SBA CO Small Business Person of the Year - Novastar Kids Co
Larisa Hegenbarth's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and a passion for education. With over 20 years of experience in traditional, online, and blended education models, she she has used her expertise in curriculum design and business management to launch and grow a daycare and private school business.
Born in the Republic of Udmurtia, Russian Federation, she immigrated to the United States and became a U.S. citizen. Using her experience as a former schoolteacher, she started writing her own programs tailored for immigrant families. In 2017, she founded Novastar Academy Language Center, a nonprofit providing English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Her efforts were supported by competitive grant writing, securing funding to extend the academy’s outreach and to develop a K-12 personalized education program for a charter school proposal.
Despite challenges—including COVID-19 and delays in charter approval—Larisa expanded her mission. In 2022, Larisa and her husband launched Novastar Kids Co., a daycare provider. Due to the success and demand experienced at her first location in Aurora, CO, she was able to expand to a 2nd location in Englewood to offer childcare, preschool and private K-8 education with an SBA 504 and 7(a) loan to support her growth. B:Side was able to partner with NBH Bank to provide access to the capital needed for her expansion.
Novastar provides project-based, STEAM education, with opportunities for children in areas like coding and culinary arts, partnering with the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Colorado’s universal preschool program. The school is unique in offering a wide range of enrichment classes, everything from martial arts to science. From the launch, the business has focused on multi literacy, offering world language instruction in six different languages.
Larisa’s impact extends beyond Novastar—her nonprofit has grown too. With her passion for innovation in education, Novastar is on track to become a key educational institution in Colorado.
Her motto: “Every child can learn if provided a nurturing environment.” Her story proves that perseverance and passion can turn obstacles into stepping stones for a brighter future.
