Play-i, a US-based maker of toy robots that “fuse play with programming for kids of all ages”, has so far raised $1.4m in pre-orders for 10,994 of its Bo & Yana robot toys, due to start shipping in summer 2014.
The pre-order crowdfunding campaign was launched in November with a $250,000 goal, exceeded within three days. “Stretch goals” were introduced into the campaign, with Play-i promising to introduce new, purchasable items at successive stages: accessories on reaching $350,000, attachments for adding building blocks at $500,000, a xylophone at $700,000, and a smartphone mount at $1m.
The pre-order cash adds to the $1m venture funding already received in May 2013 from Google Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of internet firm Google, and venture capital firm Madrona Venture Group.