What Fox & Sheep does

Fox & Sheep GmbH is a Berlin-based, founder-controlled digital kids studio founded in 2012 by Timo Dries and Frank Ließner, employing 11–50 people. The company develops and publishes high-quality mobile applications for children aged 2–8 across iOS, Google Play, and the Amazon App Store, with a catalog of 25+ apps spanning bedtime stories (Nighty Night franchise), role-play simulations (Little Fire Station, Little Hospital, Little Police Station, Little Builders), creative tools (Pony Style Box, Movie Adventure, Coloring Fun, Art Adventure), and adventure games (SHINE – Journey of Light, Little Fox Train Adventures). Products are differentiated by handcrafted illustration through exclusive collaborations with globally recognized artists (Oscar-nominated Heidi Wittlinger, Christoph Niemann, Chris Haughton, Jeremy Kool), a 'from kids for kids' user-testing methodology, and an ad-free, no-in-app-purchase child-safety posture. The technology stack is conventional native mobile app development (iOS, Android, Amazon) with no public API or AI components; notable proprietary features include live video selfie integration in CHOMP, hybrid 3D-2D animation in Nighty Night Forest, and a sound-studio authoring tool in Audio Adventure. The company monetizes through one-time paid app downloads and limited in-app purchases on the consumer side, professional agency services (app development for Mercedes-Benz, DreamWorks, HABA), Spotify-distributed audio plays, Tonie hardware figurines, and physical CD sales. Cumulative downloads exceed 20 million globally, with apps localized in 15+ languages, and the studio has expanded into animated television production via a Los Angeles office.

Name

Fox & Sheep

Legal name

Fox & Sheep GmbH

Website

https://foxandsheep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fox & Sheep is a Berlin-based digital studio that designs and publishes award-winning mobile apps, audio plays, and animated content for children aged 2–8, distributed globally via app stores, Spotify, and Tonies, with a parallel agency serving enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mobile App Sales: Direct sales of children's apps through iOS App Store, Google Play, and Amazon App Store. Apps include one-time purchase pricing and some offer additional in-app purchases for extra content.
2. In-App Purchases: Some apps offer extra animals or content as in-app purchases within the main app
3. Agency Services: B2B services including app development for clients like Mercedes Benz, Dreamworks, and HABA; IP & character development; audio productions; consulting and research; talks and workshops
4. Audio Content Distribution: Radio plays and audio content distributed via Spotify streaming platform and physical CD sales
5. Physical Merchandise: Tonie figurines based on Fox & Sheep characters (e.g., Around the World with Fox and Sheep Tonie)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Fox & Sheep GmbH is a Berlin-based studio that develops and publishes mobile applications for children, including interactive story apps, educational games, and audio plays distributed globally via iOS, Android, and Amazon app stores. The company also operates Fox & Sheep Agency, a B2B creative services arm providing animation, storytelling, and production services to enterprise brand clients.

Product overview

Fox & Sheep is a Berlin-based digital kids studio offering a portfolio of mobile apps for children aged 2-8, plus audio productions and animation services. The core product portfolio includes approximately 25+ apps spanning bedtime stories (Nighty Night, Nighty Night Circus, Nighty Night Forest), educational games (Little Fire Station, Little Hospital, Little Police Station), creative apps (Pony Style Box, Movie Adventure, Coloring Fun), and adventure games (SHINE Journey of Light, Little Fox Train Adventures). Additional offerings include audio plays (Around the World with Fox and Sheep radio series available on Spotify and as Tonie figurine), animation production services, and an agency arm providing app development, IP development, audio production, and consulting services to brands like Mercedes-Benz, DreamWorks, and HABA. The company employs a 'from kids for kids' development philosophy, involving children in every step of creation. Apps are available on iOS, Android, and Amazon App Store, with over 20 million total downloads. Notable awards include Apple App of the Year 2012 (Nighty Night), Webby Award 2019 (SHINE), and multiple Bologna Ragazzi Awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fox & Sheep Kids Apps Interactive story apps, educational games, and entertainment apps for children distributed via iOS, Android, and Amazon app stores. Targeted at parents purchasing for young children; over 20 million downloads globally.
• Audio Plays for Children Audio-based storytelling content produced for children, distributed through audio streaming and podcast platforms.
• Fox & Sheep Agency B2B creative agency offering animation, interactive storytelling, and production services to enterprise brand clients including Mercedes Benz, DreamWorks, and HABA.
• Physical Merchandise Physical merchandise tied to Fox & Sheep's children's app intellectual property, sold through retail channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 million+ app downloads worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• SpotifycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Audio plays including 'Around the World with Fox and Sheep' radio play series are exclusively distributed via Spotify. Season 1 and Season 2 available on Spotify streaming platform.
• TonieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Fox & Sheep has partnered with Tonie to create physical figurines based on their audio characters, such as the 'Around the World with Fox and Sheep' Tonie figurine.
• Karoline PietrowskicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Freelance illustrator Karoline Pietrowski created artwork for Little Fox Train Adventures and Coloring Fun with Fox and Sheep apps.
• Mercedes BenzflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fox & Sheep Agency developed custom children's apps for Mercedes Benz, including app design and development services for kids.
• DreamworksflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fox & Sheep Agency provides app development services for Dreamworks Animation, leveraging their expertise in children's digital content.
• HABAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fox & Sheep developed multiple digital adaptations of HABA's popular board games including Unicorn Glitterluck, Rhino Hero, and Digitalwerkstatt Art Studio.
• TheKidsWantMobile (TKWM)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Fox & Sheep co-organized and participated in TKWM conference specialized on digital products for kids, held at Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2019.
• Jeremy KoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Award-winning artist and illustrator Jeremy Kool created artwork for Nighty Night Forest, combining 3D modeling and lighting with 2D illustrations.
• Christoph NiemannflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Internationally renowned children's author and illustrator Christoph Niemann collaborates with Fox & Sheep on apps including CHOMP and Petting Zoo. His work appears on New Yorker covers, WIRED, and NYT Magazine.
• Chris HaughtonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Award-winning illustrator Chris Haughton partnered with Fox & Sheep for Hat Monkey app. His books 'A Bit Lost', 'Oh No, George!' and 'SHH!, we have a plan' have been translated into over 20 languages.
• Heidi WittlingerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Oscar-nominated illustrator and director Heidi Wittlinger created artwork for Fox & Sheep apps including Little Fox Animal Doctor, Nighty Night series, and Little Fox Music Box.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_foxandsheep
• Facebookfacebook.com/foxandsheep
• Instagraminstagram.com/foxsheep

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Fox & Sheep