The maker of kids-friendly iPad accessory, Osmo, has finalized a partnership deal with Apple to sell its products from Apple Retail Stores.
Osmo, founded by two former Google employees, sells an iPad accessory set to revolutionize children's toys. Osmo uses a reflective mirror that sits on the iPad's camera so the surface in front of the screen can be used to play interactive games. The startup has attracted supporters and investors. As a result of this popularity, Osmo has struck a deal with Apple to sell its gaming products in all U.S. and Canadian retail stores, co-founder Pramod Sharma told the Wall Street Journal.
Tanglible Play, the gaming startup behind Osmo, was the brainchild of Sharma and Jerome Scholler, a gaming veteran. The startup consists of a total of fourteen employees and it began selling its iPad accessory with a three-game software package in May for just $50. The discounted price for Osmo was part of an early adopter crowd funding campaign, where it collected $2.3 million in pre-orders, the Journal added. The retail price for the Osmo is expected to be $99,according to a previous report.
The continuous growth of the startup attracted some big investors such as Accel Partners, Upfront Ventures and K9 Ventures. Together they raised $12 million in a Series A round, bringing the total to $14.5 million. According to the report, Tangible Play is valued at over $40 million.
Osmo currently offers three games, Tangram, Newton and Words. Sharma hopes to use the investors' funding to build new games involving math problems and art later this year.
"Osmo's technology makes childhood education more personal, creative and engaging. We believe that the future of education will rely on intuitive innovation that amplifies learning through interactive online-to-offline experiences - Osmo is at the forefront of this movement," Rich Wong, partner at Accel Partners, who will join the company's board of directors, said in a statement, Forbes reported.
By securing Apple's partnership, Osmo is likely to grow extensively. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Cupertino tech giant will take a percentage of each sale for allowing the products to sit on its shelves.
