Mindshapes

Mindshapes is an interactive learning company that creates virtual worlds and apps that help children and adults learn through gameplay. Founded in October 2010,[1] the company is headquartered in London and has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.[2] Mindshapes’ products include educational apps for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch for children aged 2–12,[3][4] as well as their flagship product My Story World[5]

Mindshapes
TypePrivate
IndustryInteractive Learning
Electronic Publishing
Online Education
Educational Software
HeadquartersLondon, UK
Key people
Shukri Shammas (Chairman and Co-Founder)
Chris Michaels (co-CEO)
Nina Pustilnik (co-CEO)
Sami Lababidi (CTO and Co-Founder)
Christian Dorffer (CIO and Co-Founder)
Tareq Naqib (CFO and Co-Founder)
ProductsMy Story World
Websitehttp://www.mindshapes.com

Mindshapes secured $5 million (£3.1 million) of Series A funding in November 2011 from the company’s five founders and unnamed angel investors.[6]

Company Background

Mindshapes is led by co-CEOs Chris Michaels and Nina Pustilnik.[7] Other notable staff include Chairman Shukri Shammas; CTO George Taylor, "Chief Ninja" Sami Lababidi; CIO Christian Dorffer; and CFO Tareq Naqib.[8] Shammas and Lababidi were two of the four co-founders of Playfish, which was acquired by Electronic Arts in November 2009.[9]

Products

Mindshapes looks to “promote learning through a fusion of gaming and educational principles”.[10] The company has a team of advisors specialising in education, including Professor Paul Harris at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.[11] Mindshapes also partners[12] with charities such as the National Literacy Trust.

Mindshapes has published a range of educational children’s apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Aside from My Story World,[13] their apps include The Opposites;[14] Casper’s Scare School;[15] Lingo Zoo;[16] Meteor Math;[17] Hickory Dickory Dock;[18] Jack and the Beanstalk by Mindshapes;[19] Jellytoons Toddler Skills: Bobo’s Birthday Challenge [20] and Tap-a-Tune.[21]

References
  1. Ingrid Lunden, paidContent:UK, 1 November 2011, http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-education-app-publisher-mindshapes-raises-5-million-inks-content-deals/, retrieved 30 January 2012
  2. Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman, Pocket Gamer, 1 November 2011, http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/Mindshapes+news/news.asp?c=34858&srch=mindshapes, retrieved 30 January 2012
  3. Andy Penfold, Mobile Marketing, 1 November 2011, http://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/content/mindshapes-secures-5m-investment, retrieved 30 January 2012
  4. Guardian.co.uk, 19 September 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2011/sep/19/apps-rush-mindshapes-apps-kids, retrieved 30 January 2012
  5. My Story World, http://www.appsplayground.com/apps/2013/05/02/mindshapes-my-story-world-ipad/, retrieved 02 May 2013
  6. Stuart Dredge, Guardian.co.uk, http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2011/nov/01/mindshapes-funding-magic-town-apps, retrieved 30 January 2012
  7. Jeremy Dickinson, Kidscreen.com, 11 December 2012, http://kidscreen.com/2012/12/11/mindshapes-appoints-new-joint-ceos-in-executive-shuffle
  8. Ingrid Lunden, mocoNews.net, 1 November 2011, http://moconews.net/article/419-education-app-publisher-mindshapes-raises-5-million-inks-content-deals/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  9. Yukari Iwatani Kane, Wall Street Journal, 9 November 2009, https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704402404574525473636440080, retrieved 23 February 2012
  10. Gerald Lynch, TechDigest, 19 December 2011, http://www.techdigest.tv/2011/12/mindshapes_brin.html, retrieved 23 February 2012
  11. Paul L. Harris, Harvard Graduate School of Education, http://www.gse.harvard.edu/directory/faculty/faculty-detail/?fc=445&flt=h&sub=all, retrieved 23 February 2012
  12. Mindshapes partners, http://www.mindshapes.com/partners/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  13. "iTunes", 2 May 2013, https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/my-story-world/id633414580?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2, retrieved 2 May 2013
  14. Geek Dad Blog, 9 January 2012, http://geekdad.daddyforever.com/mindshapes-dictionary/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  15. Amy Solomon, Giggle Apps, 28 October 2011, http://www.giggleapps.com/reviews/casper-scare-school-costume-closet-review/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  16. Mummy’s Space, 20 October 2011, http://www.mummysspace.com/2011/10/review-of-lingo-zoo.html, retrieved 23 February 2012
  17. Matt Forbeck, Wired, November 10, 2011, https://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/11/meteor-math-for-ios-makes-math-fast-and-fun/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  18. Heather Leister, The iPhone mum, 12 October 2011, http://www.theiphonemom.com/hickory-dickory-dock, retrieved 23 February 2012
  19. James Floyd Kelly, Wired, 10 August 2011, https://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/trying-out-digital-storybooks-with-a-4-year-old-part-1-jack-and-the-beanstalk/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  20. Stuart Dredge, Apps Playground, 17 March 2011, http://www.appsplayground.com/apps/2011/03/17/jellytoons-wants-to-train-your-toddler-on-iphone-and-ipad/, retrieved 23 February 2012
  21. BlogByBaby, 7 January 2011, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2012-02-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) , retrieved 23 February 2012
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