What Caribu does

Caribu is a Miami-based EdTech platform that operates an interactive video-calling application purpose-built for children and their families. The product unifies a real-time two-way video call with a content library of thousands of children's ebooks, coloring sheets, drawing tools, learning games (mazes, word search, Sudoku, memory, tic-tac-toe), digital sticker packs, cooking activities, alphabet tracing pages, and on-demand celebrity read-aloud videos. Content is sourced from licensed IP including Thomas & Friends, Barbie, Daniel Tiger, Sesame Street, Hot Wheels, Highlights, Slumberkins, and Peter Rabbit, and is offered in eight languages (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Creole, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi). Distribution is through Apple's App Store and Google Play globally, with a companion web-based reader launched in August 2020 that integrates with Zoom and Google Hangouts for educator-led classroom use.

The platform is monetized via a freemium model: a free tier with five credits and ad-supported access; Caribu Unlimited monthly ($9.99), yearly ($79.99), and day pass ($2.99) subscriptions; gift subscriptions; and legacy plans. Primary end users are children, with grandparents acting as both frequent purchasers and remote co-participants, and a secondary educator/occupational-therapy segment. The company was founded in 2016 by Maxeme Tuchman, raised approximately $5.25M across seed and accelerator rounds through 2020, reached 200+ countries and territories, and was acquired by Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) in 2023, at which point it was rebranded "Caribu by Mattel" and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary with 1-10 employees.

Name

Caribu

Legal name

Mattel, Inc.

Website

https://caribu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Caribu is a family interactive video-calling platform that integrates children's books, games, coloring, and drawing into shared video calls between kids and distant relatives, especially grandparents. Acquired by Mattel in 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Video Communication

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parent-Facing Home Learning & Family Engagement Apps (EDACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios (MPAFAAAI), Kids & Family Streaming Platforms (MPACAAAG)

Keywords

• Interactive video calling
• Children's educational apps
• Family video chat
• Digital storybook platform
• Virtual learning tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription (Caribu Unlimited): Premium subscription model providing unlimited access to all features including video calls, stickers, coloring books, learning games, storybooks, and premium content. Family plan structure shares access with contacts.
2. Freemium with Advertising: Free plan with limited credits and advertisements. Users can access basic features with ads and purchase additional content or upgrade to remove ads.
3. In-App Purchases: Additional content purchases including day passes and legacy subscription options
4. Gift Subscriptions: Prepaid gift subscription packages available for purchase as gifts for grandchildren or family members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caribu is a family-focused interactive video-calling platform that combines real-time two-way video with a co-viewable library of children's books, educational games, coloring activities, sticker packs, and celebrity read-aloud videos. The mobile app (iOS/Android) and companion web platform let children and remote family members — typically grandparents — read, draw, play games, and cook together during a video call. Content is available in multiple languages and includes licensed characters from brands such as Thomas & Friends, Barbie, Daniel Tiger, and Sesame Street.

Product overview

Caribu is a family-focused EdTech platform acquired by Mattel, built around an interactive video-calling app for children and their families. The core product is a unified mobile application (iOS/Android) that combines live video calling with a rich library of co-viewable activities — including thousands of ebooks, coloring books and drawing tools, learning games (mazes, word search, Sudoku, memory, puzzles, tic-tac-toe), digital sticker packs, cooking activities, and celebrity read-aloud videos. A companion web platform launched in August 2020 extends the reading experience to teachers using Zoom and Google Hangouts. The Caribu Unlimited subscription (monthly at $9.99, yearly at $79.99, or day pass at $2.99) provides full feature access as a family plan, while a free tier offers limited credits and ad-supported access. Content spans dozens of licensed characters (Thomas & Friends, Barbie, Daniel Tiger, Sesame Street, Hot Wheels) and is available in eight languages. Camp Caribu is a seasonal sub-product offering themed summer reading programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Caribu Mobile App (iOS/Android) Primary Caribu mobile application enabling families to conduct interactive video calls combined with a library of thousands of books, activities, games, and coloring books. Children and their loved ones can read, draw, color, play games, cook, and use digital sticker packs together in real time over a video call. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• Caribu Web Platform for Educators Web-based platform launched in August 2020 allowing teachers to open and read children's books page-by-page with students while teaching classes online via Zoom and Google Hangouts. Enables read alouds, guided reading, and book discussions for large and small groups of children.
• Camp Caribu

