He Started a Business at 26 and Was Rejected by Every Bank and Investor. Now It’s Passed $1 Billion in Sales: ‘People Thought I Was Crazy’
Unleashed Brands reports 1,600 locations and over $1 billion in sales, highlighting franchise growth in youth enrichment.
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Michael Browning Jr. founded Unleashed Brands, which includes Urban Air and serves over 25 million children. The company opened 133 new franchise locations in 2025 and now boasts more than 1,600 locations nationwide, aiming for $1 billion in revenue again by 2026.
Why It Matters
This rapid expansion indicates strong interest in youth enrichment franchises, which may attract new franchisees and alter territory availability.
Michael Browning Jr., the founder and CEO of Unleashed Brands, has successfully developed a significant youth enrichment platform, which includes the Urban Air Adventure Park. Unleashed Brands has now surpassed $1 billion in sales and operates over 1,600 locations across the United States, serving more than 25 million children. In 2025, the company opened 133 new franchise locations with an additional 200 franchises currently under development, indicating a strong momentum for growth.
Browning's entrepreneurial journey began in 2011 when he faced rejection from banks and investors due to his age and the perceived viability of his business idea. Not deterred, he sought assistance from his parents, particularly leveraging his father's construction expertise to physically build the first Urban Air location. Browning expressed, “It was one of these things where I just had a huge passion for starting the business,” reflecting on the initial skepticism he faced.
Urban Air, which opened its first park on October 28, 2011, celebrated its 15-year milestone with the first franchise opening in December 2014, supervised by the Becker family in Wichita, Kansas. They remain active franchisees, now managing multiple locations and participating in the opening of a Little Gym franchise. This continuity signifies the effectiveness of Browning's operational philosophy, which emphasizes viewing challenges as essential stepping stones rather than setbacks.
The health of Unleashed Brands is further underscored by its significant revenue, which is projected to repeat its $1 billion mark by 2026. The aggressive expansion strategy—opening new franchise locations at a robust pace—signals a healthy franchise system likely supported by a favorable marketplace.
Going forward, the industry will be attentive to how Unleashed Brands sustains this growth trajectory and navigates potential challenges in maintaining its franchise development pipeline.
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