RobotGalaxy Gets $5M+ to Build Kids Virtual World

RobotGalaxy announced today that it had raised over $5 million in private placement to fund expansion of its build-your-own robot brand into a kids virtual world. RobotGalaxy seems like a Build-a-Bear Workshop for robots targeted at boys, letting users build and program their own 'bots from an array of existing parts. It only has two stores now, in malls in the Northeast, but opened them with the simultaneous launch of a comic book and online store with casual games. The company plans to use the new money to develop its Online Galaxy virtual world.

The company is headed up by Oliver Mitchell and Ken Pilot, former President of Gap Brand, with a team made up of executives from Build-a-Bear, Mattel and Starz Entertainment.

Online Galaxy will connect with users' custom robots through a new new “Supersonic Fuel Cell” and USB cable, bringing users to the Space Station where they can go on missions and battle other users. The world is targeted for a launch this fall.

“Over the past two years we’ve established a model based on three pillars: retail, entertainment, and online. As we add technology to our product, we will continue to invest in our retail operations as we develop our online Galaxy and build upon our comic book series,” Ken Pilot, Chief Galaxy Officer, said in a statement.