Lefferts, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Downtown BK, DUMBO, and Brooklyn Heights) starting in Summer of 2024. Khalaf, who was familiar with The Brooklyn Robot Foundry’s programming since her son had attended the brand’s camp and birthday parties, is new to franchising but possesses years of experience and skill managing an early childhood center.

“I love working with kids and I feel like running the childcare center definitely has prepared me for my first foray into franchising. Robots and AI are here to stay, so kids might as well get comfortable with them and learn how they work from an early age. I have seen an increasing number of robotics labs in high schools, and parents seem interested,” Khalaf said. “I hope to bring the inherent fun of robots combined with inspiring creativity and learning how to build out of everyday objects to the students.”

Carmen Tsang will be serving Downtown Manhattan come Fall 2024. Having recently stepped away from over 20 years in the corporate world, Carmen is eager to apply her versatile, international business experiences in her new role within the robotics industry.

“I hope to bring my community jobs, a sense of purpose, and most importantly, something for the kids to learn and have fun with,” Tsang said. “Downtown Manhattan is a great market with high value audiences fitting for an educational program like Brooklyn Robot Foundry. One day, I hope to bring The Foundry international, but for now, I am happy to be making a difference in the community I’ve known and loved for 15 years.”

“Not only is there a huge need for access to this kind of education and tech on a community-wide level, but there is a huge need for intersectionality in these spaces as it relates to women and minority-owned businesses in robotics and engineering in general,” said Jenny Young, CEO and founder of Brooklyn Robot Foundry. “Alison, Caroline and Carmen have vastly different life experiences and career paths, all of which will serve them well in providing crucial, hands-on STEAM experiences to local students. These women will serve as examples to the students and show them that they can accomplish and be anything they want to be.”

Over the past decade, the Robot Foundry has designed over 2,000 unique robot designs. Students are encouraged to incorporate their own ideas and imaginations into each project, resulting not only in a cool robot, but also in increased confidence. Unlike other programs, the brand strongly encourages creativity and independent thinking for all their builders. The brand offers fun, creative, and educational classes, parties, summer programs, and field trips for children 2-14 years old.

SOURCE Brooklyn Robot Foundry