LabBox
LabBox designs and sells modular magnetic electronic building kits (Circuit Explorer series) for STEM education, targeting children ages 8+, parents, and educators. Operating as a Hape Group subsidiary, it sells direct-to-consumer across 9 European countries and through Hape's retail distribution channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersDover, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LabBox does
LabBox designs and sells modular magnetic electronic building kits for STEM education, targeting children ages 8+ and the educators and parents who support them. Founded in 2017 by Arta Shehu and Fiona Shehu out of their jCoders Academy teaching background, the company operates as a subsidiary brand under toy conglomerate Hape Holding AG, with operational entities Toynamics Europe GmbH (Germany) and Toynamics UK & Ireland Limited (UK). LabBox sells across 9 European countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden) in 5 languages, primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce at labbox.education.
The product line centers on the Circuit Explorer series — modular magnetic blocks that snap together to form real electronic circuits, with polarity markings, internally protected components, and built-in mistake feedback indicators. The range progresses from Base Kit (€79.99) through Boost (€79.99) and Pro (€79.99) up to the Lab Kit (€199.99), which bundles 31 smart blocks enabling over 300 circuit projects. In April 2026, LabBox launched Reactor Rescue, a board game developed jointly with Hape Holding AG that embeds real circuit-building into a competitive space-rescue narrative, extending the brand beyond the kit category.
LabBox generates revenue through one-time hardware purchases via its own e-commerce platform, supported by credit card, PayPal, SEPA direct debit, and Klarna payments, plus channel sales through Hape's established retail and educational distribution network. The company has raised approximately $941,863 across four seed-stage rounds between 2019 and 2021 from South Central Ventures, SeedBlink, and Techstars, and operates with 1-10 employees — a profile consistent with a niche, capital-efficient European STEM hardware brand rather than a venture-scaled growth business.
LabBox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LabBox
- Legal name
- Toynamics Europe GmbH
- Website
- https://labbox.education
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LabBox designs and sells modular magnetic electronic building kits (Circuit Explorer series) for STEM education, targeting children ages 8+, parents, and educators. Operating as a Hape Group subsidiary, it sells direct-to-consumer across 9 European countries and through Hape's retail distribution channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LabBox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Electronics / STEM Learning Kits
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused) (EDAMADAN)
Keywords
Where LabBox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dover
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
LabBox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electronic Learning Kits: Labbox generates revenue through the sale of electronic building block kits at various price points. The product line includes Base Kit (€79.99), Boost Kit (€79.99), Pro Kit (€79.99), and Lab Kit (€199.99). These are one-time hardware purchases sold directly to consumers and educational institutions through the company's e-commerce platform.
- Board Games with Real Electronics: Revenue is generated from the sale of board games like Reactor Rescue that incorporate real electronic circuit-building components. The game is sold as a product combining physical game components with functional electronic elements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Circuit Explorer Base Kit - Starter electronics kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Circuit Explorer Boost Kit - Intermediate electronics kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Circuit Explorer Pro Kit - Advanced electronics kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Circuit Explorer Lab Kit - Complete all-in-one electronics kit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
LabBox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LabBox designs, manufactures, and sells modular electronic building-block kits (Circuit Explorer Base, Boost, Pro, and Lab Kits) that allow children ages 8+ to physically build real series and parallel circuits using magnetic snap-fit blocks with polarity markings, protected components, and built-in mistake indicators. The company also produces the Reactor Rescue board game, co-developed with Hape Holding AG, which embeds real circuit-building into a competitive play format. Kits are sold directly to consumers and educational institutions across nine European countries.
Product overview
LabBox is an educational electronics platform for children ages 8+ consisting of a modular system of magnetic electronic blocks. The product portfolio includes the Circuit Explorer Kit series (Base, Boost, Pro, and Lab Kit), which progress from beginner to advanced levels, each containing real electronic components with magnetic connectors, protected blocks, and built-in mistake indicators. The Lab Kit bundles all levels for over 300 circuit projects. Additionally, LabBox offers the Reactor Rescue board game (launched April 2026 in collaboration with Hape Holding AG), which embeds real circuit-building into a competitive space-rescue narrative. All kits share a compatible block architecture and support instruction in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish. The system emphasizes hands-on STEM learning without screens.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Circuit Explorer Kits: A growing library of electronic blocks designed to teach the science of circuits and electronics to children ages 8+. Includes Base, Boost, Pro, and Lab Kit products.
- Reactor Rescue
Products and services
- Circuit Explorer Base Kit The beginner-friendly entry kit for young creators. Introduces the fundamentals of circuits using essential magnetic blocks that snap together safely. Includes step-by-step projects to build a flashlight, electric car, bubble machine, and more. Priced at €79.99.
- Circuit Explorer Boost Kit The intermediate kit adding moving and sensing parts including servo motors, switches, light sensors, timer, and multicolor light. Shifts children from basic builds to projects that can move, light up, and react autonomously. Compatible with all other Circuit Explorer kits. Priced at €79.99.
- Circuit Explorer Pro Kit The advanced kit bringing logic blocks, adjustable resistors, and extra outputs for building bigger, multi-path circuits. Enables children to build complex, interactive projects and develop sophisticated engineering skills through hands-on experimentation. Priced at €79.99.
