- Early learning company Lovevery announced it raised $20 million and launched a product called The Block Set
Early learning company Lovevery announced it has raised $20 million in Series B funding and the expansion of its science-backed product offerings with the launch of The Block Set. Lovevery is building on the accolades of its staged-based playtime products called The Play Gym and The Play Kits as it launches The Block Set at selected retail channels at a price of $90.
“Blocks are universally recognized by educators as offering crucial lessons in physics, engineering, science, math, and open-ended imaginative play. Yet we discovered after going into families’ homes that many kids aren’t playing with blocks anymore! Bricks and magnetic tiles that click together have widely replaced blocks. These building toys are great for open-ended play, but kids don’t learn about balance and support in the same way that they can with a classic set of blocks. Blocks are the original STEM toy,” said Lovevery cofounder and CEO Jessica Rolph. “We set out to give families a more inventive, more adaptable block set because blocks have so much meaning for early childhood development. We tested this set with more than one hundred families and saw first-hand that kids of all ages love it.”
Lovevery is considered one of the most comprehensive block sets ever designed as it comprises of solid woodblocks and more than 20 stage-based activities offer years of learning through play.
The investors in this round include Maveron, GV, Reach Capital, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and Collaborative Fund. And Jason Stoffer and Cat Lee of Maveron are joining Lovevery’s board in director and observer roles, respectively. Plus Laura Melahn of GV also joins as a board observer.
“We have been impressed by how Lovevery combines product obsession with its vision to improve families’ lives through more meaningful play,” added Stoffer. “At a time when parents and children face more distractions that keep them from connecting and learning together, families look to Lovevery for help. The result is fast growth and major customer love.”
Rolph founded Lovevery with president Roderick Morris. Previously, Morris was the SVP of Marketing and Operations at Opower.
“Our subscriber base has grown more than 10X in the past year, and as we have reached critical mass, the parents we serve have been asking for new ways to connect with Lovevery and with each other,” explained Morris. “The unique blend of consumer and technology expertise our investors bring to Lovevery is well aligned with our vision of a holistic support system for parents that spans products, information, and community in a transformative way.”
