Meet the New Jersey entrepreneur inspiring the next generation through STEM.
Takeerah Jones did not set out to be an educator or a business owner. But after pivoting away from a career in writing, she found herself in a substitute teacher position. That’s how she fell in love with educating children.
“The first day, I just fell in love with the kids. They were my happy place, and I just never left,” Takeerah said.
Ignited by her students and her time spent teaching, Takeerah launched the Busy Bees Learning Center (BBLC) in 2016. BBLC started as an after-school program and turned into a company during the COVID-19 pandemic to fulfill Takeerah’s mission of teaching STEM education to special needs students and under-resourced communities.
“Education, to me, it's from the heart… [and] Busy Bees is my love letter,” Takeerah said.
Based in New Jersey, BBLC works with nearly 500 students, half of whom are on the autism spectrum. The center specializes in hands-on coding, robotics and STEM programs with a curriculum designed to spark curiosity and prepare students who might not otherwise be introduced to STEM for future success in a tech-driven world.
Strategic grant acquisitions and creative problem-solving have been key components of BBLC’s success. Takeerah notes that reinvesting, applying for grants and staying proactive are essential skills. Additionally, educational resources found on Venturize and in Small Business Majority’s webinars increased her business knowledge and ability to access capital, which she leveraged to secure over $10,000 in funding and keep her business profitable. Takeerah was also able to get connected with local CDFIs for further assistance by becoming a Small Business Majority network member.
“The Venturize resource website and Small Business Majority’s webinars on access to capital have been very helpful, because business owners really don't know the best way to go about getting a loan or grant. Especially me, since I'm coming from a teaching background, so I didn't know these things,” Takeerah said.
The support Takeerah received has been crucial for her business, helping her purchase essential materials like computers and robotics kits, expand her team and pre-pay business filing fees for two years while still maintaining savings.
“Every time I get money from [organizations], I just cry because it comes at the best time,” Takeerah said.
Looking toward the future, Takeerah has ambitious goals of creating a STEM book with a downloadable activity packet, growing her business to $16 million by 2044 and expanding guest speaking opportunities. To entrepreneurs looking to solidify and grow their business, Takeerah encourages them to “be persistent, get some knowledge, read the books, know your numbers and don't manage by your feelings.”
She added: “Business owners need to be strategic and know everything about the business, but be priority-based... map out the steps to take, and then take them.”
