Fat Brain Toys and Make: Team up to Launch Kidventor Challenge, a Toy and Game Invention Contest for Kids

The Winning Toy Has the Opportunity to Be Presented at the American International Toy Fair in New York City and Sold around the World

ELKHORN, Neb.--()--Fat Brain Toys, one of the nation’s largest independent toy retailers and developer of more than 70 innovative toys, and Make:, leader of the Maker movement and producer of the popular Maker Faire events, today announced the Kidventor Challenge. The Kidventor Challenge gives children in first through sixth grade an opportunity to submit toy or game ideas for the chance to have their concept brought to market by Fat Brain Toys.

The winner will receive a $2,500 advance scholarship, and a license agreement that offers royalties, as well as round trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to attend the 2018 American International Toy Fair in New York City.

Additionally, the winning toy or game will be on display at the American International Toy Fair in February where it will be showcased before thousands of buyers from around the world. All finalists will receive a prize pack from Fat Brain Toys and Make:.

“We strongly believe in the power of pure, authentic play,” said Mark Carson, CEO and co-founder of Fat Brain Toys. “It fills children with a desire to explore, discover, build, experiment, and be curious about the world around them. Since this company was founded, we have dedicated ourselves to helping parents enrich their children’s lives with play. The Kidventor Challenge is yet another opportunity for us to inspire children to create and explore innovation.”

The Kidventor Challenge was created from a partnership between Fat Brain Toys and Make:, encompassing their shared mission to embrace innovation, creativity, and learning and to inspire the imaginations of children.

“We believe when kids grow up with a maker mindset, they grow up with a constant sense of curiosity, wonder, and playful ambition,” said Dale Dougherty, Founder and CEO of Make:. “They grow up convinced that anything is possible and the overwhelming complexities of the world become endless opportunities for creativity and fun. The Kidventor Challenge is a great way for us to encourage even more kids to embrace creativity and learning.”

“And I am honored to have the opportunity to be one of the judges of this challenge,” continued Dougherty. “I cannot wait to read all the submissions and dive into the incredible ideas I know we will receive.”

Additional judges include Karen Carson, co-founder of Fat Brain Toys, and Nolan Bushnell, founder of the Atari Corporation and Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater. Karen brings to the panel a familiarity with toys and games that truly inspire play and succeed at market. Nolan, often cited as the father of the video game industry, brings his passion for entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, and education, as well as his unique perspective. As parents, both Carson and Bushnell have always encouraged their own children to be as imaginative and creative as possible, and this challenge has given them an opportunity to encourage other children to do the same.

Participants can share their ideas by submitting the name and description of their invention, accompanied by an image or drawing (optional), at https://www.fatbraintoys.com/kidventor.cfm.

The Kidventor Challenge concludes November 14, 2017, and the winner will be announced in November. To learn more, or to submit your idea, visit www.FatBrainToys.com.

About Fat Brain Toys

Fat Brain Toys is one of the nation’s largest independent toy retailers. Unlike mainstream or mass-produced alternatives, Fat Brain Toys creates and curates quality toys, games, and clever gifts, and enables children to learn through pure, authentic play. In addition to the online store, Fat Brain Toys operates two retail storefronts and wholesales their original line of specialty toys and games to over 1,500 stores worldwide. Fat Brain Toys is a family-owned and operated company based in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

About MAKER MEDIA

Headquartered in San Francisco, Make: is a global platform that allows Makers to come together to learn, share, make, and collaborate. The launch of Make: magazine in 2005 followed by Maker Faire in 2006 jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement which is transforming innovation, culture, and education. Make: editorial content can be found online at makezine.com, its e-commerce at makershed.com, and its online learning for kids at makercamp.com.

Contacts

104 West for Fat Brain Toys
Kim Caro, 720-407-6076
kim.caro@104west.com
or
Make:
Gretchen Giles, 707-570-7887
ggiles@makermedia.com

Contacts

104 West for Fat Brain Toys
Kim Caro, 720-407-6076
kim.caro@104west.com
or
Make:
Gretchen Giles, 707-570-7887
ggiles@makermedia.com