Providence startup Sproutel announced today a pre-order campaign for the newest Jerry the Bear, an interactive toy to help children learn about their health. Jerry the Bear first came to market as a tool for children with Type I diabetes to understand and cope with the realities of their disease. Jerry, a snuggly plush bear, serves as a proxy for kids--they feed him, monitor his blood sugar and administer insulin as Jerry competes in a series of Olympic-type games. This unique combination of fuzzy warmth and high-tech engineering works because it offers engagement, education, and support.
So successful was Jerry in delighting children (and their parents, doctors and caregivers), Sproutel has expanded their product line to bring super fun, medicalgrade education to all children.
Starting today, you can pre-order the new Jerry the Bear. Jerry's cuddly goodness combines expert approved content with play patterns that convey the best practices in nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness. Parents can select from a portfolio of health and wellness stories, including diabetes, food allergies, and asthma. PreOrder Now!
Jerry is more than a toy--he is a trusted health coach who connects with children in ways adults simply cannot. The vision? Become the Sesame Street for healthcare.
Jerry the Bear combines expert approved content with play patterns that convey the best practices in nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness. Highlight features of Jerry the Bear include:
● Blended reality. First of its kind play experience lets children see into Jerry’s world through an electronic portal.
● Fun for all. Designed to help all children learn the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle with core lessons including nutritious eating, identifying feelings, tooth brushing, and much more.
● Internet connected. Jerry is the first teddy bear that updates automatically to grow with your child.
● Customizable for type 1 diabetes and food allergies. Expansion packs enable Jerry to become a comforting companion that provides a depth of education and emotional support for children affected by food allergies and type 1 diabetes.
“Our goal is to leverage the power of play to help children live happy and healthy lives” said Aaron Horowitz, cofounder of Sproutel. “We call it play with purpose. In an age when toys teach kids about STEM, programming, reading, and more Jerry is the first toy of its kind to help children understand their own bodies.”
Founders Hannah Chung and Aaron Horowitz are no strangers when it comes to stealing the show--the two are seasoned pros at telling a killer story about their company, Sproutel. But this dynamic duo went next level when they wowed President Barack Obama with their story at the first White House Demo Day, where top entrepreneurs from across the country vied for the chance to present their startup to Commander-in-Chief. Can't think of a better run up to a launch of a new product!
Best suited for children ages 4 to 9, Jerry the Bear will be available to preorder at $99. Sproutel has pledged 1% of sales to help fight obesity and hunger through the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Expansion packs will support finding a cure for type 1 diabetes through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and food allergies through Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).
About Jerry the Bear
Jerry the Bear is a smart teddy bear that helps children learn about their health and build emotional intelligence through play. Jerry is born from cuttingedge research in health games, behavioral psychology, and humanrobot interaction. Gameplay reinforces best practices in nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness. Jerry the Bear is designed, developed, and manufactured by Sproutel, based in Providence, Rhode Island. Jerry is also the first teddy bear to wish President Obama a happy birthday!
About Sproutel
Sproutel is an innovative healthcare design company who works with a team of medical collaborators to build products that educate through play. Their first awardwinning toy for type 1 diabetes was sold to 4% of children newly diagnosed last year and featured in 25% of pediatric endocrinologist offices in the United States. Sproutel developed Jerry the Bear in part with funding from the National Institutes of Health.