Storybutton, a brand new audio participant for youths, goals to be the go-to different to screened units for the 12 and below set. Created by kid-friendly podcaster Jim Jacob (“Mr. Jim”), Storybutton desires to enhance the way in which children hear by transferring the podcast expertise off telephones and tablets.
Storybutton prices $99.99 and options an easy-to-use design with an inside rechargeable battery that lasts roughly a day, and a headphone jack so children can hear quietly round the home. The system is available in three kinds: inexperienced/black, purple and white. A Wi-Fi connection is required.
The corporate started delivery its units in August and bought 1,500 items throughout the U.S. and Canada. The corporate will broaden to Australia and the U.Okay. in 2024. Clients can solely buy Storybutton by its web site, nonetheless, the corporate is in talks with a number of retailers, Jacob revealed to TechCrunch throughout an interview.
The system provides over 10,000 tales designed for youths ages 5-12, starting from audiobooks and bedtime tales to instructional tales, animal content material and extra. There’s additionally an choice for youngsters to construct their very own playlist of favourite episodes.
Storybutton may enchantment to folks who need their children to have a screenless system to manage on their very own and entertain themselves with. The corporate discovered that 85% of youngsters use their dad and mom’ cellular units to hearken to their favourite podcasts.
Not like different audio gamers for youths, resembling Yoto and Tonies, Storybutton’s content material is totally free. In the meantime, Yoto requires clients to buy separate playing cards to insert into its system, and Tonies sells collectible figurines that customers place on prime of the field (just like Nintendo Amiibos).
Picture Credit: Storybutton
Most Storybutton content material will be discovered on common digital music providers, nonetheless, the corporate has not too long ago been investing in unique unique exhibits. Storybutton plans to provide 9 unique podcasts over the following yr and a half. Whereas the primary two seasons of every unique present shall be accessible in every single place, all of the third seasons shall be unique to Storybutton.
Storybutton additionally not too long ago partnered with iHeartMedia to launch a brand new kid-focused podcast community to assist creators monetize their exhibits. Podcasts already signed to the community embody “Koala Moon,” “Unicorn Bedtime Tales,” in addition to Mr. Jim’s portfolio of exhibits— “Bedtime Tales with Mr. Jim,” “Spyology Squad,” “Youngsters Brief Tales” and “Youngsters Animal Tales.”
The iHeartMedia partnership is notable for the reason that huge media company will profit kid-friendly audio creators who wish to promote their exhibits to a wider viewers. As a part of the deal, iHeartMedia gives promotional media, advert gross sales and operational assist to all the child podcasts that Storybutton is signing to its community.
The brand new community allows the corporate “to herald different child podcasts to soundly develop and monetize their exhibits,” Jacob informed us. “That’s one of many massive challenges in child podcasting in the present day; a number of creators and studios have actually nice exhibits, however monetizing it in a compliant and secure approach may be very tough.”
Individually, Storybutton additionally signed 25 profitable child podcasts to distribution agreements, together with exhibits from GoKidGo, ABF Inventive, Lingokids and lots of others. The corporate says it’s investing $500,000 within the child podcast economic system.
Founder and CEO of Storybutton Jim Jacob (and household)
Trying forward, Storybutton plans to launch an app referred to as Storybutton Plus for fogeys that permits them to add or take away podcasts, audiobook information and music onto the Storybutton audio participant proper from their cellphone. Mother and father may also be capable of report their very own tales or guide readings to make accessible on Storybutton. The app may also grant entry to ad-free variations of Storybutton Community exhibits. Storybutton Plus is launching in November.
Additionally on the long-term roadmap, the corporate is exploring different options to deliver to future variations of the system, like Bluetooth functionality and a notification function that tells customers when a brand new episode of their favourite present simply dropped. Storybutton can also be engaged on AI-powered options that can allow customers to create content material. For instance, a choose-your-own-adventure choice the place children can work together with content material by the system.
“Over the following 5 years, we purpose to make Storybutton the go-to off-screen platform for audio content material globally,” Jacob stated. “With continued product enhancements and content material partnerships, we envision a future the place everybody has entry to a world of creativeness, schooling and wellness by Storybutton.”