Participated · Series C · Oct 2017

Wonder Workshop makes small, programmable robots that children can control via mobile devices to learn computer science and collaborate. Its robots are used in about 12,000 elementary schools and the company runs a robotics competition to teach STEM concepts. The startup recently launched Cue, a $200 coding robot aimed at ages 11 and up with multiple sensors and customizable avatars. Leadership says the company is expanding product focus beyond core instruction for 8–10-year-olds to offerings that better engage pre-teens and teens. Wonder Workshop announced plans to use new funding to expand its global footprint and invest in development of future devices. The company is Bay Area–based and led by CEO Vikas Gupta. Wonder Workshop makes the Dash and Dot robots and companion apps to teach coding and computer science to kids as young as six. The company’s products include advanced sensors, lights and sounds that turn CS principles into hands-on learning and play. Wonder Workshop reports use in more than 7,000 elementary schools (4,000 in the U.S. and 3,000 internationally) and distribution in six major U.S. and Canadian retailers, with children in over 37 countries using its products. The company announced a $20 million Series B financing to fund international expansion, with a particular focus on China and Asia, plus product investment and management growth. Recent hires include CFO Monica Hushen as the company scales operations. Wonder Workshop was founded in 2012 and is based in San Mateo, California. Wonder Workshop builds Dash & Dot smart robots and companion apps that let children learn coding concepts while exploring creative play. The company offers four free apps tailored to different developmental stages and emphasizes problem solving and curiosity. Founded in 2012 by Vikas Gupta, Saurabh Gupta and Mikal Greaves and based in San Mateo, CA, Wonder Workshop launched in December 2014. Since launch the company reports over $3.5M robots have been delivered to 37 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Europe and several Asian markets. Financially, the company has raised $15.9M to date and recently secured an additional $6.9M. The new capital is earmarked to expand into new markets and to develop manufacturing and strategic business channels. Play-i builds Bo and Yana, educational interactive robots designed to teach children programming fundamentals via companion tablet and mobile apps. Founded in 2012 by Vikas Gupta, Saurabh Gupta and Mikal Graves, the company presents visual sequences of commands that introduce concepts like subroutines, functions and loops. Commands can be recorded in languages including Java and Python so users can increase complexity as they progress. Play-i has more than 11,000 pre-orders and has signed over 200 schools for pilot programs, and it is working with 100+ developers for early API access. The company is focused on improving its software and app interfaces for multiple age groups and plans a broad API release when it begins shipping Bo and Yana later this year. Play-i intends to pursue manufacturing and retail/eCommerce distribution partnerships and plans to double its 15-person team over the next year, prioritizing engineering hires. Play-i builds interactive, toy-like robots—Bo and Yana—controlled via a companion iPad app that presents visual sequences and simple commands to teach programming concepts through play, music and storytelling. The app records commands and can display them in programming languages such as Java and Python so learning scales with age. Founders include Vikas Gupta (former head of consumer payments at Google), Saurabh Gupta (led iPod software at Apple) and Mikal Greaves (led product design and manufacturing at Frog Design). The company has over 10,000 pre-orders and plans to ship the robots next summer; it will spend the next six months finalizing manufacturing and distribution partnerships. Play-i intends to sell through its website and via online and brick-and-mortar retailers, though retail deals are still in the works. The product enters an emerging education market alongside offerings like Cargo-Bot, Move the Turtle and Bee-Bot as STEM education demand grows.