About Us: Innovating for a Brighter Future

For over 20 years, LightUp Studios has been at the forefront of interactive toys and immersive experiences, partnering with global brands to create unforgettable moments. Our journey began with a simple mission—to light up the world, one toy at a time, and that mission continues to inspire everything we do today.

A Journey of Innovation and Heart

LightUp Studios was founded with a heart for making a difference. What began as a mission trip to Ecuador soon blossomed into a business rooted in giving back. Founders Chris, Renata, and Josh Kelly started by selling handcrafted goods to support the communities they served. Their success inspired them to create light-up toys that bring joy to children worldwide.

Today, LightUp Studios partners with the largest theme parks and entertainment brands globally, but our mission remains the same: to innovate, inspire, and give back.

Our Core Values

At LightUp Studios, our values shape every decision we make, guiding us toward creating innovative, meaningful experiences for both our customers and the world:

Meet Our Leadership Team

Our leadership team brings together decades of experience, innovation, and passion for making a difference. Each leader plays a crucial role in driving the success of LightUp Studios and ensuring we stay true to our mission.

Joshua Kelly

President and Chief Creative Officer

Joshua’s ambition to discover the future of themed entertainment has driven the growth of LightUp since he was a child. Josh credits his early childhood in Ecuador for establishing his purpose to sell toys and bring light to children around the world. Josh learned the art of themed merchandise from his parents and grandmother who would bring Josh along to festivals around the Midwest where they sold Ecuadorian arts and crafts sourced from villagers they had met during their time as missionaries in Ecuador. At the age of 12, Joshua launched his own venture at these same festivals, selling LED toys. After earning $2,000 in just two hours, he knew he had found his calling. Since then, Joshua has pioneered immersive merchandise experiences within the themed entertainment industry, spreading smiles to millions of theme park guests. This is the light that Joshua aims to bring to the industry—creating moments of joy and wonder for all.

Renata Kelly

Chief Financial Officer

Renata was born in Quito, Ecuador and earned her degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterey in Mexico City. From Mexico, Renata immigrated to the United States where her and Chris Kelly met, fell in love and later married. Renata’s heart has always been to use her financial literacy to serve those in need around the world. She understands the value of each and every dollar that enters and exits LightUp and stewards the finances well. On top of her role as CFO, Renata passionately works with our global missions’ partners to ensure that every dollar invested in children around the world goes to the right place. Her dedication is especially felt in Uganda, where she helped establish an orphanage and school. To the children there, she’s affectionately known as “Momma Renata.”

Chris Kelly

Chief Operating Officer

Chris Kelly has spent his career immersed in production, logistics, and database administration. His humble beginnings, relentless dedication, and vision for maintaining low overhead are key to how LightUp provides exceptional value to its customers. A testament to his commitment, Chris spent eight years in Shenzhen, China, where he developed a first-class production infrastructure that continues to drive the company’s success.

In addition to his professional achievements, Chris has always had the heart of a missionary. Inspired by figures like Nate Saint, who served Ecuador’s jungle villages, Chris embraced mission work early on. After marrying Renata, the couple seized the opportunity to serve in Ecuador, laying the foundation for the “why” behind LightUp’s mission—bringing light and hope to those in need.

Tamar Kelly

International Sales Director

From the moment she was born, Tamar has been immersed in her family’s entrepreneurial ventures, gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of the business. After completing high school, Tamar attended Indiana University Southeast’s School of Business, where she triple-majored in Marketing, Business Management, and Sales, while also earning a minor in Spanish. Following graduation, Tamar joined LightUp full-time, playing a pivotal role in the company’s growth by focusing on customer care, developing new products, and working with unwavering dedication. Like her parents, Tamar has a deep passion for mission work and often cites her time spent working at an orphanage in Africa as the most rewarding highlight of her career.

Our Mission: To Light Up the World

At LightUp Studios, we believe in more than just creating interactive experiences. Our mission is to transform the lives of children in need by using our success to give back. Every toy and experience we create helps support communities worldwide through clean water, education, and housing initiatives.

Making an Impact

Our passion for giving back is at the heart of everything we do. LightUp Studios proudly supports orphanages in Uganda and Mexico, providing essential resources such as food, education, and shelter. We also partner with organizations across the globe to make a lasting difference.

Join Us on Our Journey

Whether you’re looking to create magical experiences for your park or be part of our global team, LightUp Studios is ready to partner with you.