When Life Gives You a Pandemic …
One entrepreneurs’ success in an economic crisis
By Shavantay Minnis
Nicole Anyadike was in her last semester of nursing school when she shifted gears to help address the lack of educational programs for the youth in her community.
Soon after, she founded Kidology Enterprises, an educational enrichment program that helps youth build social, cultural, physical education and life skills based on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The live after school program targets students in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as professional development for teachers who want to enhance their curriculum.
“As an entrepreneur and a business owner, I wanted to bring hope to the community, and as a parent, I wanted to make homeschooling fun and educational,” Anyadike said.
As Kidology continued to grow, Anyadike sought services that would also expand her business into a permanent aftercare facility. Her search led her to George Gadson, a consultant with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
“He is my go-to for business consulting, our relationship is versatile and flexible, especially during an overwhelming period as this,” Anyadike said. “Working with George and SBDC was easy, they understood the reason behind my business, and they are a great resource hub that I can connect to and know that my business will continue to move forward.”
Once coronavirus, COVID-19, struck the world, and schools began to close, Anyadike and her Kidology team needed a different approach since access to on-campus learning was unavailable. Homeschooling turned into every parent’s priority, and as a parent herself, Anyadike knew she had to find the solution to the concerns of the parents and teachers around her and to her business.
Using Gadson’s assistance, Anyadike received consulting services, capital access loans and guidance to the disaster recovery program that kick-started Kidology Enterprises Virtual Academy. Each virtual lesson includes an interactive, do-it-yourself, STEAM kit with different experiments and an age-appropriate instructional video to enhance the online experience. Whether alone or with a parent, students can think visually, solve problems creatively and take their next step in their future. “We are all kids at heart,” Anyadike said.
As a result of Kidology’s virtual experience, and interactive STEAM kit, within the first four weeks of her new business Anyadike has seen sales increase 90 percent, generating more than 100 kits per day.
With the guidance and consulting services from SBDC, Kidology Enterprises has turned this global crisis into a much-needed creative learning outlet for students and parents alike.
“I never anticipated my business turning into a virtual platform, or that I would be able to provide more jobs and create a culture where people enjoy working,” she said. “Thanks to George and SBDC, Kidology can continue its success into the future.”
"Working with George and SBDC was easy, they understood the reason behind my business, and they are a great resource hub that I can connect to and know that my business will continue to move forward."