Amsterdam-based Peekabond, a platform that helps build bonds with family and loved ones remotely, announced on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, that it has released a new app that uses playful video messaging to keep children and families engaged.
The company raised funding in early 2021 and a small follow-on round last month from a group of angel investors, including Daniel Gebler, founder and CTO of online supermarket unicorn Picnic.
Peekabond helps global families to bond
The summer holiday is the time of the year that everyone looks forward to, reconnecting and spending some quality time with family. However, many working parents, expat parents, divorced parents, etc. still wonder how they may responsibly occupy their children without letting them play computer games and sit in front of screens all day.
This is where Peekabond steps in. It is specifically designed for families with young children to feel connected to loved ones. The company claims to be the world’s first asynchronous video messaging app with science-based games that has the solution to turn screen time into family time.
Founded by Alyea Sandovar, Anieke Lamers and Vincent van den Noort, Peekabond, via its “ethical” social mobile platform, helps children build deep bonds with family and loved ones who are at a distance through asynchronous connection and with content inspiration such as interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, and songs.
Sharing her brief story, founder Anieke Lamers, says, “Living in Europe and being a proud aunt of my 2-year-old niece in Australia, whom I’m completely in love with, I know the pain of not being close to loved ones. This is why I founded Peekabond. So that families could feel connected, even when they are not close by. We are building a movement where we connect families across borders and over generations.”
About the new app
Peekabond has released a functionality in their IOS and Android app that lets users capture the authentic response. of a child, a friend or a family member when they are watching a video from a loved one. The company believes that by doing this, families that are unable to be physically close to their children and loved ones would feel less lonely over the holidays.
A conversation option through video chatting with sticker features and reply videos is also available, along with 80+ ideas for kid-friendly material that can be searched by age to help kids find their playful side.
According to the company, in the app, users can record and share films with a select group of family members that were inspired by amusing actions. This is done through behavioural science and users don’t all have to be online at the same time. This way, Peekabond overcomes the challenges of different time zones and also the reality of trying to persuade young children to stay focused and still as they talk on a small screen.
By 2026, Peekabond expects to help over 4 million families to bond remotely, without space, time or age limitations.
