Growing up in China, Xiaoyin Qu was passionate about learning to build paper airplanes that could perform flips in the air. However, neither her parents nor her teachers had the time or expertise to support her curiosity. This experience inspired Qu to create an AI that could act as a dedicated coach and companion for children, helping them learn and explore their interests.
Qu founded Heeyo, a startup that provides children aged three to eleven with an AI chatbot and over 2,000 interactive games and activities, including books, trivia, and role-playing adventures. Heeyo also allows parents and children to design their own AI and create new learning games tailored to family values and interests. The aim is to offer an alternative to popular games like Minecraft and Roblox and reduce screen time spent on YouTube.
Heeyo recently emerged from stealth with a $3.5 million seed round from investors including the OpenAI Startup Fund, Alexa Fund, and Pear VC. The app is now available globally on Android and iOS tablets and smartphones.
Concerns about AI for kids are understandable, particularly regarding safety, data protection, and mental health. Qu assures that Heeyo prioritizes safety through strict data handling, sensitive engagement protocols, and robust parental controls. The platform is designed to be a positive learning environment, with the chatbot offering supportive and interactive educational games.
Heeyo aims to capture a niche in the children’s market by addressing a demographic that major tech companies often overlook due to compliance and perceived profitability challenges. According to Qu, there are a billion children within Heeyo’s target age range, presenting a significant market opportunity.
Heeyo is compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), ensuring that children’s voice data is immediately deleted and no personal information is stored. The app does not ask for full names or other personal details during sign-up.
Qu’s team, comprising children’s book authors, former creatives from Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop, child psychologists, and pediatricians, has developed Heeyo’s content and AI engine. This engine uses a combination of AI models for different tasks, including OpenAI for chat interactions, ElevenLabs and Microsoft Azure for text-to-audio conversions, and Stable Diffusion for text-to-picture translations.
During its closed beta, Heeyo was tested on about 100 children aged three to nine, both in Silicon Valley and Alabama. The AI adapts to different age groups, providing open-ended questions for older children and offering choices for younger ones.
Interesting use cases emerged during testing, such as benefits for children with special needs or those on the autism spectrum. Additionally, some parents in Alabama requested the chatbot to create Bible-related stories.
The chatbot handles sensitive conversations thoughtfully, validating children’s feelings and offering supportive responses. However, the platform is still refining features like proactive alerts for parents when children disclose serious issues.
Heeyo’s content is designed to promote positive outcomes, allowing children to explore and create while learning. The app offers a mix of free and paid content, with tokens available for purchase to access various games.
Qu previously founded the online event platform Run the World, which was acquired by EventMobi last year. However, she envisions Heeyo as a long-term business rather than seeking a quick exit.
“The narrative isn’t about giving lonely kids an AI friend,” Qu said. “It’s about helping kids learn what they’re interested in and using their favorite characters to cultivate that interest or teach them something in a fun way.”
