Startup Spotlight: PixyKids, a new social network
What is PixyKids?
PixyKids is an interactive and immersive social media platform for kids aged 6-12 that aims to inspire kids to create, learn, and share through their personalized digital space.
Why should you know about it?
The company announced last week that it has secured $3 million in funding — a $2 million investment by ATA Ventures and $1 million from other angel investors, which means it’s only a matter of time before it’s up and running.
What makes PixyKids such an interesting idea?
Social media platforms like Facebook are limited to users age 13 and up (though, naturally, there are ways around that), but PixyKids aspires to be a social space with kids under 12 in mind. The platform will allow users to create their own content through interactive tools and apps, share with family and friends, and build and publish digital portfolios.
Let’s face it: Society isn’t going to become any less dependent on social networks anytime soon, and Facebook isn’t a place for children. PixyKids is being specifically developed for kids, which allows parents to encourage social sharing in a manner that’s safe and appropriate for the age demographic.
As a child, there are few moments more affirming than a positively received drawing for Mom and Dad, or your first (mostly image based) “published” book, proudly read aloud to your elementary school class and their parents (mine was about best friends). Meanwhile, my memories of field trips and class outings from that time are kept in physical photo albums.
Today, I share the things I’ve written with my friends and acquaintances with the click of a button; it feels archaic to have a physical place and time at which I’d display my work. And as much as I’d like to, I don’t scrapbook my memories anymore — it’s too time consuming, and printing photos costs money, anyway.
It makes complete sense that kids today would have a digital space for class projects, field trip photos, and comments about their day.
“Parents are looking for sites they can feel good about, that help their kids develop socially, offer positive reinforcement, and are creatively enriching,” PixyKids CEO and co-founder Rajul Kadakia said in a press release. “Today’s kids are aspirational, tech-savvy, and have self-expression in their DNA. Both kids and parents are demanding a digital platform where they can share their everyday personal experiences, express themselves creatively, and build the lasting bonds that are so critical in these formative years.”
Where can I learn more about this?
Check out pixykids.com.
