US-based Wonder Workshop raises $20m for China push

The round was led by Idea Bulb Ventures and existing investor WI Harper, with participation by Learn Capital, Charles River Ventures and Madrona Venture Group. According to a release, Wonder Workshop will use the capital to improve the localization of its products both for China and for Korea and Germany, which it plans to enter soon.

Wonder Workshop is the developer of Dash and Dot, a pair of robots that come with software tools that children can use to program their behavior. The aim is to provide children with a hands-on environment in which they can learn programming.

Founded in 2012, Wonder Workshop now sells its products in 30 countries worldwide. The company's robots are found in more than 7,000 schools around the world, including 3,000 outside the US.

"We led this round of financing because the company creates industry leading products that are loved by children, teachers and parents around the world," said Peter Liu, founder and chairman of WI Harper. "This clear product-market fit is complemented by an excellent leadership team, top-tier investors, and influential strategic partners. WI Harper looks forward to working closely with Wonder Workshop as they enter the China market."

Wonder Workshop's VC backers also include Taiwan and China-based Innovation Works, which, like WI Harper, has aimed to support the company's growth in China through its business connections and knowledge of the country. Idea Bulb Ventures, which participated in this round, is a US-based affiliate of Innovation Works. The firm invests in US-based start-ups at the seed and Series A stages, seeking teams with potential to successfully enter the China market.

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• Topics
• Greater China
• North America
• Technology
• Consumer
• Venture
• Early-stage
• China
• USA
• Innovation Works
• WI Harper Group
• Education