EdBizWatch

Lost My Name Raises $9M Led By Google Ventures

The “full stack” storytelling & publishing startup relies on tech to control most the business.

Lost My Name Raises $9M Led By Google Ventures, Steve O'Hear, TechCrunch

Why Minecraft Rewrites the Playbook for Learning

It's part of the lineage of learning games, but it fundamentally rewrites the playbook. Why?

Why Minecraft Rewrites the Playbook for Learning, Mimi Ito, BoingBoing

Tinkergarten Raises $500K from John Katzman, Others

Co lets a distributed workforce host play-based, classes for kids in parks & green spaces.

Tinkergarten Is Using Technology To Get Kids Back Outdoors, Sarah Perez, TechCrunch

Pearson's Family Edu Network Bought by Sandbox Partners

FEN provides "engaging educational" products that promote learning in informal way.

Sandbox Partners Buys Pearson's Family Education Network, Sean Cavanagh, Ed Week

Hunting for Hidden Summer Treasure With Brain Chase

Founders raised $500K in 2014 to introduce the game & raised $1.6M last fall for mkting.

Hunting for Hidden Summer Treasure and Lessons With Brain Chase, Sarah Max, NYT

YouTube is Launching an Android App for Children

App to offer original TV shows for kids & videos from kid-centric YouTube channels.

YouTube is Launching an Android App for Children, Rich McCormick, The Verge

Virtual Preschool: Yes, That's Now a Real Option

Here's how the virtual preschool, known as ClassVINCI Home, is supposed to work.

Virtual Preschool: Yes, That's Now a Real Option, Benjamin Herold, Education Week

Matific Raises $12 Million from Existing Angel Investors

Co offers K-6 math activities for students; free for teacher use, fees for home use. 

Matific Raises $12M to Expand Internationally, Charley Locke, edSurge

Vocab Apps For Kids Promotes Anytime, Anywhere Learning

Sesame Workshop builds on the popularity of characters like Big Bird and 45 yrs of edu research. 

Vocab Tech For Toddlers Encourages 'Anytime, Anywhere Learning', Lynn Neary, nprEd

Google to Revamp Its Products with 12-and-Younger Focus

Kids are the future, so why not give them the tools to let them create it.

Google to Revamp Its Products w 12-&-Younger Focus, M. della Cava, USA Today

Data-Driven Parenting App Gives Personalized Tips for Kids

App offers backseat games & dinner table topics to reinforce skills learned in Leo’s Pad app. 

Data-Driven Parenting App Gives Personalized Tips for Kids, Kyle Vanhemert, Wired

Rosetta Stone Makes Big Step into Education-Tech Market

Rosetta Stone Kids Reading helps kids learn to read at home.

Rosetta Stone Steps into Education-Tech Market, Drew Hansen, Business Journal

LeapFrog Debuts Its LeapTV Educational Console for Kids

Can LeapFrog carve out a market for smaller kids who enjoy edu entertainment.

LeapFrog Debuts Its LeapTV Educational Console for Kids, Dean Takahashi, VentureBeat

Osmo Raises $12 Million Led by Accel Partners

Co platform lets kids play games using iPad camera to recognize small objects put in front of the camera. 

Osmo raises $12 Million Led by Accel Partners, Dean Takahashi, Venture Beat

Ubooly Acquired by Cartwheel Kids

Co now “Smart Toy,” which better states vision of interactive toys w computing intelligence.

Ubooly Acquired by Cartwheel Kids, Darrell Etherington, TechCrunch

Raspberry Pi Microcomputer Still Selling Like Hot Cakes

Sales of low cost, open source microcomputer have now passed 3.8 million.

Raspberry Pi Microcomputer Still Selling Like Hot Cakes, Natasha Lomas, TechCrunch

SkillPixels Picks Up $2.1 Million in Funding from Tekes

Finnish company's first title is SmartKid, an iOS game that teach math for PreK-2nd grade.

SkillPixels picks up $2.1 Million in Funding from Tekes, G. Anderson, Arctic Startup

A State of the Learning Games Industry Report

Developers face many paths, even more questions about monetization.

A State of the Learning Games Industry Report, Lee Banville, Game and Learning

Tiggly Raises $4 Million from Habermaass GmbH

Brings the toymakers total funding since its founding in 2012 to $5 million.

Tiggly Raises $4 Million from German Toymaker, David Harris, BizJournal

Reader Bee – Teaching Children to Read Faster?

Interview with Ann McCormick, founder of The Learning Company, discusses her new app.

Reader Bee – Teaching Children to Read Faster? Creativity Post