January 31, 2024

Black 11-Year-Old Launches New STEM Toy Line In Whole Foods Market Stores

Team Genius Squad, a toy brand created by 11-year-old entrepreneur and author Ava N. Simmons, has launched its new STEM toy line in Whole Foods Market stores.

Team Genius Squad

Simmons, also known as the STEM Princess, created Team Genius Squad to promote STEM awareness and encourage individuals to believe in themselves, identify their uniqueness, and pursue their goals.

Last year, in 2023, the team decided to start in-person events and designed a STEM Mobile Lab to travel across the country.

They then launched their own STEM toys, with 15 currently on the market, and partnered with retailers across the US and Canada to launch their line.

Their first in-store launch occurred at Marbles PlayStore in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

The company designs STEM-inspired products such as experiment lab kits, jewelry, lip Gloss, puzzles, and apparel while developing fun educational videos for all ages.

STEM Toys In Whole Foods Market

Team Genius Squad is launching its Alternative Energy Experiment Kit series in Whole Foods Market stores.

Through this collaboration, the brand hopes to reach and impact more families nationwide, inspiring children to explore the fun of STEM while emphasizing its positive impact on math, literacy, and critical thinking.

“To be able to visit one of my favorite retail stores and see STEM toys I developed on the shelf is a dream come true,” said Simmons, according to Black Enterprise.

“We are so excited to work with Whole Foods Market and make our STEM toys accessible to more families across the country.”

The Team Genius Squad STEM Toys are perfect for all learning styles as they demonstrate STEMS simplicity yet significant impact.

The Alternative Energy series quickly shows how easy it is to make electricity from sustainable resources such as fruits, wind, or the sun.

“Whole Foods Market is thrilled to join forces with Ava and Team Genius Squad, bringing their innovative STEM toy line to our stores,” said Casey Gaston, Executive Leader of Local and Emerging Brands for Whole Foods Market.

“We share Ava’s commitment to offering enriching products that inspire learning, curiosity, and exploration.”

Sara Keenan

Tech Reporter at POCIT. Following her master's degree in journalism, Sara cultivated a deep passion for writing and driving positive change for Black and Brown individuals across all areas of life. This passion expanded to include the experiences of Black and Brown people in tech thanks to her internship experience as an editorial assistant at a tech startup.