Programming robots for children maker Play-i nabs USD1.4 million for retail plans

By Rizza Sta. Ana

Dec 07, 2013 09:40 AM EST

Play-i, a startup that makes toys to inspire children to love computer science and technology, recently raised USD1.4 million over 31 days of crowdfunding. The startup, which already received USD1 million in initial backing from Google Ventures, Madrona Venture Group and other institutional investors last year to construct its robot prototypes, launched its crowdfunding campaign on their own website in the middle of November.

The new funding was five times more than its original goal, and that USD26,000 of the crowdfunding money were contributions towards the robots Play-i has pledged to schools and organizations that work with underprivileged kids. The crowdfunding campaign saw the participation of investors from UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, India and France, and that 30% of the funding amount came outside of the US.

Former head of consumer payments Vikas Gupta at Google saw the need to introduce children to the love of computer science and technology. Moreover, Vikas saw potential in educating children to code through the use of kid-friendly robots. Vikas was later joined by co-founders Saurabh Gupta and Mikal Greaves to create prototypes wherein children will be able to have access and understand engineering programming concepts. Gupta led the iPod software team back at Apple, while Greaves led Frog Design's electronic and toy product design and manufacturing.

According to a TechCrunch report, the learning system for the robots is close to ready. Next year, the robots named Bo and Yana will be available on retail for kids, and children could control the robots via Paly-i's companion iPad app.

Play-i obtained more than 10,000 pre-orders for the robots and expected to ship the items summer next year. The team at Play-i also expected to finalize its manufacturing and distribution partnerships in the next six months. Although they are in the works, Gupta said the company will be able to offer the robots for sale on its website and through online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

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