We started Pinwheel because we believe that kids & teens deserve technology designed to support their growth. Currently, kids & teens are in a widespread mental health crisis. Peer-reviewed research points to smartphones, especially social media, as a major part of the problem. Social media gives kids social comparison and performative identities in place of authentic connection and the healthy, independent coming-of-age experiences every generation before has taken for granted.

We’re out to help parents give kids the phone features they're ready for, as they're ready for them, so that kids grow up tech-savvy and emotionally healthy.

Our Product Mission

Put humans back in the driver's seat of technology with a phone that helps kids & teens achieve their noblest intentions.

Pinwheel is on track to land in the top 100 on the Inc. 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America list by the end of 2023 (the first time we'll qualify with the amount of financial history required).

Pinwheel has been featured on the Today Show, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Android Central, hundred+ local news TV shows, and various influential blogs, podcasts, and media sites.

What problem does the Pinwheel Smartphone solve?

• Kids get their first smartphone at 10-12. They are not ready for the adult world inside.
• Parents lack the tools and information to introduce technology gradually and with good oversight.
• The result of “too much, too soon” is a mental health crisis in our kids.

In the USA, the National Institute of Health has declared a state of emergency in response to the deterioration of our youth's mental health.

How does the Pinwheel smartphone work?

• We have built a suite of software on top the Android Operating System. It's not just one app. Settings, VPN (virtual private network), mobile-device-management, contacts, messages, launcher, and caregiver apps as well as backend services combine to provide the full offering.
• Parents can remotely configure the phone to have different apps and functions in different contexts, like school and home.
• Easy "off" button allows a parent to stop screen time at the touch of a button on their own phone, while maintaining emergency contact communication.
• We have over 1,000 apps for parents to add to their child’s phone. Our curated App Library provides unique safety ratings and risk information to support parents’ decision-making. Kids cannot access any app store.
• No social media is available. Some newer app options from startups that are built with mental health in mind are promoted instead.
• GPS location and history.
• Contact management can be shifted through three maturation stages: from parent-controlled, to child-led, to teen managed, with text history remotely visible to parents throughout the journey.

Visualization of our technology stack with Pinwheel proprietary technology in the pink box.

How does the Pinwheel business model work?

• We offer phone models from leading manufacturers (ie Samsung).
• Each phone comes with a $15/month subscription to the parental guidance software.
• The product comes with the software pre-installed to make getting started easy.
• Parents have their own access to parental guidance tools on iOS, Android, and web to monitor and provide guidance to their kids.

Where is Pinwheel Sold?

• Pinwheel is sold mostly on pinwheel.com directly to customers.

Reviews matter! Hear straight from our customers...

Google, TrustPilot, Amazon, Pinwheel.com combined reviews:

We’ve been really happy with our Pinwheel experience.

It was just what we were looking for our kiddo. Customer service is also outstanding! Nothing but good things to say about this company."

"So far this phone service for my 11- and 14-year-olds has been really great.

It is limited enough that I don't feel like they can get into trouble with the phones but has enough options that I can manage to make it a smartphone that they are happy with."

"Exactly what we were looking for

We purchased a Pinwheel phone for our son last summer, and it has been an amazing experience. I've been able to easily customize settings for my son using the app. On two occasions I wasn't sure how to proceed, but the live chat on the website was able to assist me promptly and provide me with the information I needed. We have his phone set to only receive texts/calls from approved numbers and it has worked perfectly. Furthermore, approving new contacts is super fast and easy on the parent app (as is revoking them if they're no longer needed). A+"

"Pinwheel is the best out there!

Pinwheel is fantastic! I searched high and low for a good option for my son that has the parental control I require and the flexibility and "cool" factor that he wants. And their customer service is top notch! Cannot say enough good things about Pinwheel!"

"Awesome service for a first cellphone…

Awesome service for a first cell phone for your child! Really cool features, great range of controls. Absolutely everything you would want for your child to be on the phone safely! Customer Service was super prompt and helpful as well!"

"Pinwheel has been amazing! 

When looking for a phone for my son, Pinwheel came up in my search. I was a bit skeptical because I had never heard of this company but, after having this phone for 5 months now, I have only had a good experience. Customer service is 100% amazing too. If you have a question about anything, there is always someone there to help. I am very pleased with this purchase and would recommend them to anyone looking for a monitored phone for their child."

"Mom, wife, nurse

We love that we can add apps and permit more freedom as he grows and becomes more responsible and aware. Also, the customer service is AMAZING!"

"The solution that works

Easy parental control dashboard, son likes that it looks and operates like a regular smartphone, but he can't work around it like other parental control apps we have tried... This mom is a happier mom and less stressed because of this phone."

Exciting New Product

We are really excited to be adding to our existing suite of kid appropriate software with PinwheelGPT, an AI-chat interface app designed specifically for kids & teens. You can sign-up here for free:

https://ai.pinwheel.com

This solves a problem that has perplexed parents since the beginning of the internet. How can a parent safely provide access to the world of information and discovery available online without granting access to all of the kid inappropriate content out there? AI provides the way!

This app launched in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in August 2023! This is really an exciting opportunity for a few reasons:

• Discovery: A new way for parents to discover Pinwheel
• Revenue: Freemium business model
• Solution: Kid & teen use of the internet for positive purpose without the downsides

Select product design images

Conclusion

When we raised our very first round of funding in early 2020, we explored how we might make it possible for a large group of parents and supporters to invest alongside the traditional investors, but it ultimately it proved too complex. Most importantly, it was difficult to include people who were not already accredited investors—a qualification determined largely by wealth. But the idea never left our minds.

We are passionate about building Pinwheel with real parents who care, and this community round is an excellent way to materialize that commitment. We’re doing this because the dynamics of the community around Pinwheel change for the better when the people who are using it for their children's benefit are also participating owners of it. This not only provides good for our company, but it also presents an opportunity for you to participate in the benefits —including the financial upside.

In recent years, doing a community round like this one has become more viable because of regulatory changes and the rise of companies like Wefunder, which makes the process simple.

We’re thrilled that Circadian and Drumbeat - professional venture capitalists —have both invested again in this round. We are even more excited to enable hundreds if not thousands of others to invest alongside these groups.

We want to make it clear, however, that just because you can invest in Pinwheel, it doesn’t mean you should. Investments are risky—especially in startups, which have a habit of dying, pivoting, or simply not making enough money. Pinwheel is still a young company, and we are still proving that there is a large market for safe and age-appropriate technology for kids aged 9 to 15. If you don’t have money to spare, don’t spend it on this.

If, however, you share our belief that Pinwheel can grow its financial impact alongside its social impact, then this investment could be worth a shot. We are at the forefront of creating a new generation of technology designed specifically for kids and teens. This work is ambitious and exciting, and it's certainly meaningful. We’d love to have you by our side as we build this new intentional tech ecosystem for our children together.

For a longer explanation of how I got started, see this video!