Today we’d like to introduce you to Gayatri & Rajesh Bollapragada.
Hi Gayatri & Rajesh, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi there! My name is Gayatri (pronounced as “Gah-yuh-three”). Gayatri is the Sanskrit name for the Hindu Deity of knowledge, education, and virtue. Friends and folks also know me as Gaya or “GG”. In 2014, my husband Rajesh and I, along with our 2 adorable boys found a lovely home and community in Frisco, TX. We have called this our “dear home” since then.
My husband and I have a background in IT and Computer Science. After 10 years of a hectic corporate career in the IT Industry, I was all burned up and decided to take a break to raise my children. I enjoyed some great moments with them at home. In 2017, I completed my teacher training program and certification in Frisco, TX. I taught as a substitute teacher in several schools in Frisco ISD and also worked as a Paraprofessional in a Resource classroom. I did several part-time gigs in the Education industry including grading STAAR test papers and writing online and instructional content as a freelance writer.
In 2020, when the pandemic hit, it was time for us to rethink our plans for the future. My husband, Rajesh is a strong proponent for financial independence and flexible income. So, we decided to take the plunge and started our first CoWorking Space in Mckinney, TX, in June 2020.
COLLAB 360 is all about helping small businesses and communities in the neighborhood. Our passion for education and technology led us to another great opportunity in 2021. This time, it was an EdTech Franchise called Techie Factory Frisco.
At Techie Factory Frisco, we provide niche after-school programs for kids 6-14 in STEM, Robotics, Coding , Esports, Digital Art, Animation and Digital Creation .
While my husband continues to support our dreams through his career in IT, I juggle my time between these 2 businesses, our kids and families, and their activities. And life has never been more rewarding and fulfilling!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying if I said the road was very smooth. Coming from middle-class families that sometimes struggled with financial security, my husband and I learned tough lessons early in life and understood how to prioritize and be prudent.
During the pandemic, our family went through the most difficult time. We lost several loved ones, including both my in-laws, my dad, and a few extended family members. So, the last couple of years of personal loss has been the most “heartbreaking” period of our lives. But we recognize that things could have been worse.
We are so very grateful for each other and for our kids, for the constant love and guidance we get from family and friends, and for all the little blessings in life.
We’ve been impressed with COLLAB 360 LLC & Techie Factory Frisco, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
With support from our business partners, Freddie Halstead and Sumeet Deshpande, we started a Techie Factory Franchise in Frisco in 2021. Techie Factory is a unique Tech & STEM education destination for kids, ages 6-14. Techie Factory specializes in 1. STEM 2. Robotics 3. Coding 4. Esports 5. Digital Art 6. Animation, and 7. Esports programs for young leaners in a safe online environment. Our goal at Techie Factory is to help build strong cognitive minds. We provide an immersive hands-on learning experience for curious young learners. To learn more, visit us at www.techiefactory.com.
Our other business, COLLAB 360 provides effective solutions for small or medium businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs. We offer beautifully furnished coworking spaces, private-office rentals, and remote-office services. We specialize in virtual office solutions, coworking memberships, office rentals, and other business solutions. Our business solutions include 1. Startup Help 2. Registered-Agent services 3. Branding Services and 4. Marketing services for your business. Our co-working space is a wonderful place to meet other businesses, and share ideas, create a network, and advertise your niche brand. Our goal is to help upcoming entrepreneurs in our community and our neighborhoods. To learn more, visit us at https://collab360coworking.com
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I vividly remember the walks I used to take to the beach with family and friends in my hometown of Chennai, located in Southern India. We lived in a humble little apartment just a few miles away from one of the longest beaches in Asia called the Marina/Elliot’s Beach. Every morning, I would wake up to the meditative sound of beautiful blue waves crashing onto the sandy beach. Sand and sun were always part of my childhood. So, even today a trip to a beach is my most favorite thing to do.
Pricing:
- Techie Factory Frisco – Summer Camps – $420/week of camp (Use EARY_BIRD coupon and get $40 off)
- Techie Factory Frisco – AfterSchool Coding, Robotics, STEM classes – 399$ for 10 classes (Use SIBLING_SPECIAL for a 10% sibling discount)
- COLLAB 360 – 49$/month for a Virtual Office Address
- COLLAB 360 – $399$/month for shared desks
- COLLAB 360 – $799$/month for private office rentals
Contact Info:
- Email: frisco@techiefactory.
com - Website: www.techiefactory.
com/frisco - Instagram: www.instagram.com/
techiefactory_frisco/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/TFFrisco - Twitter: https://twitter.com/
TF_Frisco - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/ UCPak97BqYGGo54jYVP2K-fg - Other: https://
collab360coworking.com
