{{Short description|English custom publishing company}} {{advert|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox company | name = Wonderbly | type = Public | hq_location = London, England | industry = Publishing | founded = 2012 in England | homepage = [https://www.wonderbly.com www.wonderbly.com] | image = Wonderbly new logo.jpg | parent = Penguin Random House }}
'''Wonderbly''', previously '''Lost My Name''',<ref name="rebrand">{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-US/blog/news/company-news/new-name-same-us|title=New name, same us|date=24 July 2017 |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> is a technology and publishing business that produces personalized books for children and adults. Launched in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/lost-my-name-personalised-books-are-the-name-of-the-game-9103922.html|title=Lost My Name: Personalised books are the name of the game|date=3 February 2014 |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> Wonderbly has sold over 8 million books in 169 countries and territories, and their titles are available in 11 languages. The company's headquarters are in Bloomsbury, London.<ref name="wonderbly-press">{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/press|title=Wonderbly press page|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> As of June 2025, Wonderbly is owned by Penguin Random House, a subsidiary of the German media conglomerate Bertelsmann.
== History == Wonderbly was founded by Asi Sharabi, former advertising exec;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writing.makeshift.io/pieces/how-asi-sharabi-went-from-phd-dropout-to-international-digital-publisher|title=How Asi Sharabi went from PhD-dropout to international digital publisher|accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref> The company is currently headquartered in East London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-GB/pages/privacy-policy|title=Privacy Policy of Wonderbly|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>
In June 2015, Wonderbly announced a $9 million Series A round, led by Google Ventures,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/25/lost-my-name/|title=Lost My Name, The Kids "Full-Stack" Personalised Book Publisher, Raises $9M Led By Google Ventures|date=25 June 2015 |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> and in July 2017, another $8.5 million Series B round led by Ravensburger.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/31/wonderbly|title=Lost My Name, the tech-driven kids book publisher, raises $8.5M and partners with Roald Dahl Estate|date=31 July 2017 |accessdate=1 August 2017}}</ref> The company also underwent a rebrand from ''Lost My Name'' to ''Wonderbly''<ref name="rebrand" /> in the same month.
In July 2021, private equity firm Graphite Capital acquired Wonderbly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Printweek - Wonderbly plans further expansion under new owner |url=https://www.printweek.com/content/news/wonderbly-plans-further-expansion-under-new-owner/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Printweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=Graphite Capital buys fast-growing personalised children's book business Wonderbly {{!}} AltAssets Private Equity News |url=https://www.altassets.net/private-equity-news/by-news-type/deal-news/graphite-capital-buys-fast-growing-personalised-childrens-book-business-wonderbly.html |access-date=2023-10-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
On 4 June 2025, it was announced that Penguin Random House had acquired Wonderbly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PRH Acquires Wonderbly, One of the UK’s Fastest-Growing Independent Publishers and Leader in Personalized Gift Books|url=https://global.penguinrandomhouse.com/announcements/prh-acquires-wonderbly-one-of-the-uks-fastest-growing-independent-publishers-and-leader-in-personalized-gift-books/|work=Penguin Random House|date=4 June 2025}}</ref>
== Products == The initial product published by Wonderbly, ''The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name<ref name="geekmummy">{{cite web |title=Book Review: The Little Girl Who Lost Her Name from Lostmy.Name |url=http://www.geekmummy.com/2013/12/book-review-little-girl-lost-name/ |accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref>'', is a personalised picture book for readers whose age ranges between two and six years old. The book tells of a child who has lost their name and goes on an adventure to find it.<ref name="geekmummy" /> Each book comprises a selection of mini stories, each of which feature the letters of the child's missing name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/parenting/david-cadji-newby-378235.html|title=Exclusive interview with David Cadji-Newby|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>
''The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name'' has been translated into British English,<ref name="lmn-en">{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-GB/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=The Little Boy Or Girl Who Lost Their Name|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> American English,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-US/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=The Little Boy Or Girl Who Lost Their Name|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> German,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/de/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=Ach, du Schreck, mein Name ist weg!|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> French,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/fr/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=Oh, j'ai perdu mon nom|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> Spanish,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/es/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=El niño/La niña que perdió su nombre|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> Italian,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/it/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=Dov'è finito il mio nome|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> Dutch,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/nl/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=Wat een pech mijn naam is weg!|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> Chinese<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/zh-CN/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=Lost My Name个性定制绘本|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> and Japanese.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/ja/personalized-products/lost-my-name-book|title=だれか なまえを みなかった?|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>
Wonderbly followed this up with ''The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home'',<ref name="tjh">{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-GB/personalized-products/the-journey-home-book|title=The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> a picture book personalised around a child's address that featured a satellite image of their real home.
Wonderbly's third title, ''Kingdom of You'',<ref name="koy">{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-GB/personalized-products/kingdom-of-you-book|title=Kingdom of You|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> is a personalised picture book based on a child's favourite things.
