SparkFun Electronics

A creative launch pad for tech-infused hobbyists, SparkFun Electronics is a Colorado online retailer and education center for consumer electronic components that keeps increasing its impact. Nathan Seidle started the company in 2003 with a mission to encourage innovation by making electronic components, tools and kits readily available online.

With the increased space, [they] have also been able to ramp up beginner offerings, including a number of new kits that are tailor made for anyone interested in tinkering with electronics.

A loan from Chase helped SparkFun Electronics to automate their manufacturing process and stay ahead of the competition by bringing products to market faster.

Invigorated by their growth and success, SparkFun Electronics created their own education department to provide classes and online tutorials to increase technological literacy–many of which are free to the community. Since its inception, the SparkFun department of education has trained over 2,000 educators¹, including:

• Working with companies and organizations to provide educators with professional development around introducing maker tools sets to improve student engagement and digital literacy.

• Piloting a high school and university level curriculum that provides students with an opportunity to explore engineering design through project-based learning.

• Training K-12 educators as well as college/university professors for formal education, and library and museum staff for informal education.

• Looking forward, SparkFun Electronics is dedicated to continue developing open source curriculum for educators.

By bringing together the concepts of fun and community, SparkFun Electronics’ work helps to enhance learning and innovation.

By Russ Banham

Russ Banham lives in Seattle, where he writes for The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and The Atlantic.

For more information, visit: www.sparkfun.com