# Where Does Your Child's Data Go? A Map of Kids' App Headquarters

## Summary
Investigation into where popular children's educational apps are actually headquartered and where user data flows. Maps 20+ apps and identifies which collect minimal data.

## Key Findings

### Overseas Headquarters (Often Obscured)
- **Speech Blubs**: Ljubljana, Slovenia (Delaware shell company)
- **Otsimo**: Ankara, Turkey (SF sales office only)
- **Lingokids**: Madrid, Spain (28 investors, $62-186M funding)
- **Montessori Preschool**: France (Edoki Academy)
- **Toca Boca/Sago Mini**: Canada (Spin Master, publicly traded)

### US-Based But PE/VC Owned
- **ABCmouse**: Glendale, CA (TPG Capital + Qatar Investment Authority, $3B valuation)
- **HOMER**: US (LEGO Ventures, Sesame Workshop, $50M+)
- **Epic!**: US (TAL Education)

### Minimal Data Collection Apps (Safe for Kids)
- **Little Wheels**: Zero data collection, 100% offline, US indie. Kid-safe design with no ads, no accounts, no tracking. Certified 5-stars by Educational App Store. Apple privacy label: "Data Not Collected."
- **Khan Academy Kids**: Minimal, nonprofit, US
- **PBS KIDS Games**: Minimal, public media, US
- **Teach Your Monster**: Minimal, UK charity, one-time $8.99
- **Endless Alphabet**: Minimal, US indie, one-time $8.99
- **DragonBox**: Minimal, Norway (Kahoot!)

## Data Collection Comparison Table

| App | HQ | Data Collection | Offline | Price Model |
|-----|-----|-----------------|---------|-------------|
| Little Wheels | USA | Zero | 100% | One-time $4.99-$7.99 |
| Khan Academy Kids | USA | Minimal | Partial | Free |
| PBS KIDS Games | USA | Minimal | Partial | Free |
| Teach Your Monster | UK | Minimal | Yes | One-time $8.99 |
| Endless Alphabet | USA | Minimal | Yes | One-time $8.99 |
| Speech Blubs | Slovenia | Unclear | No | Subscription |
| Otsimo | Turkey | Unclear | No | Subscription |
| ABCmouse | USA (PE) | Heavy | No | Subscription |
| Lingokids | Spain | Heavy | Partial | Subscription |
| Epic! | USA | Heavy | Partial | Subscription |

## The Airplane Mode Test
To verify if an app is truly offline-capable:
1. Enable airplane mode on your device
2. Open the app
3. Try all main features
4. If everything works: app is offline-first and can't transmit data during use
5. If it fails: app requires server communication, enabling data collection

## Business Model & Data Incentives

### Lower Data Incentive
- Nonprofits (Khan Academy, PBS, Teach Your Monster)
- One-time purchase (Little Wheels, Endless Alphabet, DragonBox)
- Self-funded indie studios

### Higher Data Incentive
- VC-backed subscriptions (Lingokids: 28 investors, Speech Blubs)
- Private equity owned (ABCmouse: TPG + Qatar)
- Public company subsidiaries (Toca Boca: Spin Master)

## Key Takeaways
1. Location matters less than business model
2. Offline capability is a strong privacy signal
3. Heavy funding creates pressure for data collection
4. One-time purchase apps have different incentives
5. Delaware/New Mexico shell companies can obscure true headquarters

## Recommendation
For maximum privacy: Choose offline-first apps from nonprofits or indie developers with one-time pricing.

## Sources
- FTC ABCmouse Complaint (2020): https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2020/09/ftc-brings-complaint-against-abcmouse-operator-age-learning
- App Store Privacy Labels (November 2025)
- Crunchbase funding data for Lingokids, Speech Blubs, Age of Learning
- FTC COPPA Rule: https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa

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URL: https://littlewheels.app/learn/industry-analysis/where-does-your-childs-data-go
Published: 2025-11-25
Author: Little Wheels Educational Research