Most recently Wonderbly released ''The Birthday Thief'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/en-GB/personalized-products/the-birthday-thief-book|title=The Birthday Thief|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> which uses a child's birthdate as its narrative structure.
== Recognition ==
The company won recognition in Series 12 of BBC's ''Dragon's Den'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dragons-den-entrepreneurs-land-best-3922855|title=Dragon's Den contestants scoop £100k investment for their children's book company in show's best EVER deal|website=Daily Mirror |date=27 July 2014 |accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/10991384/Dragon-slayers-nab-100000-from-Piers-Linney-for-a-4pc-slice-of-their-kids-publishing-start-up.html|title=Dragon slayers nab £100,000 from Piers Linney for a 4pc slice of their kids publishing start-up|accessdate=18 December 2014}}</ref> where two of the co-founders appeared on British and Australian television to secure a record breaking investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSkTq6IwWfY&t=3s|title=Dragons Den de Movie|website=YouTube |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>
==Awards==
=== 2014 === * Best Start Up, FutureBook Innovation Awards<ref name="bookseller_award">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/nosy-crow-profile-and-prh-among-futurebooks-innovation-winners|title=Nosy Crow, Profile and PRH among FutureBook's innovation winners|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Startups Award, People's Champion<ref>{{cite web|url=http://startups.co.uk/startups-awards/peoples-champion-contender-lost-my-name/|title=People's Champion Finalist: Lost My Name|date=20 October 2014 |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Silver winner for Best Children's Story 3 to 5 Years (''The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name''<ref name="lmn-en" />), Loved by Parents<ref name="loved-by-parents">{{cite web|url=http://lovedbyparents.com/lovedbyparents-awards-results-2014/|title=Lovedbyparents Awards Results 2014|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Bronze winner for Best Children's Story Preschool (''The Little Boy/Girl Who Lost His/Her Name''<ref name="lmn-en" />), Loved by Parents<ref name="loved-by-parents" />
=== 2015 === * Winner of the Self Published Books category, British Book Design and Production Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishbookawards2015.co.uk/shortlist-winners-2015/|title=British Book Design and Production Awards, 2015 Winners|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Shortlisted for Digital Business of the Year, Bookseller Industry Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/bookseller-industry-awards/2015/shortlist-2015|title=Bookseller Industry Awards, 2015 Winners|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>
=== 2016 === * Future Fifty, Tech City UK<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/12051832/Deliveroo-and-Lost-My-Name-among-tech-stars-likely-to-make-spectacular-IPOs.html|title=Deliveroo and Lost My Name among tech stars likely to make spectacular IPOs|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * The Top 50 Innovative Companies in the United Kingdom, Innovative Business Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.market-inspector.co.uk/blog/2016/06/innovative-business-awards-2016|title=Innovative Business Awards 2016|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Gold winner for Innovative Book of the Year (''The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home''<ref name="tjh" />), Junior Design Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/childrens-book-awards/childrens-books--junior-design-awards-2016-results/20730.html|title=Junior Design Awards 2016 RESULTS|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * The Leap 100, City AM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/leap-100/2016|title=THE LEAP 100|date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Media, Fast Company<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2016/sectors/media|title=Most Innovative Companies 2016|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Most Innovative Companies For Parents & Kids, Fatherly<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2016/07/29/20-innovative-companies-for-kids-and-parents-in-2016/#70c7bc9b67b5|title=20 Innovative Companies For Kids And Parents In 2016|website=Forbes |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * One to Watch, Sunday Times Tech Track 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/league-tables/tech-track-100/ones-to-watch/|title=Tech Track Ones to Watch|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * Shortlisted for Best E-Commerce Startup, The Europas Conference & Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/30/vote-now-in-the-europas-conference-and-awards-for-european-startups/|title=Vote now in The Europas Conference & Awards for European startups|date=30 May 2016 |accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> * BAFTA nominee for the Original Interactive category (''Blinkies''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderbly.com/p/blinkies|title=Introducing Blinkies|date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=28 July 2017}}</ref>), BAFTA<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/events/bafta-childrens-awards-nominees-announced-2/|title=BAFTA Children's Awards Nominees Announced|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>
=== 2017 === * Silver winner for Best designed/illustrated book for children (''Kingdom of You''<ref name="koy" />), Junior Design Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/childrens-book-awards/best-designed-illustrated-book-for-children-2017--junior-design-awards/21082.html|title=Best Designed/Illustrated Book for Children 2017|accessdate=6 September 2017}}</ref> * Rank #1, Sunday Times Tech Track 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/wonderbly-3/|title=Tech Track 100 - Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies|accessdate=12 September 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Penguin Random House}}
Category:Book publishing companies based in London Category:Book publishing companies of the United Kingdom Category:Publishing companies established in 2012 Category:British companies established in 2012 Category:Bertelsmann subsidiaries Category:Penguin Random House