Shukri Shammas (Chairman and Co-Founder) Chris Michaels (co-CEO) Nina Pustilnik (co-CEO) Sami Lababidi (CTO and Co-Founder) Christian Dorffer (CIO and Co-Founder) Tareq Naqib (CFO and Co-Founder)
Mindshapes is an interactive learning company that creates virtual worlds and apps that help children and adults learn through gameplay. Founded in October 2010,[1] the company is headquartered in London and has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.[2] Mindshapes’ products include educational apps for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for children aged 2–12,[3][4] as well as their flagship product My Story World[5]
Mindshapes secured $5 million (£3.1 million) of Series A funding in November 2011 from the company’s five founders and unnamed angel investors.[6]
Company Background
Mindshapes is led by co-CEOs Chris Michaels and Nina Pustilnik.[7] Other notable staff include Chairman Shukri Shammas; CTO George Taylor, "Chief Ninja" Sami Lababidi; CIO Christian Dorffer; and CFO Tareq Naqib.[8] Shammas and Lababidi were two of the four co-founders of Playfish, which was acquired by Electronic Arts in November 2009.[9]
Products
Mindshapes looks to “promote learning through a fusion of gaming and educational principles”.[10] The company has a team of advisors specialising in education, including Professor Paul Harris at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.[11] Mindshapes also partners[12] with charities such as the National Literacy Trust.
Mindshapes has published a range of educational children’s apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Aside from My Story World,[13] their apps include The Opposites;[14] Casper’s Scare School;[15] Lingo Zoo;[16] Meteor Math;[17] Hickory Dickory Dock;[18] Jack and the Beanstalk by Mindshapes;[19] Jellytoons Toddler Skills: Bobo’s Birthday Challenge [20] and Tap-a-Tune.[21]
