We specialize in science, technology, engineering, and math based programs to elementary, middle and high school students in Northern Virginia. By initiating after school clubs TSA (Technology Students Association), and later numerous workshops and in-person TSA meetups, we have inspired over 120 students that represented their schools at the TSA Regionals, State and National Competitions in the categories of STEM Animation, Biotechnology, Medical Technology, and VEX Robotics from multiple middle schools. We conducted Red and Black Robotics (BOE BOT) camps at middle schools by request, and supported STEM Hours in local libraries and after-school care at elementary schools. Our STEM programs foster individual STEM learning in public schools and we present our annual STEMStart Innovation Summit to support students in their pursuit of STEM-driven careers. We continually work to deliver STEM resources to Title One schools with little to no funding or resources to expose students to STEM concepts.

Over 95% of the middle schools in low-income neighborhoods and over 35% of all middle schools do not offer STEM programs for their students. Most of these students tend to face insurmountable roadblocks to gain proficiency in STEM and choose not to pursue STEM in college, hence not being employed in STEM related fields. 

US is currently facing a STEM skill scarcity, and the problem will be further amplified by 2025, where it is predicted that close to 2 million STEM jobs will go unfilled. The key factors contributing to the STEM Gap are the fundamental skills gap, the belief gap, the post-secondary education gap, the geographic gap, and the demographic gap. 

STEMStart is a student-led non-profit to close the STEM gap. Our goal at STEMStart is to spread STEM awareness to students and explore various STEM opportunities with them to ignite their interest in STEM fields, resulting in many students pursuing STEM-related college education and pursuing STEM-focused jobs as adults.