Tiny Earth Toys rental subscription offers families of young children an easy way to declutter their homes and engage in high-quality play together.
October 26, 2021
‘Tis the season… for overpriced plastic toys and playroom clutter. Tiny Earth Toys has raised $1.5 million to offer families another option this holiday season. Their sustainable toy rental service creates an alternative to the toy industry’s traditional model.
“When I stepped away from my full-time job at the start of the pandemic, I realized how overconsumption of plastic toys had taken root in my home. Imagining the impact it had on my 1 and 3-year-old daughters – and our planet – was the true catalyst for starting Tiny Earth Toys,” said Founder and CEO, Rachael Classi.
Tiny Earth Toys’ play kits are expertly curated to engage kids in high-quality play. The kits are a collection of age-appropriate educational wooden toys, selected by early childhood experts. They’re available to children from birth to four years of age. After play, kits are exchanged every three months to avoid the inevitable clutter and waste that piles up as kids outgrow their toys.
Tiny Earth Toys launched their initial kit collection in March of 2021 to rave reviews by families in 35 states. The company is gearing up to launch their next group of collections, increasing their offering to cater to children up to six years of age.
The company will invest their funding in product expansion and further customization for age, ability, interest and culture. “As parents we want what is best for our kids and we know that no two children learn in the exact same way. That is why we are continuing to improve our knowledge and technology to recommend the best products for each individual child,” said Classi. The raise was led by local VC, Bull City Venture Partners.
“We believe that the circular economy is the next frontier for consumer products and we have confidence in Tiny Earth Toys and their innovative model,” said Jason Caplain, general partner at Bull City Venture Partners.
Also joining the round is the founding team from Spoonflower who recently saw a $225 million exit to Shutterfly. “Tiny Earth Toys is one of those companies that comes along with a powerful, clear idea that, as soon as you hear it, you think to yourself, “why hasn’t anyone done this before?” I wish it had been around when my kids were younger.” said Stephen Fraser, Cofounder of Spoonflower, acquired in 2021 by Shutterfly.
About Tiny Earth Toys:
Headquartered in Durham, N.C., Tiny Earth Toys is a subscription toy rental curated by early childhood educators and exchanged after play. Their mission is to eliminate plastic toy waste and build a society of environmental stewards. Learn more here and follow Tiny Earth Toys on @tinyearthtoys Instagram.
About Bull City Venture Partners:
Based in Durham, N.C., Bull City Venture Partners is a venture capital firm focused on partnering with the best technology entrepreneurs to create market-leading companies. Learn more at http://www.bcvp.com. Follow Bull City Venture Partners @bcvp on Twitter.