UK-based bespoke children’s literature publisher Lost my Name rebranded itself as Wonderbly on Tuesday having raised $8.5m in a series B round led by children’s publisher Ravensburger.
GV, a corporate venturing subsidiary of internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet, also participated in the round, as did media company Cherin Group, Project A Ventures, Greycroft Partners and Allen and Company. Silicon Valley Bank supplied an undisclosed amount of debt financing.
Wonderbly produces picture books that can be personalised with a child’s individual details. Its flagship title, Lost my Name, allowed a child’s name to be included, while its new title, The Birthday Thief, is centred on their birthday date.
The company, which has so far sold 2.7 million books, will use the series B capital for product development and international expansion. It has now raised approximately $23.5m in funding since it was founded.
GV, then known as Google Ventures, contributed to Wonderbly’s $9m series A round in mid-2015 alongside Chernin Group, Greycroft, Allen and Company and angel investor Cris Conde. Project A Ventures added $4.5m in June 2016.
Ravensburger CEO Clemens Maier said: “We have been following the development of Wonderbly for some time and are delighted to come on board as a strategic investor as part of our new corporate investment initiative.
“Wonderbly has managed to build a truly international, personalised children’s book business and we are excited to support them in their next phase of growth.”