KidZui Launches Zui Studios

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Company Raises Additional $2.4 Million to Give Kids a Home Page to Call Home

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KidZui Inc, the innovators in internet solutions for families that created the award winning KidZui browser and the kid-safe content aggregator and search engine Zui.com, announced today the launch of Zui Studios. The studio division will create original video content to be distributed on Zui.com and KidZui. The first production out of Zui Studios is Buzz, a daily update for kids about what is trending on the net including the best videos, sites, games, and more that will air on the homepage of Zui.com. The audience for KidZui properties continues to grow rapidly, receiving 1.8 million unique users in November.

Buzz is hosted by Lia Marie Johnson and Ty Desharnais, teens uniquely positioned to be the voice of what kids like. Lia Marie Johnson has over 100,000 loyal subscribers, over 20 million views, and is featured in third most viewed video on YouTube. More kids with massive YouTube draw will be featured as “Zui Stars”, passionate kids with talents they want to share with the world. Jordan Jansen is the first male Zui Star with over 200,000 subscribers and 17 million views. Zui Stars gives kids the viral video stardom they seek without the exposure parents fear. All comments and video replies are screened by the teachers and parents on the KidZui content curation team. The Buzz hosts will invite viewers to upload and safely share their own videos in the kid-centric YouTube experience offered on Zui Stars.

In the creation of Zui Studios, KidZui hired Adam Jacobs as Executive Producer. Jacobs, who was nominated for two Emmy awards for direction, headed On-Air promotions for Time Warner Cable, and wrote for the HBO hit series Tales From the Dark Side, will oversee all content creation for the studio. Plans for additional original content include on-location segments that appeal to kids’ interests.

“Here at KidZui we value being at the forefront of providing kids with the content they want. Our core business model is to shape online content and it’s delivery based on what kids want,” said Cliff Boro, CEO and Founder of KidZui. “Zui Buzz delivers a quick daily summary of kids’ favorite content through engaging and relatable hosts and provides easy one-click access. ZuiStars delivers a YouTube experience tailored to their preferences. Content will continue to be reviewed by our team of parents and teachers, but in general kids aren’t looking for trouble on the net, they are looking to have fun and connect. We will continue to make that easier and more fun for them.”

KidZui Inc. has raised an additional $2.4 Million from existing investors, led by Mission Ventures and from Costella Kirsch towards the development of Zui Studios and Zui Buzz in addition to the continuing development of ZUI.com as the one-stop content aggregator and search engine for kids. The allocation of funds for the video projects comes at the same time as industry-wide confirmation that kids are following the adult trend of moving their attention from television to the internet. The diversity of the aggregated content on Zui positions them to be highly competitive for the media dollars that will ride the wave from TV to web-based content.

New features of ZUI.com include featured channels to take kids directly to their favorite content, organized by subject; content delivery based on age and gender, making it easier for kids to explore content most relevant to them; and a free membership program. The membership program incentivizes children to enjoy all their favorite sites within the safe platform at Zui.com by giving them Zui Points to win prizes such as iPads and gaming systems.

Zui.com is the revolutionary content aggregator and search and exploration engine for kids ranging from 3 to 14 years of age. ZUI.com’s unique highly visual user-interface delivers a graphical collage of websites, YouTube videos, games, images and suggested related search terms. All content is powered by ZUI.com’s library of over 5 million parent and teacher approved websites, videos, and images. ZUI.com marks one of the world’s first Internet experiences for kids where their curious exploration of video, games and web-based text can be safely and easily shared with their parents, through ZUI.com’s unique ability to utilize the social graph provided by Facebook.

KidZui is based in San Diego, California.

About KidZui

Founded in 2006, KidZui delights children by giving them access to the best child-appropriate content and experiences on the Internet. KidZui’s products include the award-winning KidZui Browser and ZUI.COM, the revolutionary content aggregator and search engine. Both platforms empower children to safely explore over 5 million parent and teacher reviewed websites, photos, games, and videos. KidZui products are free and are supported by KidClicks, the company’s proprietary ad platform for family-friendly brands. The company was awarded with the Editor’s Choice Children’s Technology Review, the Parents Choice Award, and the Wired Safety Best of the Web Award. KidZui is a privately held company and is backed by Mission Ventures, Maveron, Emergence Capital Partners, First Round and Scholastic Corporation.

The Rose GroupElana Weiss, 310-280-3710[email protected]

Source: KidZui

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