CASE STUDY: THIMBLE
Thimble emboldens the next generation of engineers. As a grade 5-12 standards-aligned and hands-on curriculum, Thimble teaches students science, engineering, and coding through hands-on kits and online lessons. Project-based materials and lessons inspire students and prepare them for 21st-century careers in the STEM fields, the most popular and fastest growing industries.
THE CHALLENGE:
Founded in 2015, Thimble was an exciting addition to the world of resources for STEM education. Based in Buffalo, NY, with customers in 50 states and 20 countries, Thimble began as a monthly electronics subscription kit for individual consumers. When Thimble expanded into the K-12 market with their hands-on, project based curricula, they sought procurement and curriculum support from RYE in order to expand and their impact in schools across the U.S.
“We’ve been working with RYE for two years and their team has helped become vendors to school districts across the US. Procurement in education is a tough beast and there’s no way we could have achieved that accomplishment without their assistance. RYE knows what they’re doing and I can’t imagine working with any other team.”
RYE’S IMPACT:
RYE sourced weekly procurement opportunities around the country, reviewing and submitting opportunities to Thimble for their consideration. When a matching procurement opportunity was found, RYE partnered with Thimble's internal sales team to create compelling proposals that emphasize the merit of their product. Additionally, RYE completed curriculum alignments, market strategy research and funding alignments to help support Thimble’s procurement goals. Specifically, this included pricing research, email outreach campaigns, and federal funding language to highlight how districts can use federal funding dollars to access Thimble’s offering, and how it aligns to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the ESSA Emergency Relief funds.