While working as a registered nurse and active-duty service member, founders Darren Brown and Onalysa Flynn were constantly enrolled in certification courses and degree programs. They found themselves searching for focused spaces outside their Virginia Beach home — places without the pull of a bed, quieter than a bustling coffee shop, more flexible than a library’s restricted hours, and more affordable than coworking spaces designed only for business. When no such environment existed, they set out to create it.

 

After researching global study-café models and traveling to South Korea to see them in action, Darren and Onalysa returned home inspired to build a similar hub in Virginia. They envisioned a dedicated space that combines the community and extended hours of a study café with the affordability and amenities needed by working parents, full-time professionals, and driven learners.

 

They’re creating what they themselves needed so desperately — and what so many others still need today, in a climate where online course enrollment has outpaced in-person learning. Tenderfoot bridges the gap between online, hybrid, and traditional learning and the home environment. Tenderfoot was forged from unwavering passion, exhaustive research, and a deep heartfelt love of learning. 

 

Tenderfoot is brick and mortar for the modern learner.