$10M In Funding To Expand Lincoln Park-Based Kids Coding Startup

CHICAGO — The world's first fully-interactive coding studio for kids, which originally launched in Lincoln Park, has received $10 million in venture capital funding to expand to Naperville and Wilmette, the company announced Thursday. Codeverse teaches children ages 6 to 12 how to code in an interactive classroom. The company already has a studio in Lincoln Park at 819 W. Eastman St.

The new Naperville and Wilmette studios, which are slated to open this winter, will offer after-school and weekend classes as well as weeklong camps, the company said.

Katy Lynch, Codeverse co-founder and chief marketing officer, said the company's mission is to teach a billion children how to code.

"What we've built is the classroom of the future, a fun, tech-enabled, collaborative space where kids can build whatever their hearts desire, whether that's a multi-level video game or an app," Lynch said. "And now, we're delighted to bring our unique coding experience to Wilmette and Naperville, two family-centric communities that support and celebrate our mission."

Codeverse has hired new leaders from Google, Lululemon, Techweek and the Girl Scouts, and plans to hire more than 100 people over the next 12 months.

"The experience within a Codeverse studio is unparalleled in the world today," Lynch said. "We're redefining the classroom, and setting a tone for what education should be. The new talent we've brought on, including leaders from the STEAM and education space, speaks to our commitment to our students and our mission."

Last year, Codeverse launched KidScript, its proprietary kid-friendly coding language, which is used to teach the fundamentals of coding to kids as young as 6. Children can use the language to build their own apps and games, as well as program hardware within the companies interactive studios, including concert-hall lights, speakers, televisions and robotic arms.

The company raised more than $10 million in venture capital funding in a round that closed at the end of July. Codeverse declined to disclose who its investors were, but said they are from the Midwest, the coasts and overseas.

Image via Codeverse, provided.