- Circuit Explorer Lab Kit The flagship all-in-one electronics kit bundling every block from Base, Boost, and Pro levels. Includes 31 electronic function blocks, 95 total pieces, and over 300 circuit projects. Comes with a student book offering 40+ lesson plans and 21 guided projects across English, German, and Italian. Priced at €199.99.
- Reactor Rescue Board Game A story-driven board game where players take on the role of engineers repairing a malfunctioning spacecraft by building real electronic circuits in a competitive, timed environment. Jointly developed with Hape Holding AG, designed to teach electrical engineering skills through hands-on play for ages 8+.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 circuit projects possible with the Lab Kit
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LabBox
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
LabBox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
LabBox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Hape Holding AGcoreLabbox Education and Hape Holding AG announced the launch of Reactor Rescue, a board game designed to teach electrical engineering skills through hands-on circuit building. The game involves constructing real electronic circuits and challenges players to repair a spacecraft in a competitive, timed environment. Players take on the role of engineers whose spacecraft has malfunctioned while en route to fix a failing reactor in the city of Electra. Each player must repair their own spacecraft by building real electronic circuits before returning to the city. Only one engineer will complete their mission and win the Game. Hape provides distribution and retail channel access while Labbox provides the innovative electronic circuit technology.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LabBox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Snap Circuits (by Elenco Electronics): Elenco's Snap Circuits is the most direct competitor to Labbox — a line of electronic building kits for children that use snap-together components to build real circuits. Both target children ages 8+ and parents/educators seeking hands-on STEM learning, making them functionally interchangeable at retail.
- littleBits (by Sphero): littleBits is a magnetic snap-together electronic building block platform for kids, closely mirroring Labbox's magnetic, modular approach. Both companies target STEM education at home and in classrooms and compete for similar curriculum adoption and consumer shelf space.
- Makeblock: Makeblock produces mBuild and Neuron electronic modules for kids' STEM learning, using magnetic/programmable blocks similar to Labbox. Both target the same educational-electronics kit category globally, though Makeblock has deeper robotics and software integration.
Broad incumbents
- LEGO Education: LEGO Education offers STEM kits including LEGO Mindstorms and Spike for hands-on engineering and electronics learning in classrooms. While broader in scope than Labbox, it directly competes for school STEM budgets and educator mindshare.
- Educational Insights (Playfoam, Design & Drill, etc.): Educational Insights offers a broad portfolio of STEM and educational toys for children, including electronics-related kits. While not a direct competitor on magnetic-block electronics, it competes for the same parent and teacher purchasing decisions in the educational-toy category.
Emerging players
- KiwiCo: KiwiCo offers subscription-based STEM and maker crates for kids covering engineering, electronics, and coding. While broader in category, it competes for the same parent dollars seeking hands-on educational enrichment and shares the 'screen-free, hands-on' positioning.
- SAM Labs: SAM Labs provides wireless electronic blocks for STEAM education in schools, with a focus on coding and IoT. It overlaps Labbox in the classroom electronics-block category but differentiates through app-integrated wireless connectivity.
- Tinkering Labs: Tinkering Labs produces hands-on electronics and engineering kits for kids (e.g., Tinker Crate line at Educational Insights). Comparable to Labbox in targeting parents and educators seeking screen-free STEM enrichment.
- Microduino: Microduino offers modular magnetic electronic building blocks for kids and makers, similar to Labbox's modular architecture. It serves the STEM education and hobbyist maker market with comparable form factor and expandability.
Regional players
- Velleman / Whadda (educational kits): Whadda (a Velleman brand) sells European-distributed electronic soldering and learning kits for beginners, including younger audiences. It is a comparable European-distributed electronics-learning-kit vendor competing for shelf space and hobbyist parents.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LabBox social profiles
Digital presenceLabBox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LabBox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
LabBox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LabBox M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LabBox
What does LabBox do?
LabBox designs, manufactures, and sells modular electronic building-block kits (Circuit Explorer Base, Boost, Pro, and Lab Kits) that allow children ages 8+ to physically build real series and parallel circuits using magnetic snap-fit blocks with polarity markings, protected components, and built-in mistake indicators. The company also produces the Reactor Rescue board game, co-developed with Hape Holding AG, which embeds real circuit-building into a competitive play format. Kits are sold directly to consumers and educational institutions across nine European countries.
Is LabBox a public or private company?
LabBox is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was LabBox founded?
LabBox was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LabBox based?
LabBox is headquartered in Dover, United States, in the North America region.
How does LabBox make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Electronic Learning Kits are the primary driver. The others are board Games with Real Electronics.
Who are LabBox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Snap Circuits (by Elenco Electronics), littleBits (by Sphero) and Makeblock. Broad incumbents are LEGO Education and Educational Insights (Playfoam, Design & Drill, etc.). Emerging players are KiwiCo, SAM Labs, Tinkering Labs and Microduino. Velleman / Whadda (educational kits) is listed as a regional player.
Does LabBox have an API?
No public API is recorded for LabBox.
What industry is LabBox in?
LabBox's product category is Educational Electronics / STEM Learning Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAA, Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs), with a secondary code of EDAMADAN, Robotics Kits, Parts & Lab Equipment Providers (Education-Focused). Its NAICS code is 339930 and its SIC code is 3944.