Maka Kids raises $3M to build a well-being-focused streaming app

Maka Kids, a media startup, has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding—an early-stage investment round—to scale its platform and build a streaming app designed for children ages zero to six. The platform positions itself as an alternative to traditional streaming services that rely on engagement metrics like watch time. The funding round was led by Michigan Rise.

The startup was co-founded by Isabel Sheinman and Tanyella Leta, who were first introduced in 2013. The duo previously founded Nabu, a non-profit venture that distributed children’s books to 15 million children across 26 countries. The concept for Maka Kids emerged after the founders heard from anxious parents who were overwhelmed by the effects of screen time on their children. “We were seeing parents get completely overwhelmed trying to weigh decisions about what was unsafe, what was good, and understand why their kid was melting down every time screen time ended,” Sheinman said.

To address these concerns, the startup developed the Maka Imprint, a developmental framework created in collaboration with researchers at the Yale Child Study Center. The framework evaluates children’s content against 650 developmental indicators across seven core domains of early childhood development, such as language, creativity, and emotional skills. Rather than optimizing for continuous watch time, the platform curates slower-paced content with stories from around the world. Leta noted that stories can support language development, emotional regulation, and curiosity, while giving children a sense of how wide the world is.

Maka Kids plans to launch publicly this fall on iPhone and iPad. The startup’s business model relies on direct user support rather than advertising:

• The app will operate on a subscription model priced at $11.99 per month.
• Content will be licensed directly from intellectual property holders and individual creators, alongside original productions.
• Parents can select specific channels and set preferred session lengths, which end with natural wind-down cues to prevent a child from melting down.

Why it matters

Maka Kids is challenging the industry standard of engagement-based streaming by prioritizing developmental well-being, aiming to become a trust layer for children’s digital experiences.