RosieReality

RosieReality GmbH was a Zurich-based technology startup focused on the augmented reality (AR) gaming market for children and families. Founded in early 2017 and incorporated in February 2018, the company was established by co-founders Selim Benayat (CEO), Peter Spence (CPO), and Florian Kennel Maushart (CTO). The company originated from the Wyss Zurich research center, an accelerator associated with ETH Zurich, and participated in programs like Venture Kick and the Kickstart Accelerator.

The firm's core business was developing mobile applications that used AR to teach children, ages eight and up, the fundamentals of programming, robotics, and problem-solving through gameplay. Its flagship product, "Rosie's Reality," featured an AR robot named Rosie that users would guide through puzzle-based adventures. The game was designed to be interactive and educational, requiring players to use programming logic like commands and loops to solve 3D puzzles in a modular, "Lego-like" world projected onto their real-world environment via a smartphone or tablet camera. The experience was developed with significant user testing in schools and homes to refine the onboarding process for a young audience. The business model centered on the distribution of its game, which was notably selected to be part of Apple's Arcade subscription service in September 2019.

RosieReality successfully secured approximately $2.9 million in total funding over several rounds. A pre-seed round in late 2017 raised $700,000, led by Shasta Ventures and including investors like General Catalyst, Anorak Ventures, and Akatsuki Entertainment Fund. This was followed by a significant seed round of $2.2 million in April 2019, led by Redalpine and with participation from previous investors and notable angels from Atomico. This capital was intended to expand the team, which grew from three to 15, and support a global launch with a focus on the US market. Despite its initial traction and presence on a major platform, the startup ceased operations in the summer of 2020, selling its assets to a third party. Its game, "Rosie's Reality," was later removed from Apple Arcade in August 2021 after the company confirmed it could no longer provide support due to a shift in priorities away from entertainment.

Keywords: augmented reality gaming, educational technology, kids programming app, mobile game developer, AR puzzles, robotics for kids, STEM education, family games, Apple Arcade, ETH Zurich spin-off, venture capital funded, Redalpine, Shasta Ventures, game-based learning, interactive education, Zurich startup, Selim Benayat, Wyss Zurich, children's entertainment, coding for children