Parenthood is magical, yet nerve-wracking. Mastering the art of parenting, the child’s unmanageable tantrums, the concept of day and night turning hazy, making sure everything in the house is child safe and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But something that deeply worries all parents is watching their toddlers spend hours glued to screens.
Such was the situation of two friends, dads and IIT Kharagpur alumnus- Vivek Goyal and Dinesh Advani. They wondered: could playtime be more than distraction? Could it be a window into learning? With that wish, they co-founded PlayShifu, aiming to transform children’s screen time into something meaningful and fuse fun with learning.
They started small—self-funded, sketching ideas, talking with parents, child psychologists, and teachers. Their “phygital” concept took shape: tactile toys, powered by Augmented Reality, that teach STEM in a playful, hands‑on way.Their first modest product: AR animal flashcards dubbed Shifu Safari, launched in August 2016. But this was just the warm-up.
Their flagship offerings followed:
- Shifu Orboot, an AR globe that transforms geography lessons into immersive explorations of wildlife, culture, and landmarks.
- Shifu Plugo, a screen‑touch-free game system that blends physical components with digital challenges.
- Shifu Tacto, a clever reimagining of board games where physical figurines trigger animated responses on screen.
Each iteration was guided by research, feedback loops, and their mantra: build what kids love, but also what parents value.
By 2020–21, PlayShifu’s creations reached homes in over 35–40 countries and garnered more than 700,000 users. They showcased at CES Las Vegas, winning praise from Wired and delighting audiences who saw a fresh take on educational tech. Through Amazon Global Selling, they expanded into the US, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, and beyond.
What makes PlayShifu unique?
- Phygital magic – toys kids can touch, while AR brings them to life.
- STEM-first design – each product sharpens critical thinking, reasoning, and creativity.
- User-centered rigor – extensive testing, focus groups, and data-driven feature design.
- Global appeal – multi-region localization, joyful content, and universal themes .
Today, PlayShifu stands tall. With over a dozen hit products and tens of thousands of kids worldwide lighting up with wonder, Vivek and Dinesh have proven how learning can be fun and playtime can be a powerful catalyst for infinite possibilities.
Written By:
Yashi Bhatia
