Lily Pad
FOUNDER, FRIENDLY BRANCH
It all started when…
Lily Pad is a product I created that solves a problem I noticed with my kids using Alexa devices. There are over 2,000 Alexa Skills just for kids, but kids have no way of knowing which words to use to launch those skills and how to remember those words. Lily Pad solves this problem by making it easy for kids to launch and interact with Alexa skills using physical objects.
I created the prototypes using 3D printing, writing Alexa code, creating audio experiences, and working with an electrical engineer to get the light animations, bluetooth, and RFID reader to interact with any Alexa device.
With multiple applications from gaming, learning math and reading, and choose your own adventure stories, we’re now in discussions with toy and IP companies.
The most intriguing element for a toy company is that by adding an RFID tag to any of their products (just pennies to their cost of goods) they can unlock an interactive story for their characters. There’s an incentive to collect more characters to unlock more within a story. Additionally, Lily Pad will remember a child’s unique character and what experiences it has had or powers it has gained, making that toy much more precious to a child. Now, each child’s toy can be unique to them.