Meet Mathnasium Franchise Owners, Kobad and Nancy Bugwadia
Students who have attended Kobad and Nancy Bugwadia’s Bay Area Mathnasium Learning Centers report improved self-confidence, better grades, and acceptance to top-tier universities. “The Mathnasium experience embraces the idea that math ability, like any other, can be developed with patience, support, and the right approach,” Kobad said. “Every student has the potential to do well in math if given the right tools and teaching. As multi-unit Mathnasium franchise owners, we can impact the lives of thousands of children and help them succeed in mathematics. That’s very rewarding.”
Analiza, the mother of a first-grader, said, “Mathnasium helped my son overcome his math anxiety. Lorenzo’s prior experience with math included avoidance and frustration. With Mathnasium’s help, Lorenzo participates in class and always completes his homework assignments!”
Matt, a private high school teacher, has sent his children to Mathnasium Learning Centers for over six years. “The center continues to provide steady and effective math instruction, fills gaps in learning, and accelerates learning. Their personalized learning plans are based on ongoing assessments, so I know my kids are learning at their pace, based on concept mastery,” Matt said. “The Mathnasium instructors also take time to help with concepts my kids might struggle with in the classroom.”
These examples represent the kind of feedback Kobad and Nancy continually receive since opening their first Mathnasium Learning Center 15 years ago. Today, the couple owns and operates three Mathnasium franchise locations, where they’ve helped thousands of students in grades pre-K through 12 improve their math skills.
From Industry Leaders to Leading Franchise Owners
Kobad, who has a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering, worked in leadership roles as a software engineer and platform architect at Intel and other startup companies before he invested in their first Mathnasium center. While working full-time and earning his Ph.D., he served as an adjunct faculty member at Santa Clara University and other community colleges, where he discovered his passion for teaching. Looking to build his own business after spending years in corporate roles, Kobad said he was immediately attracted to Mathnasium’s business model and methodology.
“All of the Mathnasium principles spoke well to my way of teaching and understanding how we can best customize and individualize programs to provide the best instruction for our students,” he said.
The Bugwadias opened their Campbell-Los Gatos center in 2009. Three years later, they opened a center in Mountain View-Los Altos, and earlier this year, they launched a center in Willow Glen-San Jose. Nancy, a former dietitian with experience teaching undergraduate interns, joined the family business full-time in 2022. Each year, the couple has experienced 20% year-over-year growth. They attribute their success to their staff and strong partnerships with families and the community.
“There weren’t many Mathnasium franchise locations in 2009, so we spent thousands of dollars in advertising to get the word out there,” Nancy said. “But once you start building trust with families, you hit the right mark.”
Opportunities Abound for Mathnasium Students and Instructors
Strong Relationships Equal Better Outcomes for All
Across their centers, the Bugwadias employ 9 full-time staff and 75 part-time instructors, ranging from high school and college students to retired teachers and industry leaders. Many former students have become instructors, and a few have even stepped into management positions, Kobad said. Mathnasium instructors, who work either one-on-one or with small groups of students, gain valuable teaching experience and get to share their passion for math, which can sometimes change their academic or professional goals.
“When a former student comes back and says they want to teach, that’s the biggest compliment we can receive,” Kobad said. “It’s a testament to the supportive environment we foster and the positive relationships we build.”
Rohan, a former Mathnasium instructor who was recently accepted into Cornell University’s undergraduate computer science program, said Mathnasium was instrumental to his academic success.
“I have no doubt that your letter of recommendation, and your guidance during my time at Mathnasium played an integral role in my acceptance,” he told Kobad.
Daniel, another instructor, wrote, “It’s because of Mathnasium that I enjoy math so much and I am where I am. I can’t be more thankful for what you and everyone at Mathnasium has done for me.”
Over the past decade, 10 instructors have decided to pursue teaching careers after their experiences at Mathnasium, Kobad said.
Community Engagement Fuels Success
Building a Better Future Through Mathematics
The Bugwadias are top performers among Mathnasium‘s franchise network and were named Franchisees of the Year by the International Franchise Association in 2023. Nominated by the Mathnasium corporate office, Kobad and Nancy were recognized by the IFA for their involvement in their communities, entrepreneurial spirit, workforce culture, and willingness to assist fellow franchise owners. The IFA serves as the primary trade association for the franchise sector, advocating for best practices, standards, and policies that promote ethical and sustainable franchise operations. Closer to home, the Campbell Chamber of Commerce five years ago named the couple’s Campbell-Los Gatos center “Business of the Year,” marking the first time an education franchise had ever been awarded that honor, Kobad said.
