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littleBits Electronics
Open-source library of electronic modules that allows users to learn electronics via prototypes
About littleBits Electronics
littleBits Electronics, now part of Sphero, operates within the educational technology and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) market, providing tools that demystify electronics for learners. The company was established in September 2011 by Ayah Bdeir, an engineer, interactive artist, and an alumna of the MIT Media Lab. Bdeir's background in computer engineering, sociology, and media arts, combined with her passion for the maker movement, directly shaped the company's mission to make hardware accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background. She first developed a prototype as an experiment to help designers engage with electronics, debuting it at the Maker Faire in 2009 before officially launching the company two years later.
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The company's core business revolves around the sale of its modular electronics kits. The product line consists of small, color-coded circuit boards called "Bits," each with a specific function like light, sound, or sensors. These Bits snap together with magnets, eliminating the need for soldering or complex wiring and allowing users to build and prototype inventions quickly. This modular system enables a vast number of potential combinations, fostering creativity and hands-on learning. The company has released numerous themed kits, including a Space Kit in collaboration with NASA and a Droid Inventor Kit with Disney. In 2014, littleBits introduced the "cloudBit," a module that enables creations to connect to the internet, expanding possibilities into the Internet of Things (IoT).
littleBits' business model is multi-faceted, generating revenue primarily through the direct sale of its kits via its website and retail partners. It also engages in collaborations with educational institutions, offering bulk purchasing options and curricula tailored for schools. The company serves a broad market, from individual consumers and families for at-home learning to K-12 schools, after-school programs, and makerspaces. Its products are designed to be adaptable for various age and skill levels, from elementary school to university. In August 2019, littleBits was acquired by Sphero, another key player in the educational robotics space. This merger combined the strengths of both companies, creating one of the largest entities in the educational STEAM market, with a joint portfolio of over 140 patents. Following the acquisition, founder Ayah Bdeir moved on from the company.
At a glance
- Status
- Acquired
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- New York City, United States
- Employees
- 22
- Open positions
- None listed
- Dealroom signal
- 60.9/100
- Industry
- Kids, Robotics
- Sector
- Robotics, Open Source, Children, Spinout, DT and LS, science-based
- Technology
- IoT InternetOfThings, Hardware, Deep Tech
- Business model
- Manufacturing, SaaS
- Client focus
- b2b, b2c
- Investment activity
- 1 company, latest Aug 2018
- Capital deployed
- —
- Preferred round
- ACQUISITION
Latest news
Press, funding announcements and product moves mentioning littleBits Electronics.
Funding history
Company financing events and reported valuations.
| Deal type | Date | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACQUISITIONOther financing | Aug 2019 | $0 | — | Sphero | ↗ |
| SERIES BOther financing | Jul 2015 | $42M | $169M | Grishin Robotics · DFJ Growth · Wamda Capital · Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners | — |
Growth signals
Latest recorded traffic for littleBits Electronics is 200 monthly website visits, down 84.6% over the last three months. littleBits Electronics's team declined 8.3% over the past year.
Similar companies
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Investments and acquisitions
Recent portfolio relationships for companies that also act as investors or acquirers.
Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Seed1 investor entered at this stage
Neoteny Labs
Series A9 investors entered at this stage
True Ventures
Khosla Ventures
MENA Venture Investments / MVI
O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures
Lerer Hippeau
Grishin Robotics
DFJ Growth
Wamda Capital
Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners
Other known investors2 additional known investors
MIT Media Lab
Sphero
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
team presence
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about littleBits Electronics on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
Reading the room on X — pulling top posts and synthesizing themes…
Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
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