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| Michael Browning Jr. used his savings to start Urban Air. Courtesy of Michael Browning Jr. |
When Michael Browning Jr. launched his first trampoline park in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2011, the concept was still virtually unknown in the United States. To his knowledge, it was only the sixth trampoline park in the country at the time.
Fourteen years later, that single location has grown into a multi-brand empire generating over $1 billion in annual revenue, serving millions of children across the nation. But his journey from a bold idea to national success was anything but straightforward.
An Idea Sparked by Childhood Memories
As a child, Browning spent countless birthdays at his local indoor play space, Discovery Zone. The fun, energy, and excitement left a lasting impression. Years later, during a trip to California, he stumbled upon a trampoline park — an experience that reignited that same childhood thrill.
It wasn’t just nostalgia that caught his attention. The concept checked two important boxes in his entrepreneurial playbook: innovation and scalability. He saw a chance to create something fresh in the family entertainment industry — but convincing others wasn’t easy.
Investors and Banks Said No
When Browning pitched his vision to banks and potential investors, the rejections piled up quickly. Lenders doubted the viability of the idea, picturing a makeshift setup rather than a professional operation.
“At 25, I was young, and trampoline parks weren’t a proven business in the U.S. yet,” he recalls. “No one wanted to take the risk.”
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| Courtesy of Michael Browning |
Landlords were equally skeptical — until one personal connection changed everything. Browning’s father, a seasoned entrepreneur who had owned a laundromat before moving into home construction, leveraged a long-standing relationship with a contractor who was vacating a large warehouse. The landlord agreed to lease it to Browning purely on trust in his father’s reputation.
That opportunity — combined with Browning’s unwavering determination — laid the foundation for what would come next.
Going All-In with Personal Savings
With no outside funding, Browning poured in everything he had: $850,000 from his own savings and the sale of his first business, which developed algorithms. His father matched that commitment, putting in his own resources to make the venture happen.
Opening day was just the beginning. Browning worked every role in the business — from operating attractions to manning the front desk. The long hours and hands-on approach paid off: the park was profitable enough to repay their entire investment within eight months.
Rapid Expansion Through Franchising
Success fueled ambition. Within a short period, Browning and his father launched two more locations in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Franchise inquiries started pouring in, but Browning initially declined — franchising was uncharted territory for him. Then, during a conversation with his grandfather, he was urged to reconsider. “You don’t want to regret not looking into that,” his grandfather advised.
That advice changed everything. On his 30th birthday, Browning opened his first franchise location. What followed was explosive growth: 54 franchises in 52 weeks.
Staying Ahead of Competitors
As the business boomed, imitators began entering the market. Browning embraced a mindset he calls “healthy paranoia” — a constant awareness that even market leaders can be replaced, just as Netflix overtook Blockbuster or the iPhone displaced the Blackberry.
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| Courtesy of Urban Air |
In 2017, he made a bold move: pivoting from a trampoline-focused model to a full indoor adventure park, eliminating 80% of the trampolines and introducing a wider range of attractions. The reinvention not only differentiated his brand but also deepened its appeal to both kids and parents.
From Trampoline Parks to a $1 Billion Brand Portfolio
The pandemic brought a moment of reflection. Browning realized he wanted to create a broader portfolio of brands designed to enrich children’s lives. This led to the creation of Unleashed Brands, a parent company acquiring family-focused businesses that had a direct impact on his own three children.
One notable acquisition was The Little Gym, a popular children’s fitness and development program. Today, Unleashed Brands generates over $1 billion in revenue and serves more than 20 million kids nationwide.
The Role of Grit in Business — and Parenting
Browning attributes much of his success to the grit instilled by his father. As a boy, he often woke up at 4:30 a.m. to help smooth concrete foundations on construction sites. That work ethic is something he’s determined to pass on to his own children, ages 13, 10, and 5.
While his kids live a more comfortable lifestyle than he did, Browning finds ways to ensure they learn responsibility and resilience. For example, when his eldest daughter forgot her gym bag for school, she asked him to bring it. Instead, he told her to manage without it — a small but important lesson in accountability.
“Too many people quit when things get hard,” he says. “To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to keep going through the difficulties and give everything you’ve got to your goal.”
From being rejected by every bank and investor to running a billion-dollar portfolio of family entertainment brands, Michael Browning Jr.’s story is proof that determination, adaptability, and calculated risk-taking can turn a single idea into a national success story.
