
It’s always exciting to see a woman kicking butt and taking names in the tech world, and we get twice as psyched when we meet one who’s also shaping the way kids learn and play. Noemie Dupuy is one such woman. As one of the co-funders of Budge Studios, one of the top makers of kids’ apps, Dupuy works with household brands from Crayola and Caillou to Disney and Hello Kitty.
We caught up with her to talk about how she got her start in the development business, what her coolest accomplishments have been so far, and what advice she has for those who want to follow in her footsteps. According to Noemie, step 1 is “Dream big.” But right after that, she says, it’s all about getting your foot in the door and working your way up.
“In my first business in audio recording for video games, I gained a lot of experience in B2B and building relationships with clients,” she says. “This has definitely played into my role at Budge. I have also always been very passionate about technology and a big fan of Apple, so it was super exciting for me to venture into app development.”
Just before the iPad came out, Noemie and her co-founders, Michael Elman and David Lipes, got the idea to start making kids’ apps from watching their own children interact with smart phones. Sensing the opportunity to enter a new market, they put their heads together and took a chance.
“We had never made an app before,” Dupuy says, “So we decided to do more than just a demo — we built a complete app that we could put to market. I sent a cold email to Nickelodeon with our idea and no app-building experience, and yet they were willing to listen to us. They were so open and approachable, and believed in what we wanted to do. That stands out in my mind as a determining moment. Since then, the whole journey has been amazing. I get to work with the biggest kids’ brands while growing my own company. I learn new things every day, and every day I am excited to come in to work.”
One of the biggest highlights of her career, she says, has been the recent launch of Budge Playgroup. “Since the beginning of Budge Studios, our kids have been key participants in our development process: They test the apps!” she says. “Their input has affected the design of every Budge app. Not only is their feedback valuable, but my daughters feel proud to participate and take their role of testers very seriously. This sparked the idea to invite other families to test Budge apps as a way for us to connect with them. We have been working on this for a long time, but our idea was ahead of the available tech.”
“When Apple launched TestFlight last year,” she continues, “We jumped on the opportunity to involve families in the creation of our apps. Today we have over 5,000 kids registered in 24 countries around the world. We have already playtested five apps and plan to playtest all our new apps from now on. On the one hand, this program is extremely useful to our production team. The feedback from families has had a real effect on our products. They are helping us make better apps. On the other hand, families love participating. We get so many emails from parents letting us know how special the program is to their kids and how much they value the quality time they spend together. We’re very excited to connect with families in this way.”
And when it comes to the psychology behind folding an educational component into an element of play, she says it’s a natural pairing.
“I approach the educational component of our apps in the same way I approach teaching my daughters. I believe the best way to make an experience educational is to teach kids indirectly so that they’re not even aware that they’re learning. I let my daughters encounter new situations, be it an adventure in the country or enrolling them in hip hop classes, and I take advantage of all the learning opportunities that are part of these experiences. Similarly, we aim to create fun experiences for kids with our apps that have inherent learning opportunities. Our food apps are some of our most popular titles; kids love playing these games, and while they’re having fun they’re also developing skills and learning how to cook and bake. We even encourage families to make the customized recipes that the kids come up with in real life.”
As a result, the studio’s Goodnight Caillou app “turns bedtime into a game and lets kids role play so that they are the ones in charge of helping Caillou complete his night-time routine,” she says, “while in Caillou Search & Count, kids practice counting within the mini games. Our latest Crayola Colorful Creatures app incorporates basic geography and animal facts into the various activities designed for preschoolers. These learning opportunities are part of the apps, while the overall experience is about the kids having fun. There are also many ways that our apps help develop coordination and observation skills. The various game mechanics that we use help kids practice these skills while they’re playing.”
In a tech environment where brand-to-brand competition is fierce and women are vastly underrepresented, Noemie says the biggest lesson she’s learned over the years is “to not be afraid to dream big,” and she admits she’s learned it the hard way. “With my first company, I was so concerned with concrete things that I got caught up on details and missed what was happening with the big picture. I built a stable and successful local business, but I severely limited the potential of the business to grow.”
Since then, Noemie and her co-founders have worked their way through a long line of successful releases, but there’s still one big goal left to tackle: “In our very first meeting about starting Budge, one of my partners proclaimed that we would be the #1 maker of kids’ apps,” she says. “Having such a huge dream led us to plan things differently and have different expectations. We built Budge Studios so that it would be #1. We’re currently #2 and we keep striving and planning for that top spot.”
What are your favorite kids’ apps and why? Spill in the comments section below!
(Photos via Budge Studios)
Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
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Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.