Wonder Workshop, a US-based educational IT product developer that counts internet technology conglomerate Alphabet as an investor, raised $20m in series B funding yesterday.
The round was co-led by venture capital firm WI Harper Group and Idea Bulb Ventures, the US branch of Chinese VC firm Innovation Works, while Learn Capital, Charles River Ventures, Madrona Venture Group and TCL also invested.
Wonder Workshop’s Dash & Dot robots use lights, sounds and sensors to teach children aged six and over the fundamentals of coding and computer science. They are used in some 4,000 schools in the US and an extra 3,000 internationally.
The company intends to use the funding to expand in Asia, where entry into the Chinese market is a priority, while extra funds will be put into product development, expanding the size of its management team and growing its network of educators.
Wonder Workshop has now raised about $37m in equity and crowdfunding since it was founded in 2012 as Play-I.
Alphabet took part in Wonder Workshop’s $1m seed round in 2013, investing through its Google Ventures unit alongside Madrona Venture Group and assorted angel investors.
Vikas Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Wonder Workshop, said: “As parents and technologists, we founded Wonder Workshop to make the world a better place for children, and create age appropriate tools to inspire the future innovators.
“We are proud to have such passionate investors join us in our mission to lower the barrier to entry for children to learn and enjoy STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, such as coding and robotics.”
– Photo courtesy of Wonder Workshop, Inc.