Tile Farm Awarded $1 Million Grant from National Science Foundation

We are excited to announce that Tile Farm has been awarded a highly competitive Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant of $1,000,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This grant marks a significant achievement in our ongoing quest to revolutionize math education.

With previous funding from a Phase I NSF SBIR grant, we developed a novel math pedagogy that places a unique emphasis on the development of students’ creativity and problem solving skills in the context of at-home math learning.  The SBIR Phase II project is focused on creating an adaptation of Tile Farm’s suite of products for use in schools.

Louis Romero, co-founder of Tile Farm and principal investigator on the grant, shares his excitement: “This grant from the NSF is a validation of our vision and efforts over the last several years. Our goal has always been to make as big of an impact as possible, and the development and release of a product for in-school use will drastically increase our reach.  Ultimately we hope to inspire a generation of kids who find math beautiful, exciting, and useful.”

The enthusiasm for our approach extends beyond our team.  Aaron Jarmaillo, Head of Education Technology at Albuquerque Public Schools, expressed excitement about incorporating Tile Farm into the district’s curriculum. “It’s exciting knowing that Tile Farm will be available for our students in the near future.  It’s exactly what we need to inspire and engage our students in mathematics,” says Jarmaillo.

Christy Snell, an Educational Technology Labs and Spaces Specialist for Albuquerque Public Schools is currently working on a pilot project where Tile Farm will be integrated into 88 elementary schools in the district. “We are excited for the opportunity to integrate Tile Farm into our elementary schools. It not only supports our mission to enhance math education but also aligns with our commitment to fostering creativity and problem-solving skills among our students. It’s a step forward in transforming how we teach math,” says Snell.

Tile Farm’s curriculum is science-based, and focuses on deepening students’ understanding of math, while also giving students opportunities to creatively apply their math knowledge in the context of art, engineering, and design.  

Tile Farm’s products are a perfect supplement to any curriculum, especially for parents, teachers, or administrators looking to give their children a more joyous, creative, and problem-solving oriented math learning experience.

Teachers or administrators interested in piloting Tile Farm in their school or district are encouraged to contact our team.