Latest news with #CrunchLabs
Forbes
4 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Mark Rober's Bold Plan To Reach One Billion Young Minds
Mark Rober When Mark Rober built a glitter bomb for porch pirates he sparked a global movement around science storytelling that is now on track to transform STEM education for the next generation. His latest ambition? To reach one billion brains. 'My North Star is to reach as many brains as possible with the message that science doesn't have to be boring or hard to understand,' says Rober. 'I want to spark a love of science and engineering in the next generation of big problem solvers. That's my why, and my how is CrunchLabs.' What started as a wildly successful YouTube channel, now with 69 million subscribers and over 1 billion monthly views, has become a multi-pronged educational brand that spans subscription boxes, YouTube storytelling, a forthcoming national curriculum and soon, retail toy aisles across America. 'We're growing from YouTube and subscription products to become the leading brand in STEM worldwide to ignite curiosity and resilience in millions more people,' says Rober. At the heart of this operation is CrunchLabs, the company he co-founded with Jim Lee, a former Google executive who serves as President and COO. Jim Lee CrunchLabs launched in June 2022 with a single video: a tour of Rober's secret lab. Within days, they sold out of their first product line, a monthly subscription box called Build Box. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, reaching over 200,000 subscribers across the world. But for Rober and Lee, subscriptions are just the starting point. 'The future holds more in terms of education,' Lee explains. 'Mark actually wanted to become a teacher. He realized that with this platform, we could change science education in a much more meaningful way.' That vision is now crystallizing into Class CrunchLabs, a comprehensive, freely available, next-generation science curriculum for middle schools. Developed by the same team behind Rober's videos and products, it combines high-production-value storytelling with hands-on experiments aligned to national standards. 'We've actually created a pilot episode of a science class,' says Lee. 'We're observing classrooms, gathering feedback, and really trying to make this the best curriculum ever made. Our goal is to make science feel as engaging as a Mark Rober video, and that's never been done before.' CrunchLabs' second major initiative is a multi-channel expansion strategy, combining streaming, retail and licensing deals to diversify revenue while amplifying impact. In May, the company inked a deal with Moose Toys, one of the world's top toy makers, to bring CrunchLabs toys to shelves in 2026. 'A year ago, we had the idea to take over the STEM toy aisle in Target and Walmart,' says Lee. 'Since then I hired a 30-year retail toy veteran, Rachele Harmuth, to be our Head of Commercialization and Product. We paired her with our mechanical engineers and partnered with the world's best toy company for the creator economy: Moose Toys.' Just a month later, CrunchLabs announced the hire of Scott Lewers, a former Discovery Channel executive and Emmy Award-winner, as the company's first Chief Content Officer. 'Scott will lead the creation of original, high-impact science storytelling across screens and into classrooms worldwide,' says Lee. 'This is a huge leap forward in our mission to reach as many brains as possible.' A defining principle of CrunchLabs is that education should never feel like a lecture. Instead of balancing fun and learning, they lead with fun, trusting that curiosity will naturally follow. 'We don't balance it, it's all entertainment,' says Lee. 'The whole goal is to spark that initial interest. You click on a video about a 15-ton Jell-O pool and before you know it, you're learning physics. That's the magic.' Each product takes roughly a year to develop, meticulously crafted by a team of engineers, storytellers and, of course, Rober himself. Every build is tested by kids and adults, certified for safety and paired with a cinematic video that delivers scientific concepts through narrative and surprise. 'We measure success not in dollars or subscribers, but in whether we're meaningfully changing kids' interest in STEM,' says Lee. 'And we survey that. Today, nearly every parent says yes, there's a noticeable, material change in their child's interest because of CrunchLabs.' What sets CrunchLabs apart in an era of venture-backed hypergrowth is its bootstrapped, profitable model. Despite the massive scale of its content the company has avoided outside capital in favor of sustainability. 'We've resisted the VC-backed 'growth at all costs' approach,' says Lee. 'We're building something enduring.' That long-term thinking even shapes their internal culture. Every few months, CrunchLabs hosts a 'No Real Work Day,' where the team builds bikes for kids, shares lunch and then plays with their own inventions from Nerf cannons to foam pits. 'People think we're just playing with squirrels in Mark's backyard,' Lee laughs. 'The reality is, it's a highly skilled team doing serious work to change science education forever.' Mark Rober's mission to reach one billion brains is a real, measurable target driving every decision. And with a unique fusion of creator authenticity, educational impact, and product excellence, CrunchLabs is positioning itself as a new model for science education at scale. In a time when traditional science classrooms face underfunding and outdated materials, Rober and his team are building a compelling, scalable alternative - one that just might inspire the next generation of engineers, inventors and problem solvers. And perhaps most importantly, they're making science feel like magic again. This article is based on an interview with Jim Lee from my podcast, The Business of Creators.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Lionsgate & Discovery Exec Scott Lewers Joins Mark Rober's CrunchLabs As Chief Content Officer
