Apps For Kids Of All Ages (original) (raw)

About

Timeline

In 2009, known as The Guys In The Booth, partners Christopher Taylor and Victor Johnson launched their first app: ABC 123 Blocks - Learning Tool For Toddlers. Mobile app development started out as a hobby - both partners had jobs in advertising at the time - but it quickly became more as their own kids (aka "the beta testers") got excited about the apps.

In 2010, with the help of effective advertising (Tapjoy's Pay-Per-Install), The Guys In The Booth started to see significant sales traction and by late 2010, Victor Johnson was able to shift from burning the midnight oil to working full-time for The Guys In The Booth. The first app launched with one dedicated partner turned out to be the current top app: Build A Train.

In 2011 Christopher Taylor also went full-time and the leap paid off. In August of 2011 The Guys In The Booth collaborated with small design shop Twistcone to release Monster Coloring Book. The app was well received by Apple and was featured on the App Store homepage. It was also featured by TUAW.com, Very Short List and theFWA.

A short time later a follow-up collaboration with Twistcone, Let's Learn How To Draw!, also briefly made the App Store homepage.

Charged with momentum, The Guys In The Booth and Twistcone decided to apply to startup accelerator YCombinator. They were invited to first round interviews in California, but failed to advance to the second round.

Determined to push forward despite the setback, the team decided that a fresh brand to better reflect the company's focus on creative play was important.

And so The Guys in the Booth became Playtend.

In early 2012, Playtend apps were featured three times on the App Store home page.

In February of 2012, Playtend reached 1 million total downloads.

In December 2012 Playtend reached 2 million total downloads.

In June 2013 Playtend reached 3 million total downloads.

Playtend expects to reach 4 million total downloads in October 2013.

Key Playtenders

Christopher Taylor

Partner

Christopher is a creative thinker who loves a good challenge. He has previously worked as a developer, digital producer, and strategist for clients including General Mills, Delta Airlines, BOOST Mobile and Amtrak. At Playtend his focus is leading the charge to define both what we create and how we create it, and his work has been featured multiple times by Apple on the front page of the App Store.

When Christopher is not coding, he moonlights as a jungle gym for his three kids. When he manages to escape he likes to debate politics and try to beat Victor at chess.

Victor Johnson

Partner

Victor is a technical problem solver who has worked as a front end web developer, advanced C++ instructor, and even as a computer camp director. Before Playtend, Victor worked in advertising and developed for clients such as General Mills, Subaru, Harley Davidson, Minnesota Twins, Target, and Cargill.

Victor has three crazy monkeys, two dogs and a beautiful wife. When he's not wrangling rugrats he likes to make music, play basketball and offers pro bono chess lessons for the needy (Christopher).