Sandbox Takes Stake in App Maker Tinybop

LONDON: Brooklyn-based educational kids’ app developer Tinybop has received a minority investment from Sandbox Partners (SBX), which was founded by CEO and former Viacom exec Bhav Singh.

Details of the transaction were not disclosed. With the investment, Sandbox joins the company’s board and becomes its largest institutional shareholder. Proceeds will be used to build a collection of apps for children while expanding Tinybop’s business and operations around the globe. Sandbox’s portfolio, which currently reaches more than 20 million kids, parents and teachers worldwide each month, already includes such brands as Hopster and SuperAwesome, among others.

Tinybop is led by founder and CEO Raul Gutierrez. Since its inception, the company has created 13 apps that are meant to spark the curiosity of youngsters while encouraging them to play and learn together with their parents. Tinybop’s offerings include Digital Toys, The Explorer’s Library, The Robot Factory and The Human Body.

Singh remarked: “Raul has created a hub of incredible apps that educate and entertain. At SBX, our mission is to educate children for the world of tomorrow, which aligns perfectly with Tinybop’s mission to create toys for tomorrow. We hope that together, we can build on Tinybop’s success and most importantly, equip kids and their millennial parents with the skills and tools they need to navigate the world.”

Gutierrez added: “We pride ourselves on taking time and care in creating beautifully designed worlds, which resonate with kids, and enable them to explore and unlock their imaginations. We want to reach kids the world over and firmly believe in speaking in a universal language that appeals to adults just as much as children. This partnership with the SBX team marks a very exciting time for us. Their commitment to providing an unparalleled ecosystem of fun learning tools for every child across the world, regardless of location and age, is what sealed the deal. With their support, and domain and operational expertise, we will be able to experiment even further and unlock more potential for Tinybop.”