LittleBits, a US-based technology company which makes electronic construction kits for children and “non experts of all ages”, has raised $11.1m series B funding led by venture capital firms True Ventures and Foundry Group and includes new investors Two Sigma Ventures, a division of Two Sigma Investments, and venture capital fund Vegas Tech Fund; also participating in the round were returning investors Khosla Ventures, Mena Ventures, Neoteny Labs, O’Reilly AlphaTech, a corporate venturing fund backed by O’Reilly Media, Lerer Ventures, together with new and returning angel investors.
Previously, the company raised $3.65in deries A funding and $850,000 in seed funding, bringing its total funding to date to over $15m. In June 2012, LittleBits announced a partnership with global company PCH International to lead its supply chain management.
Ayah Bdeir, founder and chief executive officer of LittleBits, said: “Over the past years we have seen high technology-innovation move from the hands of large corporations to the hands of amateurs in the areas of software, game development and 3D printing. But electronics remains a very top-down industry, and is still prohibitive to beginners. LittleBits aims to democratize electronics to allow anyone to become an inventor and make anything from an electronic doorbell to a fully responsive robotic installation.”
Liam Casey, chief executive officer of PCH International, said: “We are delighted to partner with LittleBits and are really excited about their potential for future growth, as PCH continues to help them to scale up.”
Jon Callaghan, co-founder of early-stage venture capital firm True Ventures, said: “When we first met Ayah, we were blown away by her passion for science and inspiring creativity in the youth of our world. LittleBits is leading the way to the future of invention and play. We’re thrilled to be a part of this company in putting the power of the internet into connected, constructible things.”
LittleBits was founded in 2011.