Kobad said franchise owners must get to know and support the people in their communities. This fall, the Mathnasium Willow Glen location set up math-themed activities for families, transforming math problems into a community challenge that brought families together.
“We saw parents eagerly working with their kids to solve the problems on the windows,” Kobad said. “Events like these help families view math as a positive, accessible part of everyday life.”
Kobad and Nancy remain deeply motivated to serve students and their families.
“What keeps us going are the testimonials and the validation that what we’re doing matters,” Nancy said. “It’s hard work, but it’s fulfilling to know that we’re making a difference every day.”
The Bugwadias continue to expand their reach, building partnerships with local schools. These partnerships include hosting family math nights and other special events, demonstrating Mathnasium’s potential for collaboration and community impact. “Anyone considering investing in a Mathnasium center should be 100% committed to their business and truly enjoy working with educators and families in their communities,” Kobad said.
“This isn’t a business of selling a product; it’s about building trust and making a real impact,” he said.
Mathnasium can help students who just don’t test well or who need to catch up, thanks to personalized assessments and instruction. Gabriela, the parent of a Mathnasium Campbell-Los Gatos center student, said she appreciated the incentives the center provided her son, which kept him motivated and engaged.
“(Mathnasium) has made low math grades a thing of the past. My child’s teachers would—at best—tell me when there was a problem, but never that his roller-coaster test grades were being caused by uneven learning/teaching in earlier years,” she said. “Mathnasium does a complete evaluation/analysis and teaches your child(ren) everything (with a literal checklist of topics) they need to be succeeding in math at their grade level.”
As their centers continue to grow, Kobad and Nancy endeavor to make math accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for all children. Through personalized education, community involvement, and a deep commitment to student success, Mathnasium centers prove that math doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety — it can instead be a source of confidence and opportunity. And that, perhaps, is Mathnasium’s most valuable lesson of all.
About the Mathnasium Franchise Opportunity
Founded in 2002, Mathnasium gives students the individualized curricula and instruction they need to master math. Families pay monthly membership fees, and instructors create custom learning paths that meet each student’s learning style using Mathnasium’s proprietary curriculum. According to the Mathnasium corporate office, 88% of students who regularly attended the math program for at least six months saw improvement in their grades at school. There are more than 1,100 Mathnasium Learning Centers in the United States and more than 100 abroad.
Not only is owning a Mathnasium personally rewarding, but investing in a learning center could make good financial sense for entrepreneurs who prefer to follow a proven business model. According to Mathnasium, the average gross receipts for all Mathnasium centers open 12 months or longer was $344,816 for the calendar year of 2023.
While you don’t need an advanced degree in mathematics, engineering, or business to operate a Mathnasium successfully, center owners should be passionate about serving children and families and engaging with their communities.
- In exchange for their franchise fees, franchise owners enjoy protected territories and get access to Mathnasium’s proprietary assessments, curriculum, and methodology.
- Franchisees also benefit from Mathnasium’s online and onsite training, including a final three-day in-person training in Los Angeles, where they apply what they’ve learned in previous training.
- Each learning center owner has a dedicated field support specialist to help launch their business. Once the business is up and running, a franchise business consultant serves as a private business coach, checking in and helping guide owners as their learning centers grow.
Mathnasium Learning Center owners must meet financial requirements, including a minimum net cash of $112,000 and a net worth of $149,110.
Here are some additional investment requirements:
- Initial Franchise Fee: $49,000 (Teachers receive 25% off the initial franchise fee.)
- Total Startup Investment: $112,936 to $149,616
- Royalty: 10% of gross monthly receipts
- Monthly marketing fees: 2% of gross receipts plus $250/month
Not only are Mathnasium owners making money, but they’re also having fun doing it. According to a recent Franchise Business Review survey, owners continue to give their corporate leadership high marks.
- 91% agreed they enjoyed operating their business
- 90% agreed they were supportive of the Mathnasium brand
- 89% agreed they enjoyed being a part of the organization
In 2024, Mathnasium was also recognized on Franchise Business Review’s Top Education Franchises, Rock Star Franchise Owners, Top 200, and Recession-Proof Franchises lists.
For more information about franchising with Mathnasium, call 888-763-2604 or visit http://mathnasiumfranchise.com.
