Pley operates a platform that rents and sells LEGO-based kits and has launched PleyWorld, a crowdsourcing channel where user submissions that reach 5,000 votes are turned into sets with instructions and offered for rent or purchase. Submissions can move from concept to a shipping product in as little as two weeks, and Pley handles most of the kit-building and distribution work. Creators retain copyright and authority over use of their designs under PleyWorld’s terms, though they do not receive direct financial payments when their sets are produced. The company emphasizes environmental benefits from its rental model and notes individual set pricing depends on piece count and complexity (rentals can be as low as $9.99). Pley also cites a “good relationship” with LEGO and notes a former senior LEGO designer is among its investors. Recently the company raised additional capital to support international expansion into Europe and Asia. Pley operates a subscription service that lets families rent unlimited LEGO sets through monthly plans. Launched in 2013 by Ranan Lachman and Elina Furman and based in San Jose, the company inventories, cleans and sanitizes each set between shipments. Monthly subscriptions are offered at $15, $25 and $39 depending on set size. To date more than 15,000 families have purchased subscriptions and Pley has shipped over 75,000 packages. The company plans to use new capital to build a multi‑product platform and expand into additional toy lines, aiming to make playtime more affordable, convenient and environmentally friendly. Pley is hiring and continues to scale operations from its San Jose warehouse.

Total raised

$17M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Feb 2015