Quantifiable outcome

• Families across 200+ countries and territories use Caribu
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Teach For AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2022During Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month 2022, Caribu partnered with Teach For America and Hispanic Unity of Florida to donate over 300,000 Caribu subscriptions to Latinx families. This partnership combined educational technology with social impact to reach underserved communities.
• Hispanic Unity of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner in the 2022 Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month initiative to distribute Caribu subscriptions to Latinx families.
• Mattel Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCaribu was acquired by Mattel, joining the Mattel family of brands in 2023. The app is now branded as 'Caribu by Mattel' and operates as a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 toy company.
• Kevin JonasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKevin Jonas created video read-aloud content for Caribu, featuring Thomas & Friends books as part of the 75th anniversary celebration. Celebrity content drives marketing awareness.
• LeVar BurtonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeVar Burton created video read-aloud content for Caribu's on-demand video section, leveraging his reputation as a literacy advocate.
• Thomas & FriendsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThomas & Friends content partnership providing books and characters for video read-alouds and in-app activities.
• Barbie (Mattel)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarbie content including coloring activities and sticker packs available in the Caribu app.
• Sesame StreetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSesame Street coloring and activity content available in the Caribu app.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Messenger Kids: Meta's video calling and messaging app designed for children with parental controls. Direct competitor in the kids/family video-calling category, though it lacks Caribu's integrated co-viewable activity library (books, coloring, games).
• Zoom: General-purpose video conferencing platform that Caribu explicitly integrates with via its web-based educator platform. Competes on the underlying video-call primitive and is the default tool schools use alongside Caribu for virtual classrooms.
• PBS Kids Video: Public broadcaster's free digital platform offering educational videos, games, and reading content for children. Competes for the same family co-viewing engagement time, with strong brand trust but no live interactive video-call layer.
• Highlights Kids: Digital extension of the iconic Highlights children's brand offering reading, puzzles, and games. Comparable to Caribu's content library (Caribu even licenses Highlights content) and competes for the same early-childhood engagement market.

Broad incumbents

• FaceTime: Apple's free, built-in video calling service deeply embedded in iOS. Caribu's iOS app even requires iOS 15.1+, and FaceTime is the default free alternative for family video calling, posing the strongest substitution risk to Caribu's core use case.
• WhatsApp: Meta's free, ubiquitous messaging and video calling app used globally by families including diaspora populations. Operates as the default free cross-border family communication tool that competes with Caribu's grandparent-grandchild bonding use case.
• Google Meet: Google's free video conferencing platform integrated with Google Workspace. Cited by Caribu as an integration partner for its educator web platform and serves as a free alternative for school and family video communication.
• Noggin (Nick Jr.): Paramount's subscription-based kids' video streaming service featuring Nick Jr. content including educational shows. Competes for the same co-viewing engagement time slot and shares Caribu's family subscription pricing model ($9.99/month comparable).

Emerging players

• Khan Academy Kids: Free educational app for children ages 2-8 covering reading, math, and social-emotional learning. Overlaps with Caribu in early-childhood digital learning and parent-facing engagement, but lacks real-time video calling as the interaction modality.
• Yoto: Audio player for kids with curated children's content including books, music, and educational material. Addresses the same family co-engagement use case (parents/grandparents consuming content with children) through a different modality (physical device + cards) rather than live video.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Caribu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmNzigu3_zkGCvTX4_witLw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Caribu
• Instagraminstagram.com/caribu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caribu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors12 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caribu