Martin Brown, the director of Mathnasium, lets Hamilton Ta, 7, help him with his Uno hand at the center on Friday. Mathnasium is a tutoring center that helps mostly middle school children with math.Map
1919 Gunbarrel Road
• Name: Mathnasium
• Location: 1919 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 153
• Contact information: 423-899-2011
• Products/services: One-on-one math and science instruction and homework help up to the high school level
• Age: One month
• Startup investment: Between $70,000 and $80,000
• Target market: About a third of Mathnasium's business comes from teaching high school students, but middle school students make up the majority of clients. "That's where the need is the most," said Martin Brown, center director. "A lot of parents recognize the need to get in before the foundational gaps set in."
• Biggest hurdle: Getting the building built. Brown said there were a number of stumbling blocks as they tried to get the business open, delaying a grand opening by more than two months.
• Biggest reward: Getting to know the community. Brown has toured most every school in the area to meet teachers, learn how the schools operate, and how best to relate with area students.
• Lesson learned: Keep fluid expectations. Brown said the problems with the building forced him to constantly revise how he expected the start of the business to go. He's also dealt with more success than he expected. By the third month a Mathnasium has been open, its considered successful if it has 12 students. Brown's location has 20, and he's expecting to add more this week.
• Five-year goal: Be an established part of the Chattanooga education community and expand to other parts of Tennessee. Brown said plans are already in the works to get a Mathnasium in Johnson City and Maryville, Tenn.