EXCLUSIVE: Mark Rober, the former NASA engineer turned YouTube creator, launched science and engineering media company CrunchLabs in 2022 and has now just hired its first ever Chief Content Officer. Scott Lewers, who was most recently EVP of Content & Digital Strategy at Lionsgate Alternative, has been named to the role. More from Deadline 'We Were Liars' Stars Joseph Zada and Esther McGregor Talk Bringing E. Lockhart's Characters To Life To Be "Authors Of Their Own Story" Russell Crowe, Rami Malek & Michael Shannon Movie 'Nuremberg' Acquired By Sony Pictures Classics New Regency Partners With Shamrock Capital, Investment Firm Acquires Participation In Studio's Film & TV Library Lewers and Rober, who has over 68M YouTube subscribers, go way back, having previously worked together on Discovery series Revengineers, exec produced by Jimmy Kimmel, when Lewers was at the factual cable group. Lewers exec produced series including Hasbro's Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble for The CW during his time at Lionsgate Alternative. Prior to that, he was at Warner Bros. Discovery, where he oversaw franchise series expansions and tentpole programming at the Discovery channels and Turner networks with series such as Space Launch Live and Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda. In 2020, he was promoted to run the Science Channel following the exit of Marc Etkind. He also spearheaded the expansion of Discovery & Science Channel's presence on TikTok, making the brands among the firsts to launch on TikTok's STEM tab, which ties in nicely with his new role given CrunchLabs STEM focus. In his new role, Lewers will help expand CrunchLabs' portfolio of original content, foster collaborations with STEM creators and global talent, and lead the development of educational content and curriculum that can be translated and localized for global classrooms. He will oversee its studio division. 'What I love about Scott is that he gets it—I've worked on big projects with him before and he knows how to tell real stories that make science feel exciting,' said Rober. 'With Scott leading our studio teams, we're building something awesome that spans YouTube, education, and now film & television to reach as many brains as possible.' 'Long before collaborating with Mark on Discovery's Shark Week more than five years ago, I was a fan of his smart, engaging content. I'm thrilled to join Mark, Jim, and the incredible CrunchLabs team to help build on the impressive foundation they've laid', added Lewers. 'Our shared vision and deep passion for accelerating the impact we can have on the future of STEM is what makes this an especially exciting opportunity for me.' 'CrunchLabs is at a pivotal moment,' added Jim Lee, President of CrunchLabs and the Mark Rober YouTube Channel. 'We're growing from YouTube and subscription products to become the leading brand in STEM worldwide. With Scott's leadership, we'll expand our original content production, launch a comprehensive science curriculum for schools, and ignite curiosity and resilience in millions more people.' Best of Deadline 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter
News18
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
A YouTuber Is Taking Humans To Space For Free. You Can Keep The Astronaut Suit At Home
Last Updated: Mark Rober, a NASA engineer turned YouTube launched a selfie satellite 'SAT GUS' to space for humans to capture a selfie with Earth in the background. Who Is In Space? A website devised just for space nerds gives us real-time updates of the humans currently living far away from our pale, blue dot. And if you are curious, there are 13 humans in the space at the time of writing this article. Here comes the fun part: You can be the next human up there. Assuming (politely) that you do not have a bunch of spare crores lying around to book a seat on one of those ridiculous commercial space joyrides that billionaires routinely take, a NASA engineer turned YouTuber is here to save you money and the effort. 'I Spent $5,000,000 So You Can Go To Space For FREE," Mark Rober titled his most recent YouTube video. There must be some catch, right? Mark Rober YouTube's very own science educator and inventor Mark Rober is no ordinary online content creator. Rober has spent nine years at NASA, seven of which were spent on working on the Curiosity rover at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The 45-year-old has also worked at the tech giant Apple. Here, he was employed as a product designer in company's Special Projects Group and worked on virtual reality projects. The enginerd 's resume is as impressive as they come but now he's found fighting seed-stealing squirrels and glittery porch pirates in a corner of the Internet. Rober's newest project, however, has cost him over Rs 42 crore and it could perhaps be his most ambitious project on YouTube yet. Crunch Labs Created by Rober, Crunch Labs is a toy company for kids who 'think like an engineer". The Build Boxes work the same way as assembling a Lego does, except, Rober teaches a science lesson with every new box sent out while the kids get busy building their new toy. (Crunch Labs) Rober's recent Space Selfie project comes under his toy company and pet project Crunch Labs. Space Selfie The science educator, along with his dedicated team, launched a satellite in January this year to help humans take a Space Selfie. Made up of 7836 parts, the satellite nicknamed 'SAT GUS" left the planet aboard Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9. He, in his video, revealed he and his team spent three years on this project. 'I slept as poorly last night as I have in over a year," Rober said on the day of the launch of satellite named after the channel's beloved squirrel 'Phat Gus". 