What Whizz Pop Bang does

Whizz Pop Bang is a UK-based children's science publishing company operated by Launchpad Publishing Ltd, producing a monthly science magazine for children aged 6-12 alongside the sister publication Hoopla Magazine for ages 4-9. The core product is an award-winning print magazine featuring hands-on experiments, science news, puzzles, jokes, and scientist interviews, delivered directly to subscribers through a recurring subscription model with monthly, six-month, and annual billing options, plus single-issue and gift subscription purchases.

The company sells physical science experiment kits under the Letterbox Lab brand (Explore Box with 3-4 experiments and Investigate Box with 6-8 experiments) as an add-on subscription line, alongside a catalogue of supplementary books (joke, puzzle, riddle, and snip-out titles), themed bundles, branded merchandise (lab coats, goggles, magazine binders), and a dedicated Schools section offering teaching resources and Pupil Premium materials. The commercial infrastructure runs on an Eyes Down-powered subscription website with Stripe and PayPal payment processing, fulfillment through a third-party mailing house, and customer acquisition via organic social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter/X, Pinterest), email marketing, and earned media.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer model with tens of thousands of subscribers across thousands of families, geographically anchored in the UK with limited international magazine delivery and UK-only availability for science kits. The company appears bootstrapped with no disclosed venture capital or private equity funding and is headquartered in Cirencester, England with a small core editorial, design, and marketing team supported by freelance writers and science experts.

Name

Whizz Pop Bang

Legal name

Launchpad Publishing Ltd

Website

https://whizzpopbang.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whizz Pop Bang is a UK-based children's science publisher operating a direct-to-consumer subscription business selling a monthly science magazine for ages 6-12, a sister Hoopla magazine for ages 4-9, Letterbox Lab science kits, books, and branded merchandise to families and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Educational Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Retailers and News Dealers (459210), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Activity & Workbook Publishing (MPAJAFAG), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Children’s Activity & Practice Books (Workbooks, Puzzles, Handwriting) (EDAGAIAE), Early Science & Discovery Content (EDAGACAD)

Keywords

• Children's science magazine
• Educational publishing
• STEM subscription box
• Science activity kits
• Hands-on learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Cirencester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Monthly subscription model for the Whizz Pop Bang science magazine. Auto-renewing subscriptions billed monthly, every six months, or annually. Includes gift subscription options.
2. Letterbox Lab Science Kits: Monthly science experiment kits delivered through letterbox. Available as Explore Box (3-4 experiments) or Investigate Box (6-8 experiments). Sold as single purchases or subscription plans of 3, 6, or 12 months.
3. Single Issue Sales: Individual magazine issues sold at £6.99 per copy through the online shop. Also sells back issues and themed bundles.
4. Books and Merchandise: Science joke books, puzzle books, riddle books, snip-out science books, and science-themed merchandise including lab coats and safety goggles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Whizz Pop Bang publishes and sells an award-winning monthly printed science magazine for children aged 6-12, offering hands-on experiments, science news, puzzles, jokes, and interviews with real scientists through auto-renewing subscriptions, single issues, and themed bundles. The portfolio extends to the sister Hoopla magazine for ages 4-9, Letterbox Lab hands-on science experiment kits (Explore Box and Investigate Box), supplementary science activity books, and branded merchandise such as lab coats and safety goggles, all sold direct-to-consumer via the company's own website.

