MiniMonos
closedEco-themed virtual world for children promoting sustainability.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
| investor investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
| investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
N/A | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
MiniMonos was a New Zealand-based online virtual world for children aged six and above, which operated from 2011 to 2013. The platform was conceived in 2008 by entrepreneur Melissa Clark-Reynolds, who was inspired to create a safe online space for kids that was fun but also instilled values about planetary care. Clark-Reynolds, an experienced tech entrepreneur and an ambassador for Al Gore's "The Climate Project," collaborated with interactive media producer Deborah Todd and game designer Noah Falstein to develop the game.
The game allowed players to create monkey avatars, socialize, and play various mini-games centered around environmental themes like recycling and cleaning the environment. It was designed to reward players with in-game currency and items for completing both online missions and real-world eco-projects through its "EcoMonkey" program. The business model was freemium; basic gameplay was free, while revenue was generated through premium "Gold Memberships" that unlocked exclusive items and features. These memberships were sold online and through physical game cards in retailers like Sainsbury's in the UK. The company also explored merchandise and mobile apps, launching "MiniMonos Flight" for the iPhone.
Launched officially on April 1, 2011, after a beta phase, MiniMonos grew rapidly, attracting nearly one million players from over 150 countries and raising over £1 million in capital by June 2012. The company secured funding from investors including New Zealand's Seed Co-Investment Fund (NZVIF). Despite its initial success, MiniMonos announced its closure on April 29, 2013, and the site officially shut down on May 12, 2013. The closure was attributed to the declining profitability of browser-based Flash games and the broader market shift towards mobile gaming on iOS and Android platforms.
Keywords: virtual world, children's games, environmental education, online gaming, sustainability, freemium model, Flash game, social gaming, eco-friendly, massive multiplayer online, New Zealand startup, Melissa Clark-Reynolds, kid safety, edutainment, game-based learning, digital pets, avatar-based world, recycling games, mobile app gaming, browser-based game