Megan Harper
ToyPal converts stuffed animals into AI-powered storytellers, making playtime more engaging and personalized. Designed for screen-free play, it encourages children to study and imagine while giving parents complete control.
1. What inspired you to create ToyPal, and how has the product’s vision evolved since its inception?
Sami Samiee: It all started when I was playing with my son Nick and his stuffed animals. We were making silly voices, and I thought, “What if these toys could actually talk?” That simple idea grew into ToyPal. As we worked on it, we saw a chance to help families spend more quality time together away from screens while still keeping playtime fun and engaging.
2. How has ToyPal transformed the traditional concept of play and learning for children?
Sami Samiee: Kids have always had a rich imagination, but nowadays, everything is digital. With ToyPal, kids interact with their favorite stuffed toys in a way that feels more personal. It’s not just about watching a screen—it’s about listening to highly personalized content. Everything is deeply personalized for each child. The app grows with the child, from 3 to 8, always by their side, learning more and more each day, being a better friend, all while personification as their favorite plushy, under the full supervision of the parents.
3. ToyPal turns ordinary soft toys into interactive storytellers. Could you elaborate on the technology behind this and its benefits for families?
Sami Samiee: So, we created this tiny, heart-shaped device that clips right onto any soft toy. Then, users pair it with our AI-powered app over Bluetooth. Once they’re connected, your kid’s favorite plush friend suddenly has a voice—it can tell stories, sing lullabies, or even give a gentle reminder about cleaning up (in the sweetest possible way, of course).
About the technology, every day a new better model drops out, it’s really fun keeping up. We use top of the line services to make sure everything is humane, as much as possible, and it gets more humane, day by day.
4. The ToyPal app provides 500+ free stories and the ability to create personalized ones. How does this feature empower parents to make storytelling more meaningful?
Sami Samiee: What really makes a difference is being able to create new content—adding new input while using your child’s name or including their sibling or pet. Parents often use this feature to tackle everyday challenges playfully. One mom mentioned creating a superhero story starring her son, and it actually helped him stay in his bed all night!
It basically lets parents turn any routine or lesson into a little adventure. Suddenly, bedtime battles or picky eating moments start feeling more like a fun quest rather than a chore.
5. ToyPal has won recognition for its innovation in the smart toy industry. What sets it apart from similar products on the market?
Sami Samiee: We really focus on keeping everything personal. Today toy world is so big, but so behind on everything tech-related. We talked we so many places, and they were so afraid of AI, but AI is here, and it is the best content generator there is, and we have solved the privacy issue. Parents are there all the time; the device is just a Bluetooth speaker. We don’t record kids’ voices or store personal data on external servers. Everything is locked down, so parents can breathe easy. Plus, ToyPal is super simple to use: connect, choose a story, and you’re all set. No complicated setup. You can even swap it from one plush toy to another when your child’s favorites change—which happens a lot.
6. As a finalist in the UK StartUp Awards, ToyPal has proven its innovation. What is your approach to balancing creativity and functionality in product development?
Sami Samiee: We want ToyPal to be both fun and useful. Creativity drives us to dream up the coolest stories, voices, and scenarios—but we also stay grounded by asking parents for honest feedback. If something’s too tricky to set up or if a story doesn’t click with kids, we go back and tweak it. We keep an eye on industry trends, but the best ideas often come from the people actually using ToyPal in everyday life—kids and parents.
7. Technology is rapidly evolving parenting. What trends do you see shaping the future of interactive toys and AI-powered parenting tools?
Sami Samiee: The mission for toypal is to become the ultimate personalzied content app for kids. Parents are there all the time, nothing is hidden, kids are just gonna listen and enjoy, privacy parts like microphone and camera are handled by parents, and ToyPal does the talking. We are just parents’ month, tailored for each child. Our vision is to become the parent’s partners; they install the app, track everything, talk to us, and tell us about their and the child’s needs and wants, and we just know what to do. We have personalized everything based on each user, so they just hit the play button, and we know what to do next.
8. What do you enjoy most and least about your entrepreneurial journey?
Sami Samiee: I love seeing the product in a child’s hands and talking to their parents. When parents send us videos of their kids beaming as their stuffed toy “talks” to them, it’s the best feeling ever. It reminds me of why we started this whole thing.
Least: Definitely the stress of never knowing if you’re making the right call. Small startups mean lots of big decisions. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to balance finances, product development, and family time all at once.
9. What has been your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it? What lessons or exciting moments came from this experience?
Sami Samiee: Early on, convincing people that a small device could reinvent something as classic as a stuffed toy was a struggle. We overcame it by literally showing them. We’d do demonstrations where children could interact with ToyPal in real-time. The moment people saw the kids’ reactions—those wide eyes and huge smiles—they realized how special it was.
10. What does success mean to you, and what are your future goals for ToyPal?
Sami Samiee: For me, success is all about positive change. If ToyPal can be personalized for every child, it means everyone has a very good friend under the supervision of their parents. Any child with any language or culture or even special needs could benefit from something like this, not only normal kids but also blind kids, kids with autism or ADHD, and everyone.
11. What does your typical day look like? Could you walk us through a day in your life?
Sami Samiee: I usually start with some quick morning yoga to clear my head. Then it’s work, work, work, until finally, I go for a walk and spend some time with family.
Editor’s Note
Sami Samiee had a simple idea: what if soft toys could talk? With ToyPal, he’s making it happen. ToyPal keeps children engaged by merging AI with conventional play, while also assuring parental privacy and ease of use.
