Meet Laura Koch | Math, Science, and SAT Tutor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Koch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve never been afraid of asking “why?” and as such, often find that I don’t follow the path people expect. I’m not afraid of breaking the mold and I’m not afraid of trying new things, even if they fail. I have started and own two business currently, and I had very different reasons for starting each of them. My first business was started primarily out of compassion and being willing to fail. I lied in India for a short time and connected with several businesses working to prevent human trafficking and exploitation of women. When I returned from India, I started a fair trade business, called Hidden Lotus Crafts, to sell the products of these businesses and help support the amazing work their doing in prevention as well as providing education, resources, and jobs to survivors of trafficking. I saw a need, I saw a way to help, and I went for it. I purchased about $500 worth of products from these businesses that I’d met, and figured in the worst case scenario, I’d only lost that much and however much time I’d put in. I’ve now been in business for almost 4 years and have had a much greater impact than I ever would have thought!
My second business, Elevate STEM Tutoring, is less than 1 year old and is one of the scariest things I’ve done, because this one was full-time. Last year, I decided to leave my job of 3 years and take a couple months off to rest and figure out what was next. I was conflicted. Should I do the ‘normal’ thing and just get a job? Or strike out alone? Security and an easy answer to the “what do you do?” question, or freedom, ownership, complete uncertainty? I chose the latter because of two main things. First, I LOVE tutoring. I started in college and had done it on the side ever since. I have a passion for helping people, which is a foundation of both of my businesses, but tutoring is a one-on-one, helping the person right in front of me, kind of helping. I love seeing kids, many of whom have had math anxiety and shed many math related tears, start to feel confident again. Second, I LOVE being a business owner. Problem-solving, setting up business policies, budgeting, figuring it out as I go, creating jobs, etc. It is so fun and free and sometimes scary and overwhelming. I knew there would be a learning curve, but having my other business gave me confidence I could figure it out.
I just finished my first school year as a full-time tutor and business owner, and I’m SO glad. There have been ups and downs, but in the end I can’t imagine going back to a ‘normal’ job.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business, Elevate STEM Tutoring, is about helping students build confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math. According to Psychology Today, up to 93% of people report some type of math anxiety, which is very sad to me, as someone who loves math. It is also worrying, as our world relies more and more on engineering and math. I want to help change that with my business. At Elevate STEM Tutoring, we help students learn but, more than that, we build trust and create a safe environment to help students unlearn their fears. Learning is a creative process and fear actually inhibits the area of the brain where creative functions happen. My philosophy in tutoring is that helping a student feel safe, feel ok to get answers wrong, and have fun doing math helps more in the long run than anything else.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
WE would eat at Duca’s Pizza and get boba at Kung Fu Tea, and there is nothing hypothetical here as we’ve taken multiple out of town friends to these places. Day 2 we would for sure eat at Pho #1. We might stop by RoadHouse arcades for some games and drinks. Visit the Rabbit Hole or Maybe the Archives. Definitely stop at Eclectic for some local or fair trade gifts and then go hiking in Cheyenne Canyon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Peri Bolts, Eclectic CO.

Peri is an amazing business owner and community creator. Eclectic CO is a small business in downtown Colorado Springs that is home to 50+ local small businesses. Peri and the community she has created at Eclectic CO. has been a place of learning, growth, and success for numerous small businesses including my first business, Hidden Lotus Crafts.

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/elevate-stemtutoring/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevate.stemtutoring/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevate.STEMtutoring