Resources for Educators and Parents
Are you an Educator interested in free or subsidized programming? Ask us to match you with a sponsor!
Are you interested in being a Corporate Sponsor? Apply here to match with a school in need!
The Bird-in-Hand Principle
How do you start a new business? Do you start it with a GREAT IDEA?
Experienced entrepreneurs start with WHAT THEY HAVE. They start with their MEANS.
The Lemonade Principle
Professor SARAS SARASVATHY has studied successful entrepreneurs. She knows that they don’t let negative surprises derail their ventures. Instead, they use their imagination and creativity to turn those surprises into exciting NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
The Affordable Loss Principle
Starting a new business is risky: you can’t predict if your company will succeed or fail. That’s why expert entrepreneurs figure out first what they are willing to lose rather than what they expect to make.
The Super Ask Principle
Entrepreneurs never stop asking. They ask people to collaborate with them and to invest in their companies. They ask for advice and help. They ask for resources, such as time, money and knowledge. If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you must become a super asker.
The Crazy Quilt Principle
If you think you can launch a business alone, think again. You need suppliers who can provide materials for what you are building. You need customers who want to buy what you’re selling. You need friends and teachers who can give you advice. Every entrepreneur needs other people to succeed.
Student Showcase
Are you creating a startup you’re proud of? With help from an adult, tell us all about it! Your submission might just become one of our student spotlights.
Free or Subsidized Programming Available!
We’re excited to help educators get affordable access to the Mia & Tiago curriculum. If you have at least ten children in your group and would like to receive free or discounted materials, send us your details and we’ll be delighted to match you with a sponsor.
Links & Other Resources
Meet Mia & Tiago
Are you exploring innovative ways to inspire your students? Check out Mia & Tiago and the Six Secrets of Successful Startups.
This is a turnkey K–6 curriculum that helps kids think like expert entrepreneurs. It has strong SEL connections, builds financial literacy, reinforces core language arts—and it’s genuinely fun.
Early feedback from teachers? Kids love it.
Are you thinking about becoming a Mia & Tiago pilot educator? Check out the early feedback from educators and kids. We have a limited number of free educator bundles available for educators who ask.
A tribute to Doug Lebda
Doug Lebda, the late founder and CEO of LendingTree, believed every child should learn entrepreneurial skills. That’s why he sponsored Mia & Tiago—not because every child will start a business, but because every child needs grit, perseverance, and resilience.
That’s exactly what we teach.
Calling All Teachers
Thanks to a generous grant from the LendingTree Foundation, I have a limited number of FREE Educator Bundles available for teachers who ask.
The Brains Behind Mia & Tiago
Are you wondering about the academic research behind Mia & Tiago?
The series is based on the Principles of Effectuation, a framework taught at the Darden School of Business by Professor Saras Sarasvathy and thoughtfully adapted for elementary students.
Articles
When Communities Truly Invest in Schools, Everybody Wins
What Does Real Support for Public School Educators Look Like?
What the US can learn from Japan and Singapore
Creating Public Trust in K-12 Education: What we can learn from Finland
The Quiet Power of Education
Why Public Education Exists – and why it still matters.
The Power of a Fantastic Teacher
What if we trusted teachers again?
Empower the Future – Sponsor a Classroom Today!
Join us in making a lasting impact on young minds by sponsoring essential educational resources. We’ll match you with a school or program, and your support will provide crucial materials and tools to help kids thrive.
Educator Feedback
We aim to make the Mia & Tiago series a powerful and impactful resource for all educators. If you have experience teaching the Mia & Tiago series, we invite you to share your thoughts on its effectiveness and provide suggestions for improvement. Your feedback is crucial in helping us enhance the program. Thank you for your contribution!
Student Feedback
We aim to create a fun and engaging resource for budding entrepreneurs like you to build their very own startups. Please share your thoughts both before and after working with the Mia & Tiago program. We’ll use your feedback to improve the materials for everyone. Plus you’ll earn fun prizes for your group.