Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Quintanilla.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to founding Kids Chem Cook began during one of the most challenging periods of my career—the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more than a decade, I served in leadership roles at a private parochial school where my two daughters attended. My responsibilities included Admissions, Marketing, and Advancement. In 2020, our school was unable to find a middle school science teacher, and I stepped in temporarily to fill the role in addition to my existing duties.
At the time, I often heard from my own daughters and other students that science was their least favorite subject. They described it as boring and repetitive, filled with coloring, cutting, and pasting rather than discovery and excitement. I knew science could be so much more.
I set out to make my classes engaging, hands-on, and memorable. However, because of pandemic restrictions, students were not allowed to touch shared materials or participate directly in experiments. Instead, I performed every experiment while the students watched from their desks.
What surprised me was their enthusiasm. Whenever I asked for a volunteer, nearly every hand in the classroom shot into the air. Students would eagerly ask me each day what experiment we were doing and whether they could help. Watching their excitement and curiosity grow was incredibly rewarding.
Although that season of my life was stressful, it also gave me my “aha” moment. I realized that I wanted to dedicate my career to inspiring children through science in a way that was fun, interactive, and meaningful. As someone with a background in Biology and Chemistry, I wanted to combine my education with my passion for working with children.
That vision became Kids Chem Cook—a business built around my three greatest passions: children, science, and cooking. Today, four years later, I am proud of the unique experiences we provide, helping children discover that science is not only educational but also exciting, creative, and delicious.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape our business into what it is today.
Before launching Kids Chem Cook, my spouse encouraged me to invest in business education. My background is in Biology and Chemistry, not entrepreneurship, so I took business courses and sought guidance from mentors to build a strong foundation. That advice proved invaluable.
One of our biggest challenges in the early years was getting noticed. With a limited marketing budget, I spent countless hours attending networking events, introducing myself to educators and community leaders, and building relationships one connection at a time. There were many moments when growth felt slow, and it was difficult to see immediate results from all the effort being invested.
Financially, the first few years required careful planning and perseverance. We often operated on very tight margins, working hard to meet our monthly obligations while remaining profitable. After our second year, we began generating a modest profit, which gave us confidence that our business model was working.
Another significant challenge was finding funding opportunities. As a for-profit STEM education business, many grants and funding programs were not designed for organizations like ours. Securing resources required persistence, creativity, and a willingness to seek out every available opportunity for growth.
Today, as we celebrate our fourth year in business, we are finally seeing the impact of those years of hard work. Through educational partnerships, community support, and strong professional connections, Kids Chem Cook has become increasingly recognized throughout our community. In fact, 2026 has been our most financially successful year to date.
Looking back, I am proud that we not only survived the uncertainties of the pandemic era but also built a sustainable business that continues to grow. The journey has not been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding, and each obstacle has strengthened both our company and my resolve as an entrepreneur.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Kids Chem Cook was created with a simple but powerful mission: to inspire children to explore STEM while building confidence and lifelong skills in the kitchen.
We provide hands-on science and cooking experiences for children ages 2–12 through camps, after-school programs, preschool enrichment classes, school partnerships, birthday parties, community events, and special programs. Our unique approach combines exciting science experiments with delicious culinary creations, allowing children to see, touch, taste, and experience STEM concepts in a fun and memorable way.
What truly sets Kids Chem Cook apart is our business model. While many programs focus solely on science or solely on cooking, we intentionally blend both disciplines to create an immersive learning experience. Children don’t just learn scientific concepts—they experience them firsthand through the foods they create and enjoy. This approach makes learning engaging, accessible, and meaningful for children of all ages.
Brand-wise, I am especially proud of the consistency and recognition we have built over the past four years. From our logo and curriculum to our community partnerships and educational experiences, we have worked hard to create a brand that families, schools, and organizations trust. It is incredibly rewarding to see children return to our programs year after year and to watch schools and community organizations continue to seek out our services.
As our company grows, we are also expanding our impact beyond the classroom. I recently authored our first STEM activity book for children and families, which encourages readers to learn, experiment, cook, and explore together at home. The book is available through Amazon, and I am currently working on the second installment in what I hope will become a series that brings the Kids Chem Cook experience into homes across the country.
Above all, I want readers to know that Kids Chem Cook is about more than science experiments and recipes. We are helping children develop curiosity, creativity, critical-thinking skills, and confidence while showing them that learning can be exciting, hands-on, and fun. If we can inspire even one child to see themselves as a future scientist, engineer, healthcare professional, chef, or innovator, then we have accomplished our mission.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about the Austin area is its strong sense of community and the incredible variety of opportunities it offers families. From its vibrant culture and educational resources to its parks, events, and local businesses, there is always something new to explore and enjoy. As a small business owner, I especially appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit of the community and the support for innovation, education, and family-focused programs.
If I had to choose one thing I like least, it would be the increasing traffic and rising cost of living. As the area continues to grow, navigating the city can be challenging, and the higher expenses can create obstacles for families and small businesses alike. However, despite those challenges, Austin remains a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family, and I am grateful to be part of such a dynamic and thriving community.
Pricing:
- Pricing for a single day of camp: $90
- Pricing for half-day of camp: $55
- Pricing for a full week, full day of camp: $425
- Pricing for a half-day, full week: $250
- Price of our book: $11.99 (Amazon)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kidschemcook.com/
- Instagram: @kidschemcook
- Facebook: Kids Chem Cook
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-quintanilla-1495012b7/
- Youtube: @MichelleQuintanilla-t6t
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kids-chem-cook-buda
