Hopster bags funding, eyes growth

Hopster, a subscription-based TV and learning app for pre-schoolers, has completed a multi-million pound funding round to fuel further growth.

The money raised will see Hopster invest in new product features, acquire premium kids content and continue its international expansion which began in December with a launch in Ireland. The company is also expanding its UK operation to support growth.

The funding round was led by Sandbox Partners Private Limited, a strategic investor in the learning and media space. Hopster had previously secured seed investment from UK angel investors including TV presenter Davina McCall, Tony Orsten (The Imaginarium, twofour54) and Bhav Singh (Pearson, Viacom).

Nick Walters, Hopster founder, said: “With their investment on board, we’ll be able to offer more than ever before for families – and we’ve got big plans for new features and international expansion. Our expansion to Ireland has beaten our expectations; now we want to increase the pace and deliver an unprecedented experience to families all around the globe.”

Since launching in December 2013, Hopster has recorded more than 200,000 downloads from UK families and secured a coveted App Store ‘Best of 2014’ award. The last quarter of 2014 also saw Hopster expand to smart TVs and set-top boxes, announcing a series of major deals with Freesat, EE TV, Samsung, and Panasonic.