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Chinese tutoring services provider snaps up chidren's apps developer Dr. Panda

Companies to work on "new models for future education"

Date Type Companies involved Size
September 28th, 2018 acquisition Dr. Panda Not disclosed
Chinese tutoring services provider snaps up chidren's apps developer Dr. Panda

Chinese after-school tutoring service provider Tomorrow Advancing Life Education Group (TAL) has acquired Chengdu-based mobile apps developer Dr. Panda for an undisclosed fee.

The studio has developed a number of educational kids apps including Dr. Panda Town, Dr. Panda Restaurant 2 and Dr. Panda Firefighter.

Overall the company has five million monthly active users around the world and has racked up more than 90 million installs across its 30 children’s games.

A press release claims the Dr. Panda will remain an independent brand following the acquisition and retain its current management team.

As well as supporting its current operations, TAL aims to “explore new models for future education” with the studio.

Children's education

“We believe Dr. Panda’s expertise can assist us by enhancing strategic planning for TAL’s many diverse developments, as well as in providing quality services for more families,” said a TAL spokesperson.

“TAL acknowledges that a high quality user experience has always been a top priority of both Dr. Panda and its own organisation, together equally committed to creating high quality creative content.

“It is because of the two company’s shared values and missions that they combine efforts as they look to the future, promoting educational developments in this new era of technology, solidifying TAL’s place as a pioneer in content creation in children’s education.”

Dr. Panda founder Thijs Bosma added: “As a part of the TAL family, we wish to make education and kids’ learning more fun, and we can achieve this by utilising TAL’s many channels and resources, supported by the experience of Dr. Panda’s own achievements to date.

“We want education to stimulate creativity, as opposed to traditional methods that ‘spoon-feed’ knowledge. Our shared goal is for kids to have fun when learning through creativity.”


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Craig Chapple is a freelance analyst, consultant and writer with specialist knowledge of the games industry. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.