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SmartGurlz Inc. develops interactive robotic dolls specifically engineered to introduce young girls to foundational coding and STEM principles. These dolls operate on miniature scooters and are programmable via a dedicated mobile app. The company makes abstract coding concepts tangible and engaging, fostering early interest in robotics and computer programming.
The company was founded by Sharmi Albrechtsen. Her key insight was that playful, relatable characters could significantly boost girls' engagement with science and technology. Albrechtsen launched SmartGurlz to create an accessible, fun pathway into STEM, driven by passion to empower young women through educational play.
SmartGurlz targets young girls, seeking to bridge the gender gap in technological literacy by making learning enjoyable and empowering. The company envisions cultivating a generation of female innovators, fostering confidence in logical thinking and problem-solving. Its mission is to prepare children for roles in a technologically advanced world.
SmartGurlz Inc has raised $200K across 1 funding round.
SmartGurlz Inc has raised $200K in total across 1 funding round.
SmartGurlz Inc has raised $200K in total across 1 funding round.
SmartGurlz Inc's investors include Banter Capital, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Expansion Venture Capital, Hustle Fund, Magical Capital, MetaProp Ventures, Oyster Ventures, Pareto Holdings, Race Capital, SeedInvest, World Fund.
SmartGurlz Inc develops coding dolls, self-balancing robots, and action figures designed to teach girls aged 6 and up basic programming through app-based missions, addressing the gender gap in STEM education.[1][2][3][4][5] The company serves young girls, parents, educators, and schools by providing fun, immersive STEM toys that connect via smartphone or tablet, solving the problem of low female engagement in tech due to biased toy marketing and cultural factors.[2][3] Post-Shark Tank appearance in 2017, it achieved $1.2 million in 2018 sales, raised $525,000 via WeFunder in 2019, formed partnerships like Pitsco Education for online curricula and Sinking Ship Entertainment for PBS Odd Squad licensing, and projected over $20 million in 2021 sales with a $9 million valuation as of August 2023.[2]
Founded in 2016 by Sharmi Albrechtsen, a former author, journalist, and STEM communications expert who directed the Ida Institute, SmartGurlz emerged from her frustration finding engaging educational toys for her daughters.[2][3] Albrechtsen pitched on ABC's Shark Tank Season 9, seeking $200,000 for 5% equity at a $4 million valuation but secured no deal; early traction built through battling 40,000 companies for the spot.[2][3] The company expanded internationally with offices in Copenhagen, New York, and Silicon Valley, partnering with BlackGirlsCode, Girl Scouts of America, and DigitalGirl Inc., while Albrechtsen earned accolades like INC Magazine's top 100 female founders for virtual coding camps during COVID-19.[3][7]
SmartGurlz rides the STEM education and gender diversity wave, capitalizing on rising demand for inclusive toys amid tech's gender imbalance—girls are underrepresented in engineering and coding due to cultural biases.[2][3] Timing aligns with post-2010s pushes for female STEM participation, amplified by Shark Tank visibility and pandemic virtual learning needs.[2][3] Market forces like edtech growth, school curricula adoption (e.g., Pitsco partnerships), and licensing deals favor it, influencing the ecosystem by inspiring future female leaders through accessible coding and collaborations with nonprofits like BlackGirlsCode.[2][3]
SmartGurlz is poised to expand via edtech partnerships and new doll iterations, leveraging its $9M valuation and sales momentum toward broader school adoption and international scaling.[2] Trends like AI-enhanced STEM toys and sustained diversity initiatives will shape its path, potentially evolving its influence from niche toy maker to key player in global girls' tech education. This ties back to its core mission: turning play into programming prowess for the next generation of female innovators.[3]
SmartGurlz Inc has raised $200K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $200K Seed in April 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2019 | $200K Seed | — | Banter Capital, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Expansion Venture Capital, Hustle Fund, Magical Capital, MetaProp Ventures, Oyster Ventures, Pareto Holdings, Race Capital, SeedInvest, World Fund, Anselm Adams, Anthony Pompliano, Daren Cotter, Mark Cuban | Announced |
