Launching last week as part of 500 Startups’ third class, eSpark Learning is leveraging iPad apps to make learning more engaging for young students. “Consider a typical student’s modern entertainment options – iPods, iPads, Wii, Nintendo, Xbox, video games, social networks, HD television, 3D movies. Why are we mostly using sophisticated technology to merely entertain…
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What’s the worst part about making your bed in the morning? That’s easy: it’s not fun. As an adult, you’ve come to grips with the fact that not all tasks can be done for the sake of recreation. Kids, however, have a harder time accepting this premise. That’s why HighScore House is making household chores…
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I know what you’re thinking: another mobile marketplace. Great. Yes, it is great actually. Here’s a mobile marketplace with a distinct niche: Seattle-based startup OfferUp instantly distributes items for sale across a handful of platforms, saving you at least 30 minutes. And, they are starting out by targeting moms – smart move, as parents are…
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We’ve all seen videos of young kids adeptly navigating the iPad’s touchscreen, but could the Apple device bring more than play? Jesper Lodahl certainly thinks so, as he sees his 4-year-old daughter Laura – with the help of a few iPad apps – do basic reading, tell time, and even teach him Spanish words. Lodahl’s…
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Coming off a big win at TechWeek last week, Chicago-based BabbaCo, has been on a roll as today they announced they’ve raised $1.2 million in funding lead by Lightbank and SV Angel (Ron Conway’s angel group). BabbaCo was founded in 2007 offering baby products like inflatable play mats and other products created by founder Jessica…
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Everloop, a protected online social network for children, recently landed $3.1 million in seed funding from vFormation, Band of Angels, Envoi Ventures, and individual investors including Richard Chino, Wayne Goodrich and Deena Burnett-Bailey of Angels of Hope. In a nutshell, Everloop is like Facebook designed for kids under the age of 13. Created by three…
Read MoreYou’re a parent with a young child growing like a string bean in the summertime. A box of clothing in your child’s size, that you selected online, arrives in the mail. Your payment? $13 for shipping and your own box of outgrown children’s clothes, picked up at your doorstep, that will go to another family….
Read MoreWhen adults try to encourage certain habits or behavior in kids, it’s natural to look for methods that are fun and engaging. In an effort to turn reading into a fun and lifelong habit, Pocket Tales will offer online social reading games for kids 7 -12 years old. Readers, or players, will start by developing…
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There are a number of startup accelerator and incubator programs in the United States. We are fans of these programs (not to be confused with... Read More
Two months after the iPad 2 debuted in March, around 40% of users surveyed said their iPad was their primary computer, up from around 30%... Read More
With our Startup Mixology Conference coming up next week followed by our classic Tech Cocktail DC Summer mixer which will showcase a handful of early-stage... Read More
Coming off of one of our biggest Tech Cocktail mixer events in Chicago this past week, which showcased 14 early-stage start-ups, we thought it would... Read More