The startup that proves that science without drama is in

If riding a roller coaster can be the start of an engineering class, then this isn't a vacation, but a class disguised as an adventure. At the Zaragoza amusement park, a group of children analyze the rack-and-pinion mechanism that drives the cars, designs a model in the laboratory, and reconstructs it in 3D. They're not on a field trip: they're in class. This is how a week begins at Inventaland, the flagship camp of Academia de Inventores, an educational startup founded in Zaragoza that has taught science and technology to more than 10,000 children since 2019.

"We wanted to create a physical space where children could come to awaken their scientific and technological calling," says Luis Martín, CEO and co-founder of the academy. "I always refer to it as a music conservatory. It's the same here, but for those who want to learn about science and technology," he adds.

The analogy is not accidental. Just as a musician learns music theory, a young inventor at this academy is trained in four key subjects: mechanics, science, robotics, and programming . From ages three to 18, the academy uses its own method, which grows with the student. The younger the student, the more guided the sessions. As they progress, they face real challenges and design their own projects.

Beyond the regular course, its true showcase is the summer. With locations in Zaragoza, Madrid, and Valencia, and specific activities in other regions, its urban and overnight camps bring together more than 2,500 participants each year. "What we're looking for is for them to experience firsthand what it would be like to be a scientist or biologist at university," she says. "So they can say, with good reason: I've tried it, and I like it. Or I don't like it. But they know it from experience."

At Inventaland, everything revolves around a thematic storytelling: from creating gadgets for pirates who know how to solder to exploring magic as a way to experiment with science . "The goal is for them to understand in five days that they've been able to create a device. And to take it home."

The business model is based on this STEAM ecosystem, with in-person classes throughout the year, workshops, birthday parties, and an online program with physical kits arriving in September. They currently have around 500 active students per year across all locations.

Growth has been sustained. "We went from three partners to 30 people, from a headquarters that had a turnover of €100,000 to now exceeding €1 million," explains Martín. And they're not stopping there: "We want to have an academy in every city with more than 200,000 inhabitants in ten years. That's our goal."

The most viral scene so far featured a six-year-old team participating in Got Talent . "One student made a toilet paper cannon and launched it at Risto. It went pretty viral. For us, it was very iconic: showing that such young children can bring the crazy ideas they have in their heads to life," shares the CEO.