When people think about innovation, they picture rockets, breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, or the latest consumer tech. Rarely does heating and cooling come to mind.
But innovation isn't defined by your industry. It's defined by the problems you choose to solve.
Programs like Space United Academy cultivate the engineering mindset that companies like MRCOOL® depend on every day.
That's exactly why the partnership between MRCOOL® and Space United works. One company is transforming the HVAC industry by removing barriers to home comfort through patented technology. The other is inspiring future engineers, innovators, and leaders through soccer, STEM education, and aerospace exploration.
This shared vision was fully displayed during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Activation at Seattle Soccer House at Pacific Place in Seattle, Washington, where they brought their mission directly to the community.
Together, they're proving that innovation starts long before someone enters a lab. It starts with curiosity, opportunity, and the confidence to build something better.
A Shared Mission: Making Opportunity Accessible
At first glance, HVAC technology and youth soccer seem worlds apart. But both MRCOOL® and Space United share the same core mission: removing barriers.
MRCOOL® was founded after its leadership asked: What if heating and cooling could be designed around people?
The result was the industry's first true DIY® ductless mini-split system with patented Quick Connect® technology, allowing homeowners to install professional-grade heating and cooling without the traditional complexity of refrigerant handling or specialized equipment.
That same barrier-breaking mindset fuels Space United. The organization views soccer as more than a sport, it uses it as a launchpad into STEM education, leadership development, and aerospace careers.
Space United was started by athletes who are now working in the space industry. We saw an opportunity where school districts were open to having engineers come connect with kids and tell them about opportunities in technology. Soccer became a really organic way of connecting students, and at the same time, they're learning about really cool technology.
Camilo Tobacia, Founder & CEO, Space United
Nearly 30,000 Fans Engaged at the FIFA World Cup 2026
This summer, the MRCOOL® and Space United partnership hit one of the world's biggest stages.
During the FIFA World Cup 2026 Activation at Seattle Soccer House at Pacific Place, the collaboration drew massive engagement across three full days:
- 29,837 guest interactions across all Activation days
- Recognition from Washington, D.C., officials touring FIFA World Cup host cities alongside FIFA organizing-committee representatives
- 1,000 MRCOOL®-branded hats distributed
- 1,300 limited-edition co-branded posters gifted featuring Space United, MRCOOL®, and SEA26
- Full sticker and merchandise run distributed
- 33,887+ social media views across 12 Activation posts
- MRCOOL® banners, signage, and branding featured at every guest interaction
The MRCOOL® hats were a huge highlight. Everybody wanted a hat. You would walk around that area and every couple steps you'd see someone wearing one. People loved doing the MRCOOL® drawings too. The kids are naturally drawn to animals, and the blending of MRCOOL®'s polar bear mascot with the soccer jersey was a big item.
Camilo Tobacia, Founder & CEO, Space United
The Activation placed MRCOOL® front and center in an environment where an estimated 750,000+ fans visited Seattle's official fan celebration sites during the tournament. Space United's booth became a magnet for families, offering a safe, supervised space where kids could participate in coding, robotics, soccer, and hands-on STEM projects while parents enjoyed the matches.
Kids Drawing the Future (and Sending It to Space)
The coloring activity happened live at the booth, where kids drew their own versions of the MRCOOL® polar bear mascot in a Space United jersey. It was a huge hit. Postcards were a part of the activity, with over 1,500 collected across our three Activation days. They will be sent to space as part of Space United's Postcards to Space program with Club for the Future.
The kids were drawing their own imaginative colorings of the MRCOOL® mascot with the Space United jersey, and we're going to put that on our rocket, send it to space and back.
Camilo Tobacia, Founder & CEO, Space United
A local high school robotics team, the Future Martians (FFRC 9023) from Sammamish, Washington, also showcased sports-playing robots at the booth, engaging kids and parents alike.
Why MRCOOL®'s DIY Innovation Connects Globally
The same philosophy that drives MRCOOL®'s DIY® systems, making advanced technology simple and accessible, resonates far beyond American homes.
The DIY units provide a really simple, small package solution that allows this technology to reach communities that don't have the resources or financial support to get big systems. It's similar to soccer. It helps get HVAC solutions to more people around the world. In Europe, AC isn't common, but they're seeing some of the hottest summers on record. The DIY system provides an elegant, less invasive solution.
Camilo Tobacia, Founder & CEO, Space United
Whether it's a homeowner in Spearfish, South Dakota, experiencing unexpected 105°F heat, a family in Seattle where homes were built without AC but now face 110°F summers, or communities in Paris and Spain dealing with record-high temperatures, MRCOOL®'s approach to accessible climate control aligns directly with Space United's belief that opportunity shouldn't be limited by geography or resources.
The future of HVAC isn't about replacing technicians, it's about multiplying what they're capable of accomplishing. Our industry faces a growing skilled labor shortage, and the answer isn't to wait for the workforce to catch up. It's to design systems that remove unnecessary complexity while maintaining professional performance. That's what our DIY® technology does, and it's why Space United's mission resonates with us. They're building the engineering mindset early, showing kids that solving real-world problems is a career path worth pursuing. When we invest in that pipeline, everybody wins: contractors complete more projects, homeowners get more options, and new people enter the trades with confidence.
