Name: Michael Gramelspacher, Toy & Game Inventor, Co-Owner of SG Labs, LLC 

Products: DJ Bouncin' Beats from Fisher-Price & FurReal Handfuls from Just Play 

Location: O'Fallon, IL (St. Louis Metropolitan area), St. Clare Catholic School

I wanted to be an inventor and engineer from the time I knew what those words meant. I finally found a home for my proclivity towards inventing in the toy and game industry.  I am an electrical engineer by degree and have been a full-time professional inventor in the toy and game industry since 2008. 

When my family moved to O'Fallon, IL in 2021, my school-age children attended St. Clare Catholic School. The school had a desire to expand their Technology Club and given my engineering background, they reached out to me hoping I could use my experience with toy and game invention as a fun way to integrate STEAM topics. I proposed an after-school game invention club to the principal, Monica Ybarra. She immediately approved it and supported me wholeheartedly! 

Now in our fourth year in 2025, the club is open to 5th-8th graders and we average 20 student participants annually. The club meets weekly in the school's STEM lab, which we have been growing into a full-fledged maker space. Starting with the YIC Design Guide and the help of my co-coach Jon Harter (a fellow school parent and game enthusiast), we created a curriculum that schedules the steps outlined across the first 10 weeks of school leading up to the Young Inventor Challenge. We have been revising and hopefully improving our approach every season!  

The club focuses on the differences between toys and games, what makes them fun, how to brainstorm, the approach to testing ideas, the best way to prototype and bring concepts to life, and finally how to pitch ideas to others. Once their games are complete, we hold a school toy and game fair (set up science fair style) for the students to present their games to their classmates, friends, and family. This is great practice for honing their pitch down to the core information, making sure they can deliver their information in a timely manner, and getting experience presenting their ideas face-to-face with others. It is also a great way for them to get a lot of testing time to further refine their games.

Members from our club have gone on to win several awards in the senior division of the YIC. One team was even featured in Mojo Nation's Mojo 100 as "Rising Stars" in the toy and game industry. Even better than the awards however is the rich experience the students get from the whole experience. We receive consistently high praise from parents and educators for how much the club and the YIC has been a huge growth opportunity for their student, especially in problem solving, public speaking, and collaboration. What better way to build these important skills than through making games!

I'm grateful for everyone at POP that works diligently to provide this creative outlet for the next generation of hopeful inventors!