Eric Gradman, left, and Brent Bushnell founded Two Bit Circus to bring science subjects to life
Entertainment engineering collective Two Bit Circus has been causing a real buzz in the US with its STEAM Carnival. And now that success has been recognised by a trio of venture capital firms, who are putting up $6.5m (€5.9m, £4.3m) in investment for the high-tech circus to expand and develop the concept.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing our crazy circus to a broader audience,” says Brent Bushnell, CEO of Two Bit Circus.
The Los Angeles, California-based company was founded in 2012 by Bushnell and Eric Gradman, who wanted to create a positive narrative around the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects to “convert non-STEM kids into STEM kids”. The investment is coming from Techstars Ventures and Foundry Group, with additional funding from Intel Capital.
The funding will mainly be used to grow STEAM Carnival – a touring pop-up-style event that gets kids to engage with STEM topics plus art topics in a project-based, hands-on way – into a national brand.
The first STEAM Carnival took place in an LA warehouse in October 2014, and has gone from strength to strength. The next STEAM Carnival was planned for Pier 48 in San Francisco from 6 to 8 November.
“If LA was our prototype, San Francisco represents version 1.0 of the event,” Bushnell says. “We’ve had hundreds of requests for the event from all over the world, so the response has been awesome, with guests staying an average of five hours in LA. We’re excited to take it across the country and then scale it internationally.”
“With the investment we’re focusing on three core areas,” he says. “First, we’re scaling the carnival up across the US and building out the ecosystem around it, such as the YouTube channel. Second, we’re building on our work in 360-degree video capture for VR, and we’ll be creating original VR content. And third, we’re completing our other out-of-home game platforms – stay tuned for more!”
Two Bit Circus is also working on home solutions and a series of interactive solutions for other out-of-home venues.
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Eric Gradman, left, and Brent Bushnell founded Two Bit Circus to bring science subjects to life
Entertainment engineering collective Two Bit Circus has been causing a real buzz in the US with its STEAM Carnival. And now that success has been recognised by a trio of venture capital firms, who are putting up $6.5m (€5.9m, £4.3m) in investment for the high-tech circus to expand and develop the concept.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing our crazy circus to a broader audience,” says Brent Bushnell, CEO of Two Bit Circus.
The Los Angeles, California-based company was founded in 2012 by Bushnell and Eric Gradman, who wanted to create a positive narrative around the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects to “convert non-STEM kids into STEM kids”. The investment is coming from Techstars Ventures and Foundry Group, with additional funding from Intel Capital.
The funding will mainly be used to grow STEAM Carnival – a touring pop-up-style event that gets kids to engage with STEM topics plus art topics in a project-based, hands-on way – into a national brand.
The first STEAM Carnival took place in an LA warehouse in October 2014, and has gone from strength to strength. The next STEAM Carnival was planned for Pier 48 in San Francisco from 6 to 8 November.
“If LA was our prototype, San Francisco represents version 1.0 of the event,” Bushnell says. “We’ve had hundreds of requests for the event from all over the world, so the response has been awesome, with guests staying an average of five hours in LA. We’re excited to take it across the country and then scale it internationally.”
“With the investment we’re focusing on three core areas,” he says. “First, we’re scaling the carnival up across the US and building out the ecosystem around it, such as the YouTube channel. Second, we’re building on our work in 360-degree video capture for VR, and we’ll be creating original VR content. And third, we’re completing our other out-of-home game platforms – stay tuned for more!”
Two Bit Circus is also working on home solutions and a series of interactive solutions for other out-of-home venues.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Attractions: Gone, Not Forgotten
We find out what people thought of
Dismaland, Banksy’s twisted theme park
and contemporary art attraction – and
talk to one of the Dismal Stewards
Promotional feature: IdeAttack
Mysteries of China’s rich culture are at the heart of IDEATTACK’s new mixed-used tourism destination
Zoos & Aquariums: Turn over a New Reef
The Florida Aquarium is teaming
up with the National Aquarium of
Cuba in a bid to save and restore
the region’s precious coral reefs
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