'I am very nervous. There's just a lot at stake here. There's just so many things that could go wrong, not just today, but as the satellite goes up that… it's like that nervous excitement pit in your stomach that makes you want to jump for joy and puke in the toilet." How To Apply? Carrying a Google Pixel screen, the YouTuber's satellite is decked with a Redwire Argus camera. All you have to do is submit your selfie to the website The team will then transfer your selfie wirelessly to the SAT GUS satellite. The onboard camera will snap a photo of the Earth while displaying your selfie on the mounted screen in the foreground. 'I made a secret promise. If we somehow pull this off, I will make use of the selfie satellite free forever to anyone on the planet." Those who have seen Mark Rober accumulate nearly 70 million subscribers on the platform were left in complete awe when the video dropped on May 24. 'Mark Rober just redefined what YouTube should be in 2025: turning childhood dreams into reality, sending selfies to space, and proving that with science, passion, and $5 million, even a squirrel can make history. Thank you for the inspiration, the tears, and the reminder that 'impossible' is just another challenge to solve," a YouTube commenter wrote. 'Mark is actually such a talented engineer despite retiring from NASA, respect to him, he also influenced me a lot into becoming a Mechanical Engineer," another wrote. 'My selfie's gonna be out of this world," a third added. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : mark rober YouTube Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 30, 2025, 12:29 IST News explainers A YouTuber Is Taking Humans To Space For Free. You Can Keep The Astronaut Suit At Home
Business Upturn
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Techburner Explores CrunchLabs Tech with Mark Rober
When the worlds of innovative education and gadget wizardry collide, magic happens—and that's exactly what unfolded when Indian tech creator Techburner (Shlok Srivastava) stepped into the colorful, curiosity-fueled universe of CrunchLabs, led by none other than American YouTube engineer and ex-NASA scientist Mark Rober. The meeting wasn't just a content crossover; it was a deep dive into what it means to inspire, build, and learn through hands-on exploration. Mark Rober, globally famous for his viral science experiments—glitter bombs for porch pirates, squirrel obstacle courses, and Guinness World Record-worthy inventions—has evolved into a mission-driven educator. His brainchild, CrunchLabs, is more than a creative studio. It's a subscription-based learning ecosystem that delivers buildable STEM projects right to kids' doors—designed to turn curiosity into capability. For the first time, CrunchLabs' playful engineering spirit met the vibrant energy of Indian tech storytelling, as Techburner visited the lab during Rober's India trip for the Waves Summit 2025. But this wasn't just about touring a lab—it was a chance to explore how engineering, creativity, and content can merge across cultures. From the get-go, this was not a passive walkthrough. With his trademark energy, Techburner explored the builds—like the domino launcher, safecracker kit, and inertia cart—but Rober had something more ambitious in mind. He invited Techburner to modify and remix these projects using parts from both CrunchLabs kits and Techburner's own gadget collection. The highlight? A collaborative build of a motion-sensing delivery drone, blending CrunchLabs' hands-on philosophy with Techburner's sleek, tech-forward mindset. It buzzed. It hovered. It dropped snacks. And yes—it crashed into a studio light. But it was thrilling, joyful, and deeply educational. Throughout the process, what resonated was a shared belief: engineering belongs to everyone. It's not confined to labs or classrooms; it thrives in living rooms, on smartphones, and in the minds of curious young creators everywhere. This message couldn't have been more timely, especially as Rober announced a nationwide Jugaad Contest in India—a challenge that calls on everyday inventors, young and old, to bring their wildest ideas to life using household materials. Enter the Jugaad Contest 2025 Mark Rober is inviting India's most creative minds to show off their Jugaad spirit! He's giving away ₹5 lakh each to 10 lucky inventors. Whether you're 8 or 80, this is your moment. How to Enter: Post a video of your best 'Jugaad' invention using everyday items on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or X . . Include #MarkRoberJugaad in the post. in the post. Go to submit your entry with the link to your post . . Entries without a submission link will notbe accepted! Contest runs from April 30 to September 15, 2025 . . Official Rules: CrunchLabs Contest Page 'Tech is the new universal language,' Techburner said as they wrapped. 'And if CrunchLabs is like a playground for inventors, then today, we just played the most fun game ever.' About Mark Rober With over 68 million YouTube subscribers and more than 11 billion views, Mark Rober is one of the most influential science creators of our time. He's known for everything from building the world's largest Nerf gun to launching the #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas movements with MrBeast, which raised tens of millions for global environmental causes. In 2022, he launched CrunchLabs, a Willy Wonka-style engineering playground in the Bay Area. CrunchLabs offers monthly subscriptions for kids and teens, delivering mechanical builds like the 'Build Box' and robotics kits like 'Hack Pack.' The platform now has hundreds of thousands of subscribers, with some lucky fans even winning a chance to visit Rober's secret lab. This collaboration with Techburner marked a step toward globalizing STEM education, with Rober even hinting that CrunchLabs may soon tailor kits for India, potentially with collaborators like Techburner helping bridge cultural and educational nuances. Whether it's through drone crashes, glitter bombs, or late-night builds, one thing is clear: Mark Rober and Techburner are making learning fun again—and proving that when you mix passion with play, education becomes unforgettable. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with a PR agency. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
