Sesame Ventures, the investment arm of children’s entertainment production company Sesame Workshop, has supplied a series B extension of undisclosed size to UK-based computer building kit producer Kano.
The extension follows a $28m initial close in November 2017 that was co-led by Thames Trust and Breyer Capital.
The first tranche included financial services firm Barclays, the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, Index Ventures, LocalGlobe, Collaborative Fund, Triple Point Capital and assorted angel investors.
Kano produces do-it-yourself computer building and coding kits primarily aimed at children, though it also operates an online platform that teaches users how to create games and websites. It also produces motion sensor hardware that can be programmed to perform various tasks.
The additional funding will enable Kano to expand its offering to include products around areas such as blockchain.
Breyer Capital previously led a $15m series A round in 2015 that featured Collaborative Fund and private investor Jim O’Neill.
Tanya Haider, executive vice president for strategy, research and ventures at Sesame Workshop, said: “We can have a much greater impact by partnering with others rather than doing everything ourselves.
“Sesame Street was the original disrupter in kid’s media by harnessing the power of television to teach. With Kano, we will be exploring the creation of products, content, and research that positively impact the way parents and children approach technology.”