Indiegogo is committed to accessibility. If you have difficulty using our site, please contact support@indiegogo.com for assistance or view our accessibility notice by clicking here

This campaign is closed

NEO: The first SOCIAL storytelling toy

Unlimited stories, connects kids with family & a community of storytellers from around the world

You may also be interested in

Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

NEO: The first SOCIAL storytelling toy

NEO: The first SOCIAL storytelling toy

NEO: The first SOCIAL storytelling toy

NEO: The first SOCIAL storytelling toy

NEO: The first SOCIAL storytelling toy

Unlimited stories, connects kids with family & a community of storytellers from around the world

Unlimited stories, connects kids with family & a community of storytellers from around the world

Unlimited stories, connects kids with family & a community of storytellers from around the world

Unlimited stories, connects kids with family & a community of storytellers from around the world

Social Toys Network
Social Toys Network
Social Toys Network
Social Toys Network
1 Campaign |
Mumbai, India
$4,171 USD 47 backers
29% of $14,000 Fixed Goal Fixed Goal
Prototype
The project team has a working demo, not the final product. Their ability to begin production may be affected by product development or financial challenges.
Check Wrench Warehouse Truck
Concept Prototype Production Shipping
Arrow Electronics Icon
Arrow Certified Technology
Arrow has reviewed this campaign's electronic and/or software design and verified that it is feasible for manufacturing. Learn More
Overview
We need your support to bring Neo to life. Neo is the first 'Social' toy connecting kids with family over bedtime stories & connecting parents with a community of storytellers. - Interactive toys with a character that is forever fresh, never ending supply of dialogues and stories - Send stories to the toy from anywhere in the world - Read and create your own stories. Ask family to join in - Share your stories with a community of parents who can in turn send them to their kids

Neo is an internet connected toy delivering stories to kids and is 'Social'. For kids aged 2+, but anyone who loves stories could get Neo home.

 

                

 

We created 'Neo' a toy for kids to listen to stories and a companion mobile app for parents and family to create, share and discover new stories and connect with a community of parents who believe in the power of storytelling.

Kids listen to stories delivered by Neo without using a mobile app. Neo talks to kids and tells them jokes and trivia.

Connect Neo to your Home WIFI - with a simple one-time setup process using our app.

 

It is easy to send a story to Neo.

Record your own story - Record a story in your own voice on our mobile app and send it to Neo over the internet.

OR

Pick a story from the app - Pick a story from our mobile app and Neo will narrate it to your child. These stories are pre-recorded audio books by storytellers.  

 

Neo downloads and delivers stories to kids - Neo can talk and tells kids it has a new story. Kids press a button on Neo to listen to new stories.

 

 

 

  I think it's a great idea. Makes it easier on single parents to have an aide to help tuck their kids in at bedtime.  - Chris, Dad.

 I am glad that you have come with a toy rather than using cell phone app directly for kids  - Ekta, Mother.

 I am a pilot and am not usually home for bedtime stories. This can help me read my kids bedtime stories when I am travelling" - Samir, Dad 

 

Playing with physical toys helps spark kids imagination, nurtures their social and creative skills.

Today's toys need to be smart to interest kids and keep up with the new digital experiences. That does not mean every toy needs to morph into a mobile phone or a tablet. 

We were inspired by the 90's cult hit ‘Toy Story’ characters and brought alive Social Toys, toys on the internet with an explicit human connection.

Social toys help re-kindle the connection with 'digital' kids and connect the entire family.

Storytelling has always been at the core of parenting and fuels the power of imagination in a child.

Neo the monster takes it one step forward helping the child bond with family despite the modern day pressures of time and physical availability.

Every family has  stories to be passed on to the next generation. There are so many beautiful undiscovered stories even today. We want to bring together a community of story tellers and parents who believe in story telling. With Neo they can create and share new stories with the community.

 

We prototyped 'Neo' using off the shelf components in early 2015. The next year and half was spent creating a delightful, stable, safe and manufacturable product.

Our team went through multiple iterations of the electronic board design and selection of components.

After we developed the electronics, we worked with the toy designer duo of Suhasini Paul and Paul Sandip to design the character and used prototyping techniques like 3D printing, CNC milling to create the physical prototype.

 

We successfully carried out a small batch production of 40 units of the toy in 2016 to put our assumptions to test.

Late 2016 we tested these toys with interested users as a part of our beta test and incorporated their feedback to improve the product.

We are now ready to take the design and the electronics to the manufacturers for production.

All we need is your help to make this campaign successful.

    

 

 

We have taken the utmost care to not collect any information unless its absolutely necessary for the purpose of a feature of the toy.

No information shall be collected without the consent of parents.

We do not store any information about kids as we understand, kids privacy needs to be respected.

Parents have complete control over any information we collect and we promise to be transparent about it.

We have worked with internet security specialists to ensure security and safety of the toy and we are always committed to this cause.  

 

The funds cover the initial cost of production of the toys. Toys will be manufactured by a process called injection moulding. For this process we will need to first carry out tooling and creation of moulds. The production then begins by using these moulds to create the toys.

