Creator Camp turns screen time into creative learning! Kids aged 6-13 explore filmmaking, animation, music, and game development in hands-on workshops.
Many kids, ages 8 to 12, spend excessive time in front of screens without gaining creative or productive skills. This issue inspired Kai Forman and his team to create Creator Camp. This educational program offers hands-on experiences, teaching animation, filmmaking, game development, and music production, transforming screen time into opportunities for creative growth.
Are you curious about the shark’s thoughts on this innovative edtech venture? Here’s an update on Creator Camp and the pitch recap.
A quick summary of Creator Camp Shark Tank
Kai, Jacky, and Cazden pitched their hands-on educational company, Creator Camp, in Shark Tank Season 16, seeking $350,000 for 5% equity. After some negotiations, they struck a deal with Barbara Corcoran for $350,000 in exchange for 18% equity.
Regarding a Creator Camp update, the company is thriving and working on finalizing its deal with Barbara’s team.
| Shark | Offer |
| Barbara Corcoran | Accepted the offer of $350,000 for 18% equity |
| Daymond John | No offer |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
Key Takeaways
- Creator Camp is an innovative educational program designed to turn kids’ screen time into productive, creative learning. It focuses on skills like filmmaking, animation, music production, and game development.
- Founded in 2021 by Kai Forman, Jacky Chao, and Cazden Morrison, the company has expanded to 27 locations across Texas, generating $840,000 in revenue. It plans to open 35 locations by 2025.
- After pitching on Shark Tank, Barbara Corcoran invested $350,000 for 18% equity, aiming to expand through franchising.
- Creator Camp is preparing for Summer 2025 programs for kids aged 6-13, offering hands-on workshops in YouTube creation, animation, filmmaking, and game development.
- The company aims to grow to 250 locations by 2030 and forecasts revenue of $25 million.
Networth
In 2024, Creator Camp’s net worth was estimated at $1.94 million, following a deal on Shark Tank where it was valued at that amount. By 2025, the company’s net worth is projected to grow to around $3.1 million, reflecting an annual growth rate of about 10%.
The Problem with Excessive Screen Time
The issue with excessive screen time isn’t just the amount of time spent on devices and the lack of productive engagement during that time. As children spend more hours on their screens, many are not gaining critical problem-solving, creative, or technical skills. Whether it’s endless scrolling on social media, watching YouTube videos, or playing non-educational games, most of the screen time is passive, offering little in the way of developing tangible skills.
This gap in children’s education sparked the idea behind Creator Camp. The founders, passionate about bringing real-world learning to kids, recognized the need to turn screen time into creative opportunities. With a hands-on approach to learning, Creator Camp was born to allow kids to transform their digital play into real educational experiences that would help them develop a variety of skills in creative fields.
The Birth of Creator Camp
Founded in 2021 by Kai Forman, Jacky Chao, Christopher Cazden Morrison, and two other childhood friends, Robbie and Winston, Creator Camp was designed to offer a new educational program. The idea was to allow children to learn practical skills not typically taught in traditional classrooms. The Camp focuses on creative fields like animation, filmmaking, game creation, music production, video editing, audio engineering, and online safety, ensuring a well-rounded experience.
The Camp operates in rented spaces such as schools and community centers, which provide necessary resources like Wi-Fi and classroom settings. These partnerships allow Creator Camp to directly market to local communities, hire educators from the area, and host camps during the summer months when kids are looking for engaging activities.
Creator Camp’s core mission is to foster creativity in children while offering them a chance to develop skills they can carry forward into their lives. The goal is to make learning fun, relevant, and practical for kids so they are equipped with knowledge they can apply to various real-world scenarios.
The Shark Tank Pitch
Shark Tank Creator Camp Pitch Recap
- Entrepreneurs: Kai Forman, Jacky Chao, and Christopher Cazden Morrison
- Business: Hands-on educational program
- Ask: $350,000 for 5% equity
- Result: $350,000 for 18% equity
- Investor: Barbara Corcoran
Creator Camp debuted on Shark Tank Season 16, seeking an investment of $350,000 for 5% equity. The pitch was delivered by Kai, Jacky, and Cazden, all high school friends from Katy, Texas. They highlighted the mission of their business and how they aimed to transform kids’ screen time into creative and educational experiences that would empower them to develop new skills.
During the pitch, they outlined the various aspects of their business:
- Diverse Curriculum: Creator Camp covers essential creative fields, including filmmaking, animation, music production, game design, and more. Kids learn how to create original content rather than just consuming it.
- Accessible Locations: The camps are hosted in rented spaces, such as schools and community centers, which already have Wi-Fi and classroom setups, making it easier to offer the camps at affordable prices.
- Affordable Pricing: Each session lasts three days, and the cost per child is $250. Camps are capped at 20 kids per session, ensuring a more personalized and effective learning experience.
- Impressive Growth: Creator Camp operated in just one location in its first year and made $60,000 in revenue. By the second year, they expanded their offerings and saw revenue rise to $100,000. The company grew to multiple locations in year three, with an impressive $300,000 in revenue. Creator Camp has expanded to 27 locations across Texas, generating $840,000 in revenue, with projections to hit $1.3 million by 2025.
