HoloToyz - inspiring creativity and imagination in children.

by Startacus Admin
The lowdown on HoloToyz, the Irish startup and its products for kids that can come to life through the power of augmented reality.
Toys. They’re all children and grown men want in life. In this digital age, toys have more and more become tablets and phones, and play has become watching YouTube videos. Even if a child whiles away the hours creating worlds in Minecraft, it’s still good for cognitive development to keep a physical aspect to play and creation, even if it’s digitally enhanced.
Irish startup HoloToyz has created a range of products for children that they say “inspires creativity and enhances imagination”, by using augmented reality to bring them to life and add some magic to the child’s play. The startup’s current range of products consists of temporary transfer tattoos, stickers, wall decals, and books.
Using an Android or iOS device and the companion app, you simply point your phone’s camera at the product, and the animal, dinosaur, ghost, monster truck, or whatever it happens to be, will spring to 3D life. Children can watch the unicorn run up and down their arm or the car do doughnuts on the back of their hand, but our favourite is probably the books. As they read through a book, each page will come alive in front of them.
Thanks to a deal with Nickelodeon, HoloToys will soon be releasing interactive products that feature Paw Patrol characters to go along with their own creations. This is a pretty big development for a startup, and will hopefully open further doors to other known brands.
In July, HoloToyz announced that they had raised a huge €1 million in funding in a round led by Irish tech veteran John Herlihy and Brian Caulfield, of Molten Ventures’, both of whom were also early investors in the startup. This came with participation from Shipyard Technologies, Shalena O’Connell of MongoDB, Movidius co-founder Sean Mitchell, and multiple investors via the HBAN Angels network.
Enterprise Ireland has also previously supported the startup through its High Potential Startup programme. This funding will go towards alleviating admin strain by hiring new staff, and of course to furthering their range of holographic products and other toys.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
How to select your best ideas and take them forward - Chris Thomason, Founder of Ingenious Growth shares 5 tips to help you do just that.

Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies

Want to ensure your startup runs smoothly? Hamid Bagherzadeh, Legal expert and Co-Founder of LegaMart shares insights on the legal contracts that will help you do just that.

Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.

The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.

Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.

The lowdown on London-based hearing wellness startup Mumbli and its mission to help businesses provide inclusive spaces for all hearing abilities and preferences.

Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.

Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.

With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.
Published on: 3rd August 2022
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Anamcara launches $10.6M seed fund to back new wave of business tech 30th Mar 2023 Early stage VC fund Anamcara led by Female Solo GP Closes $10.6M Seed Fund to Invest in Founders Building Defining B2B Software Companies
- Travel insurtech Koala raises €2m to accelerate its growth 29th Mar 2023 Koala, the innovative travel insurtech startup, secures investment to fuel its growth in Europe, expand its team and build additional travel protections.
- Tech Nation announces the 10 winners of its latest Rising Stars competition 29th Mar 2023 The best early stage tech startups from across the UK revealed in Tech Nation’s final Rising Stars competition.
- Micro Business Alliance launches to represent 75% of the UK’s businesses 28th Mar 2023 Over 100 organisations come together via The Micro Business Alliance to help provide a voice for the UK's startups, micro businesses and small businesses.