We will also purchase electronic components with the funds for the units to be shipped to backers. Funds will also be utilised for assembly, testing and packaging, to deliver the toys to you.

We are carrying out all the electronic certifications now. A small part of the funds will be used for product related certifications.

 

 

 

          

Like our product? Help us by telling your friends about us on your social network.

           

   

 

     

The Team - (Left to Right) Piyush, Amit & Jayesh

Amit Deshpande - Co-Founder 

Amit has spent more than 15 years in the software industry. His experience spans across software product companies and digital agencies in India and the UK. He has architected award winning digital products for leading consumer brands. His experience with creating instant messaging products and developing software for embedded devices found him his new passion—Internet connected hardware products.

Amit is a tinkerer always experimenting with new tech, an avid reader and loves music and sports.

Piyush Supe - Hardware Engineer

Piyush is a roboticist. He completed his Masters in Mechatronics from New Castle University, UK. In his spare time, he loves to hack his way through a hardware product.

Piyush is an avid sports fan, foodie and loves electronics and hardware.

Jayesh Jain - Full stack Engineer

Jayesh is a software engineer and creates web products, mobile apps and tools for data analytics. Though, he is an electronics engineer his passion lies in developing software products.

He is a traveller, hiker and curious about spiritualism and cultures.

 

       

Our advisors guide and counsel us .

  Sandip Maiti - Co-Founder & Advisor

Sandip is also a Co-Founder of a large independent Digital Agency in India. He is an avid technologist with over 15 years of marketing experience in USA & India.

  Mausumi Sircar - Advisor, Artist

Mausumi is the 'first user' for all our toy prototypes. She is a creative partner who advises us on design, content and brings to light the concerns and pain points of parents. She is an artist and pursues her passion of painting simultaneously. 

 

      

What material is the toy made of?

The body is made of ABS and some parts out of food grade silicon - both are kids safe

Why WIFI and not bluetooth?

We wanted to connect family and grandparents who may be far away and not staying in the same home, city or in different countries,

How long does it take to full charge the Battery?

About 5 hours for a full charge. 

What is play time for a complete charge cycle?

3 hours of non stop playing stories and a standby time of 9 hours.

Can kids send voice messages?

Not in this version, we have not added any mic or a listening device on the toy.

How many people can send stories to Neo?

Any number depending on how many you invite and give permission to send a story.

All about Claiming Perks

https://support.indiegogo.com/hc/en-us/articles...

 

       

All refunds processed as per Indiegogo's policies.

To summarise, refunds can be processed when the campaign is on and if the chosen perk has not been closed.

For details please see

https://support.indiegogo.com/hc/en-us/articles/526876-Refunds

https://support.indiegogo.com/hc/en-us/articles/213172367

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
Need more information
Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

Choose your Perk

featured

1 x NEO - SUPER EARLY BIRD

$44 USD $55 USD (20% off)
Special discount only for Super Early Birds. You get a Neo (toy) and of course our mobile app is free for IOS and Android. Add 20$ USD for International Shipping (ships free to India). Limited stocks, Grab One now!
Included Items
  • Neo
Estimated Shipping
January 2018
0 out of 100 of claimed
Ships worldwide.

A Big Thank you

$1 USD
Help us kickstart a storytelling movement. We will keep you posted on exclusive news and updates about Neo.
Included Items
  • Thank you e-card from Neo
0 claimed

You are our star supporter!

$10 USD
We will put you up on our website, forever and let the world know you how much your support meant to us. Be a part of our journey as we keep you posted with exclusive news and updates about Neo.
Included Items
  • Thank you e-card from Neo
  • Name on our website, forever!
0 claimed

1 x NEO - EARLY BIRD

$49 USD $55 USD (10% off)
Discount only for Early Birds get it at 10% less than retail price. You get a Neo (toy) and of course our mobile app is free for IOS and Android. Exclusive news and updates along the journey to bringing Neo alive. Add 20$ USD for International Shipping (ships free to India).
Included Items
  • Neo
Estimated Shipping
January 2018
0 claimed
Ships worldwide.

20 x NEO - PRESCHOOL PACK

$1,000 USD
Here is a pack of 20 to liven up storytelling at your pre-school. Get a thank you message from Neo for bringing it to your pre-school. Work with our team to create a customised content pack of 20 items of your choice (Greetings, Jokes, Trivia and other custom content). FREE SHIPPING - because this is SPECIAL!
Included Items
  • 20 x Neo
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
0 claimed
Ships worldwide.

Sponsor for a Special Cause

$1,225 USD
Help bring the gift and warmth of stories to chidren at a hospital. We will deliver a pack of 25 to a children's hospital of your choice. Storytellers (professional and amateur) volunteer for this special cause and read stories for kids. C'mon bring cheer to a few kids. (Available only in India. For other countries, please contact us)
Included Items
  • 25 X Neo
Estimated Shipping
February 2018
0 claimed
Ships to India

You may also be interested in

Up Caret