Get hands-on with Stickerbox, the AI-driven sticker creator designed for kids.

AI-driven sticker creator for kids.Stickerbox is a voice-activated sticker printer created by Brooklyn-based startup Hapiko that transforms children’s creative ideas into physical stickers they can color and customize. The device works simply: kids press a large white button on the bright red box, speak their idea aloud—anything from “a dinosaur on a skateboard” to “a Viking ship sailing through outer space”—and within seconds, the AI-powered thermal printer produces a black-and-white sticker. Priced at $99.99, the toy ships with three rolls of paper (180 stickers), colored pencils, and a power cord, with its design reminiscent of the classic Etch A Sketch. The concept emerged when co-founder Bob experimented with generative AI alongside his young son, sparking the idea of creating a tool that would fuel children’s imagination rather than replace it. Following a $7 million funding round led by Maveron and Serena Ventures, Stickerbox represents a new approach to integrating AI into children’s play in a way that prioritizes creativity over passive screen time.

What sets Stickerbox apart is its thoughtful balance between digital innovation and hands-on engagement. The device uses ink-free thermal printing with safe, chemical-free paper, allowing children to tear off their creations and immediately begin coloring them with the included pencils or their own art supplies. This creates what reviewers describe as a healthy mix of the instant gratification that comes from seeing ideas materialize quickly and the calming, meditative activity of traditional coloring. Under the hood, the device combines multiple AI models including proprietary technology focused on child safety, with filters that block harmful content, violence, sexual imagery, and profanity. The system operates with minimal data collection, no camera, and only listens when given permission through the push-to-talk button, addressing parental concerns about privacy and age-appropriate content.

Real-world testing has shown that Stickerbox succeeds in bringing children together for collaborative creative play. Parents report that the device appeals to a wide age range, from preschoolers to pre-teens, often transforming kitchen tables into bustling sticker factories where siblings pass the device back and forth for hours. Children have found unexpected uses beyond simple decoration, creating comic books, birthday cards, personalized labels, and even making stickers as gifts for friends and strangers. While the device has minor limitations—it prints immediately without a preview option, and voice recognition can sometimes misinterpret unclear speech—these haven’t significantly dampened enthusiasm. The product is now available in the United States at stickerbox.com, with the company planning to scale production and expand its reach in the children’s creative toys category. For families seeking screen-free alternatives that still harness modern technology, Stickerbox offers an engaging bridge between imagination and tangible creation.