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Market and Sector Type: 
Retail & Consumer
Article Type: 
Analysis

Imran Hakim and the iTeddy

Article Date:  Jan 17 2008 Adam Wayland

Entrepreneur Imran Hakim secured £140,000 from Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis when he showcased the iTeddy on the BBC's Dragon's Den. This curious mixture of innocent bear and cyborg is described by Hakim as an educational toy that helps pre-school children learn as they play.

Essentially an interactive teddy bear with a computer in its belly, the iTeddy allows parents to download cartoons, stories and even online tutorials to build basic computer skills from a dedicated website.

Hakim says he came up with the idea after playing with his niece, and wanted to bring the traditional qualities of the teddy into the 21st century.

With a detachable media player on which you can watch cartoons and videos, view and store photos and play bedtime stories, music and games, the iTeddy retails at £39.99.

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