NYC - Founding Beta Cohort

Alpha Builder Club

The ABC of the Future

AAI & Adaptive Logic
BBuilding & Robotics
CComputational & Systems Thinking

A founder-led technology masterclass for ambitious young builders ages 10-15. Students build real systems, prototype with robotics hardware, and showcase working projects.

Small cohorts. Founder-led instruction. No prior robotics experience required.
3 Working systems

Every student leaves with a portfolio-ready build story.

12 Students per cohort

Small group size by design, with more mentor time.

1 Take-home robot

A sound-controlled mechanical system students keep.

15 Minute momentum

Each sprint starts with something that moves, reacts, or lights up.

The Accelerator Framework

This is not a traditional coding camp.

There are no generic kits, passive lectures, or copy-the-instructor projects. Alpha Builder Club is an immersive systems lab where students build physical hardware, experiment with AI-inspired behavior, and learn how engineering, creativity, and invention connect.

Build & prototype

Students construct physical mechanisms, sensor rigs, and digital environments that respond in real time.

Experiment & debug

Constraints become data. Students test, revise, and learn the engineer's rhythm of iteration.

Collaborate & showcase

Teams present actual working projects and explain how the system behaves, fails, and improves.

Why It Exists

Most kids' tech classes teach recipes. We teach invention.

Students move from core concepts to ambitious projects across robotics, automation, sensors, physical computing, generative systems, and spatial computing.

The goal is not simply teaching technology. The goal is helping students realize: I can build the future too.

Two Cohorts. One Future.

Age-specific tracks for hands-on builders.

Ages 10-12

The Logic Builders

For curious, creative students ready to move beyond beginner STEM experiences. The focus is robotics fundamentals, automation, environmental sensing, and creative problem solving.

  • Visible progress through movement and immediate feedback
  • Guided builds with rapid experimentation
  • Confidence-first debugging and team challenges
Ages 13-15

The Systems Engineers

For older students ready to explore more complex robotics systems, AI-inspired interactions, creative coding, and environmental intelligence.

  • Design decisions framed like real engineering tradeoffs
  • Hardware, software, and environment as one system
  • Demo-ready presentation coaching

The 15-Minute Rule

Confidence comes from momentum.

Every sprint is designed so students see something move, react, light up, evolve, or respond within the first 15 minutes. Small wins stack quickly into the confidence needed for bigger technical challenges.

The Pilot Projects

3 sprints. 3 working systems.

Each sprint blends a concrete build with a larger systems-thinking concept.

Sprint 1

AI Creature Arena

Students create a digital creature that evolves and reacts based on live light, sound, motion, and environmental sensor input.

Generative systems Environmental intelligence
Sprint 2

Mixed-Reality Holographic Studio

Students build a holographic projection experience with acrylic materials, optical principles, custom visuals, and spatial display techniques.

Spatial computing Interactive design
Sprint 3

Sound-Controlled Mechanical Systems

Students build a responsive mechanical system using motors, sensors, sound-triggered interactions, and programmable logic, then take it home.

Sensors Automation Take-home project

What Students Learn

Beyond robotics, students practice founder-grade thinking.

Systems thinkingHow hardware, software, and environment interact.
Creative confidenceTurning intimidating ideas into functioning systems.
Problem solvingRedefining failure as data through debugging.
CollaborationExplaining technical concepts clearly to teammates.
Founder mindsetTechnology as something students can create, not just consume.

Structure of the Day

A full-day builder lab with a parent showcase.

Arrival & Environment Setup
Sprint 1: AI Creature Arena
Interactive Team Challenge
Lunch & Social Break - pizza and refreshments provided
Sprint 2: Mixed-Reality Holographic Studio
Founder Check-In & Technical Reset
Sprint 3: Sound-Controlled Mechanical Systems
Demo Day Prep & Presentation Coaching
Parent Arrival Window
Demo Day: Parent Showcase + Founder Fireside Chat
Students present what they built, how it works, what challenges they solved, and how they approached the design process.

Meet Your Instructors

Learn from people who actually build technology companies.

JS

James Steinberg

YC Robotics Founder & Engineer

A robotics engineer, Y Combinator alumnus, and exited deep-tech founder specializing in autonomous systems, robotics, and applied engineering.

MK

Monika Kochhar

Two-Time Tech Founder & Operator

A serial entrepreneur, executive operator, and former Wall Street structured products specialist focused on creativity, systems thinking, and confidence-building.

Founding Beta Cohort

Apply for a spot.

Founding beta pricing is $399 $299 per student. Tuition includes all materials, electronics, custom hardware, lunch, snacks, refreshments, Demo Day, and direct founder-led instruction.

Specialized materials Take-home hardware Parent showcase NYC area

Exact venue details are shared after acceptance. Stripe Checkout handles payment securely.

Parent FAQ

Common questions.

Does my child need prior coding or robotics experience?

No. The workshop is designed for curious students of varying technical backgrounds.

Is this too advanced?

No. Each sprint is structured around visible progress, intuitive logic, and guided experimentation.

Will students work individually or in teams?

Both. Students get individual engineering time and collaborative team challenges.

Is this a recurring class?

The beta is a premium one-day immersive workshop. Future labs may expand into advanced AI and robotics programs.

For Schools & Enrichment Teams

Bring a builder lab to your after-school program.

Alpha Builder Club partners with schools, PTAs, enrichment directors, and community programs to run hands-on robotics and AI-inspired engineering labs after the final bell.

After-school ready Compact sessions built for classrooms, makerspaces, libraries, and multipurpose rooms.
Real systems, not worksheets Students build hardware, sensors, creative code, and prototypes they can explain.
Small-group instruction Programs can be scoped for beginner STEM clubs, advanced makers, or mixed-age cohorts.

Partner with us

Tell us what you want to run, who it is for, and when you want to start.

We will reply with program options, staffing needs, pricing, and next steps.