Zuuka

01 / WHAT IT BUILT

What the company did

Zuuka was a German mobile children's entertainment company best known for iStoryTime, at the time the largest library of interactive children's book apps. Founded in 2009 by Graham Farrar and Woody Sears, it published narrated, interactive storybook apps based on licensed characters such as the Smurfs, Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar, reaching more than 100 titles across 80 countries, alongside its iTalk apps and zuuka Comics. After merging with California-based FrogDog Media, the company was acquired by New York-based Cupcake Digital in March 2014; the combined business held over 250 titles and 8.5 million downloads.

03 / EVENT HISTORY

Events in the structured record

1. 2009
   Founded

   Graham Farrar and Woody Sears founded zuuka, publisher of the iStoryTime interactive children's book apps and iTalk entertainment apps.

2. 2011
   $2M Series A

   The iStoryTime business raised a $2 million Series A led by Corporate Finance Partners to expand its library beyond 100 books across 80 countries; FrogDog Media became a fully owned subsidiary of zuuka GmbH.

3. 2012
   Further financing

   zuuka group GmbH raised a new round from High-Tech Gruenderfonds, venturecapital.de and business angels.

4. 2014
   Acquired by Cupcake Digital

   Cupcake Digital acquired zuuka; the combined company operated under the Cupcake Digital name with 250+ titles and 8.5 million downloads, and the founders joined its management team.