"A Common Space for All STEM"
Where every student, every team, every community connects.

The Paradox: Rochester—home to Mayo Clinic—had zero FLL/FTC teams across its entire school system. Existing STEM efforts were fragmented and isolated. Rural communities like Byron faced even greater barriers with no coordinated support.

RAYSE-MN IMPACT

  • 3 competitive teams launched (FTC 27409, FLL 70166, Drone Racing)
  • Byron FRC Hub + small town teams across region mentored
  • $15K component library—shared resources, not isolated silos
  • Common space model: one ecosystem, all teams, sustainable growth
See Impact Join the Hub
Students collaborating in common space

Rochester public Schools FIRST Ever FTC Team 27409

Meet in PLTW classroom after school

Byron FRC hub collaboration

John Adams Middle school Drone Racing Club

Meet in John Adams Gym

Three teams launched

Bamber Valley Elementary FLL Team 70166

Kick started FLL Team -Meeet in Bamber Valley

Component library

FRC Team 2530 Summer Camp

Meet in Kellog Middle school basement

Community STEM gathering

FTC Team in action

FTC Team in action

Community STEM gathering

FTC Team in action

FTC Team in action

Community STEM gathering

Drone Racing in action

Drone Racing in action

0 → 100+ Students in Unified STEM Ecosystem
3 Teams in Record Time
Byron Hub Regional Connection
Common Shared Resources
Unified Not Fragmented
🏫 0 → 3

Teams in Record Time

Entire Rochester system had zero

🤝 Byron+

FRC Hub Connection

Regional ecosystem, not isolation

⚙️ $15K

Shared Component Library

Common resources for all

🌐 Unified

One Ecosystem

Not fragmented efforts

The Problem We strive to Solve

From Fragmentation to Unified Ecosystem

Rochester had isolated STEM activities but no coordinated system. We want to build the infrastructure to connect everyone under one unified hub.

🎯

The Common Space Vision

Instead of scattered, isolated efforts, we created southeastern Minnesota's first unified STEM hub where teams share resources, mentors collaborate, and students connect across communities.

Community Benefit: Teams no longer work in silos. Shared equipment, knowledge, and mentorship accelerate everyone's growth—Byron FRC hub, Rochester teams, rural schools all connected.
⚡

Rapid Team Deployment

Launched 3 competitive teams (FTC 27409, FLL 2313, Drone Racing) in record time despite lack of infrastructure / unified infrastructure.

Result: What normally takes 12-18 months per team now takes 3-6 months thanks to shared resources, proven processes, and coordinated support system.
🤝

Regional Hub Model

Byron FRC hub + small town teams + Rochester programs into one cohesive network. Mentorship flows across boundaries, resources reach underserved areas, knowledge compounds regionally.

Result: Byron teams can get Rochester's component library access. Rochester students learn from FRC mentors. Rural schools tap into unified ecosystem instead of starting from zero.
Our Programs

Three Teams, One Unified Ecosystem

Each program strengthens the whole. Shared mentors, shared resources, shared success.

🎓

FLL Team 70166

Bamber Valley Elementary

Elementary students building STEM foundations through LEGO robotics. Part of unified pipeline feeding into FTC and beyond.

  • Engineering design fundamentals
  • Early exposure to competition
  • Connected to FTC/FRC mentors
  • Shared component library access
⚙️

FTC Team 27409

John Adams MS—Rochester's First

System-wide breakthrough. Entire Rochester school system had zero FLL/FTC teams. Now competing at state level and mentoring regional teams.

  • State Championships qualified
  • Mentors Byron hub teams
  • Shares designs with FLL program
  • Proves unified model works
🚁

Drone Racing Club

Cross-School Program

Emerging tech program connecting students across traditional boundaries. Draws from FLL/FTC students, shares expertise back to robotics teams.

  • Aerospace & autonomous systems
  • Cross-pollinates with robotics
  • Attracts different student interests
  • Expands common space appeal
Leadership

Meet the Founder

Driven by a vision to create a unified space where all STEM activities thrive together.

Founder

Pranavagurubaran Senthilkumar(Guru)

Founder & Executive Director, RAYSE-MN

As a passionate advocate for STEM education and youth empowerment, I founded RAYSE-MN with a singular vision: to create a common space where all STEM activities—FLL, FTC, FRC, Drone Racing, Science Olympiad, Chess Club, and beyond—come together to create exponential impact through collaboration.

"I envision a common space where FLL, FTC, FRC, Drone Racing, Science Olympiad, Chess Club, and all STEM activities meet under one roof—creating a multiplier effect where students, mentors, and resources compound rather than compete."

After witnessing Rochester's paradox—a world-class medical hub with zero coordinated STEM programs across its school system—I took action. In just 24 months, we've built the infrastructure for sustainable growth by proving that collaboration beats isolation every time.

The Vision: All Programs Under One Roof

  • FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
  • FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
  • FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
  • Drone Racing League
  • Science Olympiad
  • Chess Club
  • Coding & AI Clubs
  • Engineering Workshops

By unifying these programs, we create a multiplier effect: younger students see role models in action, mentors serve multiple teams efficiently, equipment gets shared across programs, and students discover pathways from elementary through high school. This isn't just about running programs—it's about building an ecosystem where STEM becomes the culture, not just an activity.

Join the Common Space

This isn't about isolated programs—it's about building a unified STEM ecosystem where everyone thrives together. Be part of southeastern Minnesota's hub.

Get Involved Today
Connect With Us

Let's Build Together

Whether you're a team, mentor, donor, or community partner—there's a place for you in our unified ecosystem.

📧

Email

info@raysemn.org

🌐

Website

www.raysemn.org

📍

Hub Location

Rochester & SE Minnesota