Tynker
{{Short description|Educational programming platform}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox software
| logo = Tynker logo.png
| logo size = 220px
| name = Tynker IDE
| screenshot = Tynker - Sample - Ghost hunter.png
| screenshot size = 250px
| caption = Screenshot of Tynker web IDE, editing a project
| developer = Tynker
| genre = Educational Programming Language
| website = {{url|https://www.tynker.com/|tynker.com}}
}}
Tynker is an educational programming platform, like Scratch, to help children learn coding skills, including game design, web design, animation and robotics. It includes courses in Minecraft Modding, Minecraft Game Design, Creative Coding, Python and CSS.
Tynker is based on HTML5 and JavaScript, and can be used in browsers, or on tablet computers or smartphones.{{cite web|title=With 5M Users Already On Board, Tynker Goes Mobile To Help Kids Learn To Code On The iPad|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/12/with-5m-users-already-on-board-tynker-goes-mobile-to-help-kids-learn-to-code-on-the-ipad/|website=TechCrunch|date=12 March 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2015}}
History
The Tynker company was founded by Krishna Vedati, Srinivas Mandyam and Kelvin Chong in 2012 in Mountain View, California, United States with funds raised from angel and institutional investors.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Tynker for Schools was launched in April 2013, with Tynker for Home the year after.{{cite web|title=Tynker introduces your kids to programming code either at home or at school|url=http://www.gizmag.com/tynker-programming-for-kids/28598/|website=Gizmag|date=9 August 2013|accessdate=25 February 2015}} 60 million students, in 90,000 schools, have used Tynker.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-19|title=BBC Learning and Tynker Collaborate on Coding for Kids with a Next-Generation Education Technology Mini-Computer|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201119005773/en/BBC-Learning-and-Tynker-Collaborate-on-Coding-for-Kids-with-a-Next-Generation-Education-Technology-Mini-Computer|access-date=2021-01-25|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2016-05-31|title=Tynker Raises $7.1M Series A and Adds a Host of Partners - EdSurge News|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-05-31-tynker-raises-7-1m-series-a-and-adds-a-host-of-partners|access-date=2021-01-25|website=EdSurge|language=en}}
In 2018, Tynker partnered with Mattel to produce branded coding experiences with Hot Wheels and Monster High.{{Cite web|date=2018-06-26|title=In Tynker's Partnership With Mattel, Kids Can Undertake Maker Careers With Barbie - EdSurge News|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-06-26-in-tynker-s-latest-partnership-with-mattel-kids-can-undertake-careers-with-barbie|access-date=2021-01-25|website=EdSurge|language=en}} It also has partnerships with Apple, Google, Sylvan Learning, BBC Learning, Infosys Foundation USA, Microsoft, PBS and Lego.{{Cite web|title=Byju's acquires coding platform Tynker for $200 million in US expansion push|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/16/byjus-acquires-coding-platform-tynker-for-200-million-in-us-expansion-push/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=TechCrunch|date=16 September 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-04-08|title=Learn How to Code with the BBC HiFive Inventor, Narrated by Jodie Whittaker|url=https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2021/04/08/learn-how-to-code-with-the-bbc-hifive-inventor-narrated-by-jodie-whittaker/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=The Doctor Who Companion|language=en-US}}
In September 2021, Tynker was acquired by Byju's, an Indian multinational educational technology in order to expand in foreign market.{{Cite web|author=Shilpa Phadnis|date=Sep 17, 2021|title=tynker: Byju's acquires US kids coding platform for $200 million - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/byjus-acquires-us-kids-coding-platform-for-200-million/articleshow/86281012.cms|access-date=2021-09-18|website=The Times of India|language=en}}
On January 25, 2024, lenders began bankruptcy proceedings against Tynker's parent company Byju's in an effort to repay its loans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/lenders-begin-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-indias-byjus-2024-01-25/|title=Lenders begin bankruptcy proceedings against India's Byju's|date=January 25, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2024|website=Reuters|language=en}} On February 1, 2024, Byju's U.S. division filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. Byju's would raise around $200 million in an effort to clear "immediate liabilities" and for other operational costs.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/byjus-us-unit-files-bankruptcy-202553510.html|title=Indian edtech Byju's US unit files for bankruptcy in Delaware|date=February 1, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2024|website=Yahoo! Finance|language=en}}
Mobile Applications
In July 2014 Tynker was released for iPad and Android..{{cite news|title=Kids coding app Tynker expands to Android and adds game-making mode|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/13/tynker-ipad-app-children-kids-coding-programming|access-date=28 February 2015|work=The Guardian}} The projects can be accessed from both the web and the tablet and used on either platform.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}