We build businesses with youth so they're ready for the real world.
Founded by business owners who've built, bought, and sold companies — and seen firsthand what young adults are missing. This is where they get their reps.
Do you pay your youth allowance?
Most of us are familiar with allowance — we got it, we give it, we've heard about it. Here's a thought: what if you could redeploy those funds and get a better Return on Investment?
See, this is how we work — we use corporate words and language to suggest a better way of doing life. Gift the allowance to The Learning Laboratory. We teach financial literacy, give real-world experience, offer educational grants, and even part-time employment for your youth.
They're given agency, voice, and options on what they invest their time and our resources into — for a greater return on that capital. Oh, and your gift? It may be tax exempt.
See How It WorksWhat your youth gets in return…
Hands-On Learning
Real Businesses. Real Reps.
Some businesses run year-round so students can jump in anytime. Others get launched, operated, and wound down by a cohort — the full lifecycle.
Coffee & Donut Cart
OngoingBrew, bake, serve, and manage a mobile food business from open to close
Screen Printing
OngoingDesign and print custom t-shirts, totes, and merch for real clients
Mural & Wall Painting
OngoingDesign and paint murals for local businesses and community spaces
Marketing & Brand Kits
OngoingCreate logos, brand guides, and marketing materials for real businesses
Web Design
Cohort-LaunchedBuild real websites for real local businesses, mentored by professionals
Pop-Up Events
Cohort-LaunchedPlan, pitch, and execute events for local businesses and organizations
The Laboratory
Hypothesize. Test. Review. Revise.
Enroll & Get Started
Parents make a donation. Students jump into the current module and start getting reps immediately.
Build & Run
Students work in real businesses alongside experienced mentors. They make decisions, serve customers, and own the outcome.
Earn & Grow
Students earn educational grants for achievement, real W-2 wages for work, and a portfolio of experience that sets them apart.
Built by Kids Challenge
at the Oregon State Fair
Teams of students compete head-to-head, running their own booths at the Oregon State Fair. Real products, real customers, real competition. Who will earn the most?
Learn MoreLet's be clear about what this is.
This isn't child labor where a corporation profits off young people. Donations fund equipment, serve clients, provide grants, and pay real W-2 wages to students. We're not here to undercut local businesses — many of them are our partners. We're here to train the next great waiter, barista, manager, or founder.
Equipment
Funds go to tools, supplies, and infrastructure students need
Grants
Students earn educational grants and merit-based scholarships
Real Wages
Some students earn actual W-2 employment with Learning Labs
Available at no cost. But not free.
Things that are free get devalued. We don't often appreciate what doesn't cost us something. We're told the best things in life are free, but the reality is we don't live that way.
So we appreciate donations from families, from businesses they might own, from anyone who sees value in what we're doing. But there's no fixed amount expected, and cost will never be an inhibitor for Learning Labs. Period. If your family can't make a donation, that's fine. We'll find someone who can — that's our job.
And if we're really good at this, then when a student graduates and kills it, they'll come back. Make a donation. Teach a class. Volunteer and share their experience with the next generation. We're good with that.
$0
No fixed donation amount
Can't donate? We'll find a sponsor
Donations may be tax exempt
Cost will never be a barrier