Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Sisillo-DeFries.
Hi Bianca, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, I am Bianca, sole owner, investor, CEO + Creative Founder of INSPIRED Play Cafe LLC. I am a Christian woman of great faith, a wife to my husband Robert and a mom to five wonderful children (all under the age of 8!). From young as I can recall, I’ve had a natural love and connection with children. Without effort, I have always been fascinated in understanding and observing human behavior, specifically, “why we do what we do and what motivates us?” As a teenager, I had a vision from God and at that time all I could see when I closed my eyes was what ended up being the building of Overland Park location, INSPIRED Play Cafe, but it was empty space with white walls and front windows. Many years later, after I began motherhood, I began getting more pieces to the puzzle. I began working with my friends, who then became my business consultants. They are a local, long time, restaurant group, PB&J. I had vision to build a space where children could gather to be loved, to learn, and to grow. A vision where the world would be changed one community at a time. As I always say, this was only the beginning to something greater.
I grew up in Overland Park, KS my whole life and graduated from Johnson County Community College in 2013 with an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. I went on to study further (yes, I love school) and graduated from the University of Kansas in 2016, with my degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis and Psychology. At KU, I also did a year-long practicum in a laboratory for Organizational Behavioral Management, where I consulted with other businesses to make their operation more effective with research based methods. I also obtained a certificate in Leadership Excellence and Community Building, as I have always had a love for community building and leadership. After college, I became credentialed as a Registered Behavior Technician (ABA Therapist). I then worked clinically for seven years, specializing in providing 1:1 Behavioral Therapy for children and mostly worked with military families out of Ft. Leavenworth. Finally and in the midst of this, I was a primarily stayed home after my son was born.
It was here, the beginning of motherhood, where I noticed an immediate demand and lack of indoor places for children. I was planning my sons 2nd birthday party and realized I had almost no options. Not only was this concept lacking, but so was the educational and nutritious piece to “play places”. That is when I began researching and self-teaching educational methods to play. Soon after, I changed my home environment and lifestyle to reflect a child led, play based living environment for my son and other children who would come to our home to visit. I also began to share my sons educational play journey with other moms and friends through social media by creating “AuggiesMontessori” account. This is when I noticed the sincere and deep interest others had in learning and experiencing educational play and the environments in their own lives. At this moment, I became inspired to bring my teenage, God given vision, its first breath of life!
INSPIRED Play Cafe LLC bridges the gap between a child-led, play educational environment for the whole-child and a full-service cafe, with nutritious food and beverage for the whole community to enjoy.
I cant wait to meet you and your family. I pray that this space blesses you.
Stay INSPIRED + in Christ,
about the CEO +
Creative Founder
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, being a business owner is truly a roller-coaster, just when you think you’re making it, something happens. Over the last six years (five in business, one of planning) I have learned to embrace this part of business owning and let it shape my character, build endurance, and make me better.
As you know, we’re big fans of Inspired Play Cafe. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are the first play cafe to Kansas, and really one of the first in the Midwest. We are set apart by truly having a cafe portion of our concept and embracing the whole family (no charge for adults or other non-playing guests) and making our space a community space where there is something for everyone. We cater to both the child and the caregiver. Our brand seeks to be educational, inspiring, positive, and healthy so we embrace that within every thing we do at IPC. We are known to be a childrens indoor play space with a full service cafe for parents and caregivers, also the kids!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I do not believe in “luck” but my faith has played a HUGE role in my business and favor over my business. The Lord truly brought this idea to life from the beginning. I received a SBA loan back in 2021 in the middle of covid, as a single mother who owned nothing and had nothing to her name accept for 20,000 saved in the bank. I took all of that and took the major risk of getting an SBA loan to start this business that had no backing of success, and I built it every day to where it is today, profitable and successful, still impacting people across the nation. There have been so many set backs but God always come through because what He starts, nothing can stop!
Pricing:
- $14.50/child
- $2-12 meals
- $5-8 drinks
- $375-600 birthdays
- $23/1 child or $45/family memberships
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inspiredplaycafe.com
- Instagram: @inspiredplaycafe
- Facebook: @inspiredplaycafe
