Boat Rocker funding follows MarcoPolo

Boat Rocker Ventures in Canada has led a US$8.5m financing round in a company that produces early childhood education mobile apps.

Boat Rocker Media’s shows include Orphan Black

MarcoPolo Learning will develop and produce animated longform video content in partnership with Boat Rocker Media, the studio behind shows such as Orphan Black and The Next Step, using the latter’s team of more than 400 in-house animators and producers.

The production and distribution partnership will see the two companies create original animated television and digital series based on MarcoPolo’s cast of characters.

Other investors include Horizons Ventures in Asia and Seedcamp in Europe, as well as senior executives from companies such as Maker Studios and NewsCorp.

MarcoPolo Learning claims to have at least five million users in more than 150 countries, including the US, China, Russia, the UK and Japan.

Michel Pratte, chief revenue officer at Boat Rocker and new MarcoPolo board member, said: “We believe that MarcoPolo’s educational focus and integrated app-plus-video strategy provides them with an opportunity to become a leading, globally trusted preschool brand for the mobile generation.”