Rich Gilliam
STEM PLUG – SEED Fall 2025
Published February 11, 2026
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Rich Gilliam, Founder and CEO of STEM PLUG based in Chapel Hill, NC. STEM PLUG is a K–12 robotics platform that teaches STEM through hands-on building, supported by storytelling that builds confidence.
Q: What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: STEM often feels distant and confusing for many students, especially those from underrepresented communities. By 3rd–5th grade, many don’t see how science or engineering connects to their everyday lives, leading to early confidence gaps and limited readiness for future workforce opportunities. I founded STEM PLUG because I experienced that same disconnect growing up in Philadelphia. I didn’t discover my passion for STEM until much later, and I want to make that path clearer, earlier, and more relatable for today’s students. Through robotics and storytelling, we help K–12 learners build confidence, critical thinking, and real-world STEM skills they can carry into the future.
Q: What are you most excited about right now? What keeps you up at night?
A: I’m most excited about the momentum we’re building—schools, after-school programs, and partners are recognizing the impact of our robotics platform, and we’re expanding faster than ever. Seeing students light up when they connect STEM to their real world keeps me motivated.
What keeps me up at night is scaling the right way—making sure we can meet growing demand, support educators effectively, and continue delivering high-quality experiences that truly benefit K–12 students. I want to grow quickly, but also intentionally, so we can create lasting impact.
Q: How will your NC IDEA grant funds advance your company?
A: NC IDEA grant funds will help us scale our robotics platform by supporting product development, increasing manufacturing capacity, and expanding educator pilots across North Carolina. The funding will also allow us to attend key conferences and education events, helping us connect with districts, showcase our robotics platform, and build strategic partnerships. Overall, the grant will strengthen our ability to reach more K–12 students and deliver hands-on STEM learning that builds confidence, critical thinking, and future workforce skills.
Q: When did you know you wanted to take an entrepreneurial path?
A: I realized I wanted to take an entrepreneurial path while supporting students in robotics programs. I noticed how much more impactful their experiences could’ve been if certain skills were developed earlier—and it made me think back to my own story of discovering STEM late. Being active in my community and offering my skills showed me the gap even more clearly. That’s when I knew I needed to build something that makes STEM relatable, accessible, and inspiring for K–12 students at an early age.
Support STEM PLUG and Rich by:
- Support us by making introductions to K–12 educators, partnering on pilots, or sponsoring robotics kits so students can gain confidence, critical thinking, and real-world STEM skills.