On Wednesday, DIY computer company and Kickstarter success Kano announced it secured $28 million during its Series B funding round, which was led by the Thames Trust and Breyer Capital, with participation from Index Ventures, the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, LocalGlobe, Marc Benioff, John Makinson, Collaborative Fund, Triple Point Capital, and Barclays.
The company revealed along with the funding success, it conducted a mass North American rollout in more than 4,500 retail stores, stocking its computing kits in every Best Buy and Target, select Walmart stores, Microsoft Stores, Jet.com and The Source, as well as existing partners Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Indigo and Toys R Us. Speaking about Kano’s goals, Alex Klein, Kano’s Co-Founder and CEO, stated:
“We believe that the time has come for a new kind of computing, premised on people’s need to understand and shape the world around them – not just swipe, tap, and wait for the latest similar-looking screen. The next generation is rising and ready to make their own technology.”
Jim Breyer, Founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, also explained why the venture capital firm invested in Kano:
“Kano has grown into a category leader, with hardware and software that prepares all ages for the future. The financing, expansion into mass retail, and new products will expose the unique Kano experience to millions more.”
Best Buy Canada is currently partnering with Kano. Zayn Jaffer, Best Buy Canada’s Vice President of Emerging Business, then added:
“Best Buy Canada is excited to partner with Kano in bringing their computer building kits for youth to our stores. These products will help youth learn about the physical and software components of computers, while providing invaluable educational skills in coding and programming. These skills are important for future generations to learn early on.”
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