The pitch emphasized their future growth plans, including an expansion into Washington, D.C. and a long-term vision to reach 250 locations by 2030, generating $25 million in annual revenue.
The Sharks’ Reactions
The founders of Creator Camp were met with interest from several sharks, but ultimately, Barbara Corcoran decided to make an offer. Let’s break down the reactions of each shark:
- Mark Cuban: While Mark Cuban found Creator Camp impressive and appreciated its alignment with his passion for education, he passed on the investment. His reason was that it conflicted with his foundation’s AI Boot Camp, which focuses on content creation. Cuban’s conflict of interest led him to bow out.
- Lori Greiner: Lori was intrigued by the concept but didn’t believe it fit her investment portfolio. She liked the idea and thought kids would love the camps, but ultimately, she decided to pass on the opportunity.
- Kevin O’Leary: Kevin O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” expressed concerns over the company’s $7 million valuation and did not see the numbers aligning with the company’s potential for long-term growth. As a result, he also chose not to make an offer.
- Daymond John: Daymond John, the branding expert, also opted out, stating that while the business had potential, it did not align with his expertise and strategy.
- Guest Shark Rashuan Williams: Rashuan Williams, another guest shark, was also impressed with the company’s trajectory but ultimately decided not to make an offer, citing that the company’s growth wasn’t at the scale he was looking for in terms of exit potential.
In the end, Barbara Corcoran saw significant potential in the business and made an offer of $350,000 for 20% equity, contingent on the founders committing to a franchising model. After some negotiations, the final deal was struck at $350,000 for 18% equity, marking a major step forward for Creator Camp.
The Creator Camp Update: Post-Shark Tank
Since the Shark Tank appearance, Creator Camp has continued to thrive. The company has expanded its reach, offerings, and partnerships. Below are some key updates on what has happened after their appearance on Shark Tank.
- Expansion and Revenue Growth: Creator Camp has seen impressive growth since its appearance on Shark Tank. They have expanded to 27 locations across Texas, and by 2025, they plan to grow to 35 locations, which should help them hit their revenue target of $1.3 million. The company’s long-term goal is to reach 250 locations by 2030, ultimately generating $25 million in annual revenue.
- Merchandise Launch: To increase brand recognition and connect with its audience, Creator Camp has introduced a new line of merchandise. The collection includes “ACCIDENTAL” and “SPARK” T-shirts designed by co-founder Jacky Chao. These items were created to celebrate their appearance on Shark Tank and further expand the company’s brand identity.
- Summer 2025 Programs: Creator Camp is already gearing up for its Summer 2025 programs, catering to children aged 6-13. These workshops will cover various areas of digital creation, including YouTube content creation, animation, filmmaking, and game development. The programs will allow children to dive deep into these fields and gain a practical understanding of how to create content.
- Franchising Plans: After securing Barbara Corcoran as an investor, Creator Camp wants to expand its business by transitioning to a franchise model. This will allow the company to scale rapidly and offer educational camps in multiple regions, making it accessible to more children nationwide.
- Collaborations with Local Schools and Community Centers: Creator Camp’s strategy of partnering with schools and community centers has continued to yield success. These partnerships allow the company to offer camps in familiar, accessible locations with the necessary infrastructure. It also enables them to build relationships with local educators, who can help run the camps and mentor the kids.
The Future of Creator Camp
Looking ahead, the future of Creator Camp is full of potential. With Barbara Corcoran’s backing and its founding team’s drive, Creator Camp is well-positioned for continued growth. As they expand their locations and offerings, there are several key trends that will likely shape their future:
- Increased Demand for Creative Learning: As technology evolves, children’s need to develop creative and technical skills will become even more important. Programs like Creator Camp are positioned at the intersection of education and entertainment, giving kids the tools to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
- Expansion into New Markets: The planned expansion into Washington, D.C., along with their goal of opening 250 locations by 2030, shows that Creator Camp is poised for national growth. This expansion will allow them to reach children in other parts of the U.S., broadening their impact.
- Franchising as a Key Growth Strategy: The transition to a franchise model will play a pivotal role in Creator Camp’s growth. By franchising, they can rapidly scale while maintaining high quality and consistency across locations. This will allow them to tap into a wide network of passionate educators and entrepreneurs eager to bring this program to their communities.
- Engagement with Parents and Schools: Creator Camp’s ability to market directly to students through schools and community centers is a major advantage. As the importance of extracurricular activities that promote creativity and innovation continues to grow, more parents and schools will seek out opportunities like those offered by Creator Camp.
Conclusion
Creator Camp represents a bold new education approach, encouraging children to use their screen time to develop valuable, creative skills. After a successful Shark Tank appearance, the company has continued growing and gaining traction in education. With the backing of Barbara Corcoran and the expansion of its offerings, it is poised to revolutionize how kids learn in the digital age.
Through its emphasis on hands-on learning, Creator Camp is helping shape the future of education, one child at a time. As it expands across the country, it will continue to inspire and empower the next generation of creators.
Creator Camp is more than just an educational program—it’s a movement. It turns screen time into productive, creative time for kids, giving them the tools they need to thrive in the digital age. With the potential for rapid growth and an ever-expanding reach, Creator Camp has a bright future ahead.
For the latest updates from Shark Tank Season 16, Episode 5, explore the links below:
Before you go, make sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.
