This funding round has closed
A unique way of teaching online safety to children through gamification.
223% of minimum goal raised
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Lead investor: Michael Martin |
Minimum Target £ 20,000 |
Minimum investment amount £ 5,000 |
Maximum Target £ 70,000 |
Maximum investment amount £ 70,000 |
Gooseberry Planet has developed a number of unique apps to teach children about online safety through gamification. The idea was devised in response to a perceived gap in the way children are thought about online safety in school. In a familiar game, children are presented with live scenarios and the consequences of their responses to them, all in a virtual world. Companion teacher and parent apps and support materials allow teachers and parents to monitor progress and to discuss the scenarios and the children’s responses.
The Gooseberry School suite of apps was devised in response to a perceived gap in schools’ PHSE curriculum and comprises three apps: Gooseberry Student (4 -16 years in 5 levels) teaches children through consequences in live scenarios in a virtual world. Gooseberry Teacher provides teachers with a complete toolkit with which to monitor learning progress and identify areas of vulnerability. Gooseberry Parent allows parents and carers to be involved in their child’s learning journey and monitor progress whilst, in many cases, learning themselves.
Online safety has become a burning issue with children’s internet access starting at increasingly early ages and mobile usage of social media and web services by young people continuing to expand. With the growth in smartphone usage, much of children’s online activities takes place outside their homes and schools. High profile reports of cyber bullying, exposure to age inappropriate material and other potential dangers have left many parents feeling ill equipped to monitor or control their children’s online activities or experiences. This ‘digital divide’ can cause concerns that children are online without sufficient awareness of potential risks and lack the skills to manage them.
App downloads are priced at £1.58 at present, rising to £3.99 when the App is upgraded, and a parent App will be £1.00. A freemium model is being adopted for schools. Free versions are being distributed directly and via distributors with follow up by a telemarketing team to upsell the premium product. The premium version will cost £1.50 per child per year. The suite of apps for primary schools will be ready at the end of August and for secondary schools by September. GP is discussing CSR support from companies with an interest in e-safety and is in discussions with major companies in communications and others. The aim is to achieve a potential annual revenues of at least £100,000.
The Gooseberry School suite of apps was devised in response to a perceived gap in schools’ PHSE curriculum and comprises three apps: Gooseberry Student (4 -16 years in 5 levels) teaches children through consequences in live scenarios in a virtual world. Gooseberry Teacher provides teachers with a complete toolkit with which to monitor learning progress and identify areas of vulnerability. Gooseberry Parent allows parents and carers to be involved in their child’s learning journey and monitor progress whilst, in many cases, learning themselves.
Online safety has become a burning issue with children’s internet access starting at increasingly early ages and mobile usage of social media and web services by young people continuing to expand. With the growth in smartphone usage, much of children’s online activities takes place outside their homes and schools. High profile reports of cyber bullying, exposure to age inappropriate material and other potential dangers have left many parents feeling ill equipped to monitor or control their children’s online activities or experiences. This ‘digital divide’ can cause concerns that children are online without sufficient awareness of potential risks and lack the skills to manage them.
App downloads are priced at £1.58 at present, rising to £3.99 when the App is upgraded, and a parent App will be £1.00. A freemium model is being adopted for schools. Free versions are being distributed directly and via distributors with follow up by a telemarketing team to upsell the premium product. The premium version will cost £1.50 per child per year. The suite of apps for primary schools will be ready at the end of August and for secondary schools by September. GP is discussing CSR support from companies with an interest in e-safety and is in discussions with major companies in communications and others. The aim is to achieve a potential annual revenues of at least £100,000.