Jason Ingram, Managing Member, MRCOOL®, LLC
Space United Academy: Opening September 2026
Beginning September 13, 2026, Space United will open its first flagship academy at Elite 90 Soccer in Tukwila, Washington. The Pacific Northwest campus combines competitive soccer with hands-on engineering education:
- Soccer teams from U7 through U14, growing to 500+ players
- A 1,300-square-foot STEM Lab featuring rocketry, coding, 3D printing, CAD design, and engineering challenges
- Curriculum designed and delivered by aerospace engineers from Space United's community network
- A franchise model planned for replication across the U.S., Spain, and Latin America
Today's STEM student could become tomorrow's HVAC engineer, product designer, manufacturing specialist, software developer, or sustainability leader.
Innovation Happens When Disciplines Connect
Modern HVAC systems are among the most sophisticated technologies inside any home, combining variable-speed inverter engineering, smart Wi-Fi connectivity, energy optimization, environmentally responsible refrigerants, and intelligent climate controls.
These same engineering principles (systems thinking, efficiency, automation, and data-driven performance) are fundamental to aerospace engineering. Whether designing a spacecraft or a high-efficiency heat pump, engineers solve remarkably similar challenges: maximize performance, reduce wasted energy, improve reliability, simplify complex systems, and design around real people.
Building the Workforce of Tomorrow
The HVAC industry faces a significant technician shortage over the coming decade, increasing pressure on manufacturers to simplify installation while investing in workforce development. MRCOOL® has responded by simplifying installation through product innovation, partnering with technical colleges, expanding contractor education, and developing dealer training programs.
Space United approaches the same challenge earlier in the pipeline, reaching kids before they've even considered career paths.
Our booth section was a magnet for families. We provided a safe space for kids to spend time while parents watched the game. They were doing coding, robotics, learning about space, and playing soccer. We had 10-hour days and we were booked all the time.
Camilo Tobacia, Founder & CEO, Space United
Why This Partnership Matters
MRCOOL® believes technology should simplify life. Space United believes education should expand opportunity. Together, they encourage young people to see engineering as practical, creative, and capable of improving everyday life.
Whether someone designs the next generation of HVAC systems, launches satellites, develops clean-energy technologies, or invents products we haven't yet imagined, innovation begins by believing problems can be solved differently.
We don't sponsor programs just to put our logo somewhere. We invest in organizations like Space United because they're doing the same thing we are: creating new pathways. Innovation should empower people, whether that's a homeowner installing their own system for the first time or a twelve-year-old realizing they can design something that actually gets built. That's how we strengthen the entire industry, not by gatekeeping expertise, but by making it accessible to anyone willing to learn.
Jason Ingram, Managing Member, MRCOOL®, LLC
Get Involved
Ready to support the next generation of innovators? Learn more about Space United and how you can participate in building future engineers, leaders, and problem-solvers at https://spaceunited.com/.
Looking for accessible HVAC innovation for your home? MRCOOL®'s DIY® ductless mini-split systems bring professional-grade comfort within reach, no specialized tools required. Find a MRCOOL® dealer near you →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Space United?
Space United is an organization combining youth soccer, STEM education, and aerospace-inspired learning to prepare the next generation of innovators through sports, technology, and leadership development. Founded by athletes now working in the space industry, it operates clubs in the U.S. and Spain with a growing network of 250+ engineer-athletes.
What is Space United Academy?
Opening September 13, 2026, at Elite 90 Soccer in Tukwila, Washington, Space United Academy features competitive soccer programs (U7 through U14) alongside a 1,300-square-foot STEM Lab focused on rocketry, coding, CAD design, 3D printing, and engineering education. The curriculum is designed by aerospace engineers.
What makes MRCOOL® innovative?
MRCOOL® pioneered the HVAC industry's first true DIY® ductless mini-split system with patented Quick Connect® technology, making professional-grade heating and cooling accessible without specialized installation. The company develops smart, high-efficiency systems and invests in workforce education and next-generation climate technology.
What happened at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Activation?
MRCOOL® and Space United partnered at Seattle Soccer House at Pacific Place during the FIFA World Cup 2026, engaging 29,837 guests across three days. The Activation featured STEM activities, robotics demonstrations, MRCOOL® merchandise giveaways, and was recognized by Washington, D.C., officials and FIFA organizing committee representatives.
Why are MRCOOL® and Space United working together?
Both organizations share a commitment to removing barriers through innovation. MRCOOL® simplifies advanced HVAC technology for homeowners worldwide, while Space United expands access to STEM education and engineering for young people. Their partnership connects accessible technology with hands-on learning to inspire future innovators.
How can I participate in Space United?
Visit Space United to learn about academy enrollment, community programs, and partnership opportunities. Space United Academy opens in Tukwila, WA in September 2026 with plans to expand nationally and internationally.