Product overview

Whizz Pop Bang is a children's science magazine publisher offering a portfolio of print and digital products centered on science education through hands-on activities. The core product is the Whizz Pop Bang monthly science magazine for children aged 6-12, complemented by Hoopla Magazine (a sister publication for ages 4-9). The company also sells Letterbox Lab science kits in two variants (Explore Box and Investigate Box) as add-on subscription products, along with supplementary books (joke books, puzzle books, riddle books, snip-out books, scrapbooks), magazine bundles, and branded merchandise (lab coats, safety goggles). Products emphasize screen-free, hands-on learning with experiments, crafts, and science activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whizz Pop Bang Magazine Award-winning monthly printed science magazine for children aged 6-12 featuring hands-on experiments, latest science news, puzzles, jokes, interviews with real scientists, and activities. Sold through auto-renewing subscriptions and single-issue purchases for families seeking screen-free, educational entertainment.
• Hoopla Magazine Sister publication to Whizz Pop Bang targeting children aged 4-9, combining crafts, games, science, baking, and outdoor activities focused on screen-free creative learning.
• Letterbox Lab Explore Box Monthly science experiment kit containing 3-4 hands-on experiments for children aged 6+, including materials, an instruction booklet, online video guides, and a 'Level Up' sticker. Fits through a letterbox and is sold via single box or 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions. UK only.
• Letterbox Lab Investigate Box Larger monthly science experiment kit with 6-8 hands-on experiments for children aged 8+, including collectible lab equipment, gadgets, an instruction booklet, and online resources. Sold via single box or 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscriptions. UK only.
• Whizz Pop Bang Science Joke Book 64-page illustrated joke book containing over 200 science-themed jokes for children, sold as a standalone one-time purchase.
• Whizz Pop Bang Science Puzzle Book 128-page puzzle book with over 150 brain-bending puzzles including word challenges, spot the differences, logic puzzles, maths teasers, and mazes, sold as a standalone one-time purchase.
• Whizz Pop Bang Science Riddle Book 64-page illustrated riddle book containing over 150 science-themed brain-teasing riddles for children, sold as a standalone one-time purchase.
• Whizz Pop Bang Snip-Out Science Book 64-page book containing 30 cut, stick, and fold science projects including flying machines, bridges, skeletons, and sea creatures. Printed on high-quality uncoated paper designed to be snipped out, priced at £10.99.
• Science Scrapbook and Stickers 48-page science scrapbook (315 x 240mm) for recording hypotheses, nature notes, and experiment results, including tips on fair experiments, sold with an A4 sheet of 70 full-colour science stickers.
• Brainteaser Bundle Bundle containing the Science Riddle Book plus two Whizz Pop Bang magazines (Issue 51: Coding Capers and Issue 121: Spy Academy), priced at £15.99 with free UK p&p.
• Science Activity Bundle Bundle containing the Snip-Out Science Book and Puzzle Book, marketed for winter science fun.
• Family Activity Bundle Bundle including the Snip-Out Science Book, Science Joke Book, Whizz Pop Bang Issue 58 (Amazing Grazing), and Hoopla Issue 8 (Deep Blue Sea), designed for family science and creativity activities.
• Science Week Bundle Bundle of six Whizz Pop Bang issues (Issues 88, 75, 72, 70, 68, 42) celebrating British Science Week, including free science goggles.
• Magazine Bundles (back issues) Bundles of back issues offered at discounted prices, including a Bundle of 3, Bundle of 6, and Bundle of 12 back issues.
• Super Scientist Kit Starter kit bundle including a Letterbox Lab Explore Box 1 (Hidden Rainbows), an unbranded kids' lab coat, and safety goggles, available in sizes M (5 years), L (6-8 years), and XL (9-12 years). UK only.
• Lab Coat and Safety Goggles Kids' lab coat (plain white, 100% polyester, with three deep pockets) and safety goggles set for experiments, available in sizes M, L, and XL.
• Premium Whizz Pop Bang Lab Coat Whizz Pop Bang branded lab coat with embroidered logo, three deep pockets, made of 65% cotton and 45% polyamide. Available in sizes Small (age 4-8) and Large (9-12).
• Whizz Pop Bang Magazine Binder Magazine storage binder with 12 Cordex strings for organising a full year of Whizz Pop Bang magazines, priced at £17.99.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of thousands of subscribers across thousands of families

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Letterbox LabcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhizz Pop Bang resells Letterbox Lab science kits through their website. These ready-made experiment kits are offered as Explore Box (3-4 experiments) and Investigate Box (6-8 experiments) products, with subscription options available.
• Sublime ScienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSublime Science provides science party entertainment services, recommended by Whizz Pop Bang on their website as a partner for throwing science parties for children.
• StripeminorOthersThird-party payment processor for credit/debit card transactions. Stripe handles secure online payment capture and processing for customer purchases.
• PayPalminorOthersThird-party payment processor providing alternative payment option for customer transactions on the Whizz Pop Bang website.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Week Junior Science+Nature: UK monthly science and nature spin-off of The Week Junior aimed at 8-15 year olds. Direct competitor on geography, target demographic, science magazine subscription model, and DTC retail channel.
• CBeebies Magazine: UK BBC-licensed monthly magazine for under-6s with games, stories, and activities. Comparable on UK children's subscription magazine model and parent purchasing channel, though targeting younger children than Whizz Pop Bang.
• OKIDO: UK-based children's arts and science magazine and activity subscription for ages 3-8, with hands-on experiments and crafts. Directly comparable to Whizz Pop Bang on geography, subscription model, and parent-targeted science/STEM positioning.
• National Geographic Kids (UK): Global children's science and nature magazine sold via subscription in the UK. Competes for the same 6-12 science-curious audience with similar monthly magazine format and educational positioning.
• MEL Science: Subscription-based hands-on science experiment kits for children, with monthly delivery model. Closest direct competitor to Whizz Pop Bang's Letterbox Lab kits on product, pricing structure, and STEM subscription mechanics.
• Aquila Magazine: UK subscription-based educational magazine for curious 8-13 year olds covering STEM, arts, and general knowledge. Comparable on subscription DTC model, parental gift positioning, and UK-focused educational content.

Emerging players

• CrunchLabs (Mark Rober): STEM toy and engineering kit subscription brand from YouTube creator Mark Rober, with monthly kits and video content. Comparable on science experiment subscription model and parent-targeted STEM positioning, though anchored in a digital-first creator economy approach.

Broad incumbents

• KiwiCo: US-headquartered STEM and STEAM subscription box company serving a wide age range with multiple product lines (Kiwico, Tinker Crate, MEL Physics). Comparable subscription kit model at much larger scale, posing competitive threat in international STEM kits market.
• Fun To Learn magazines (Immediate Media): Portfolio of UK subscription children's magazines (e.g., Fun to Learn Friends, Favourites) under Immediate Media. Comparable on UK kids' subscription publishing model and parent-targeted educational content, with broader demographic coverage than Whizz Pop Bang.
• Highlights for Children: Long-established US children's subscription magazine with activities, puzzles, and science content. Comparable on monthly kids' magazine subscription model and age range, though broader in editorial scope than Whizz Pop Bang's STEM focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whizzpopbangmag
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsFNE227EvTWVU9GmfC0zKw
• Facebookfacebook.com/WhizzPopBangMag
• Instagraminstagram.com/whizzpopbangmag

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Whizz Pop Bang