Bitsbox is a startup[1] that teaches children how to code apps.[2] The company sells boxes with suggested apps[3] for users to code on a virtual tablet.[4]
 | |
| Industry | Education Technology[5] |
|---|---|
| Founders | Scott Lininger, Aidan Chopra[6] |
| Headquarters | Boulder, Colorado, United States[1] |
| Services | Coding Education[2] |
| Website | Bitsbox.com |
Background
editScott Lininger and Aidan Chopra co-founded Bitsbox,[7][6] which in 2014 participated in the Boomtown seed accelerator program.[8][9] The accelerator acquired 6% equity in Bitsbox in exchange for $20,000 in seed funding.[6]
In January 2015 Bitsbox raised $253,696 from 2,943 people in a Kickstarter campaign, and in April 2015 the company began sending out monthly subscription boxes[10] with apps to code.[11] In August 2015 Bitsbox closed a $500,000 funding round.[5][12]
In June 2017, it was reported that Bitxbox was working with Colorado schools, and conducted its first pilot program with Saint Vrain Valley School District in Longmont, Colo., to study how the coding could be used in the classrooms.[13]
Reception
editForbes contributor Michael Lindenmayer wrote, "Bitsbox sets kids up for success" because, "children need to know how to code."[7] Tamara Chuang of The Denver Post commented that Bitsbox, "[Is] helping to buck gender stereotypes for kids" since around half of its users are girls.[14] CBS news anchor Kristine Johnson called Bitsbox, "a brilliant idea" and noted that the visuals are exciting for children.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b Skovira, Kristen Boulder's Bitsbox teaches kids to create apps and games Archived 2015-11-18 at the Wayback Machine The Denver Channel 14 January 2015
- ^ a b Perez, Sarah Bitsbox Debuts Monthly Coding Projects That Teach Kids To Build Simple Apps TechCrunch 5 December 2014
- ^ Davidson, Michael Colorado Stereo Gear Makers, Accelerator Grads Kickstart Growth Xconomy 10 February 2015
- ^ Davis, Nicola Tech that turns aubergines into submarines and other great gadgets The Guardian 11 January 2015
- ^ a b Free coding kits for the Hour of Code eSchool News 29 October 2015
- ^ a b c Lindeman, Tracey Bitsbox gets kids coding Montreal Gazette 20 April 2015
- ^ a b Lindenmayer, Michael Bitsbox Sets Kids up for Success Forbes 24 December 2014
- ^ Davidson, Michael Boomtown Accelerator’s Second Batch of Startups Make Their Debuts Xconomy 13 November 2014
- ^ Wallace, Alicia Boulder-based Boomtown startup accelerator launches second batch of companies Daily Camera 12 November 2014
- ^ Chuang, Tamara Heck yeah, we’re from Boulder: BitsBox The Denver Post 20 April 2015
- ^ Carson, Erin Inside Bitsbox's quest to keep kids coding using the US Postal Service TechRepublic 14 January 2015
- ^ Hunt, Gordon Bitsbox donating kids’ coding kits to schools for Hour of Code Silicon Republic 26 October 2015
- ^ Wist, Connor (2017-06-05). "Bitsbox startup teaches kids coding technology through monthly shipments". 7NEWS. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- ^ Chuang, Tamara Boulder startup Bitbox helping to buck gender stereotypes for kids The Denver Post 25 October 2015
- ^ Johnson, Kristine Can coding become a second language for the next generation? CBSN 04 February 2015