Biba and PlayPower Announce Partnership to Enhance Playground Experience with Mobile Games and Augmented Reality

VANCOUVER, BC and HUNTERSVILLE, NC--(Marketwired - Jun 13, 2017) - Biba Ventures, a leading company in the smart playground movement to decrease screen time and get kids outside, and PlayPower, Inc., a global leader in the recreation industry, today announced a partnership under which PlayPower has installed Biba's technology in more than 200 new smart playgrounds in the past three months. By the end of 2017 it is expected that more than 1500 smart playgrounds will be installed across North America. The partnership applies to two of PlayPower's nine brands, Miracle and Little Tikes Commercial, which will be offering Biba's technology on a majority of their new playgrounds.

Studies show that because of the rise of screen time, children today are less physically active and spend less time outdoors. Biba addresses this serious issue by using kids' fixations with screens to get them engaged in healthy, outdoor play. Biba's augmented reality games can be used by any existing smartphone and do not require a Wi-Fi connection or electricity. While Biba's collection of free mobile games for iOS and Android are intended for parents to play with their children (ages 3 to 9) on any playground, Biba-enabled playgrounds provide the best user experience.

"We are excited to partner with Biba, a pioneer in helping children learn to use technology responsibly. Leveraging Biba's games with PlayPower's playgrounds is truly a game changer for families and kids who spend too much time indoors and in front of screens, bridging the gap between digital and physical play," said Todd Brinker, Senior Vice President, Distribution and Development, Outdoor Play at PlayPower. "Adding Biba's augmented reality markers to existing playgrounds is a simple process and requires limited ongoing maintenance, further enhancing the value to our clients."

"Our mission is to transform the current playground landscape -- to alter the screen-fixation that has taken over our youth in today's digital age, and get them back outdoors and active. Our research has shown that kids in a Biba-powered playground will play longer, harder and much more often. Together, Biba and PlayPower will provide smart playgrounds with the tools needed to encourage and motivate parents to get outside and have fun with their children," said Matt Toner, CEO of Biba Ventures. "We're extremely excited to enter this partnership with PlayPower, as they play a vital role in the expansion of our technology to more playgrounds across North America."

For more information on Biba Ventures, visit http://bibaventures.com and for more information on PlayPower, visit https://www.playpower.com.

About Biba Ventures
Founded in 2011, Biba Ventures Inc. is turning playgrounds across North America and beyond into smart playgrounds that re-engage parents and children through its augmented reality games and mobile apps. Cities and jurisdictions from all over benefit from Biba, as it uses the smartphones found in every parents' pocket or purse to unlock new and exciting games every time a family visits the playground. Biba games also have a second mission -- to address the problem of youth sedentariness and screen-fixation and turn healthy gameplay into actionable data that municipalities and park boards can use to learn more about their community's play spaces.

About PlayPower
PlayPower, Inc. is the world's largest, fully integrated manufacturer of commercial playground equipment, floating dock systems and lifts for boats and personal water craft, shade solutions and site furnishings. The company is headquartered in Huntersville, NC, with marketing, sales and manufacturing facilities in Monett MO, Lewisburg PA, Selby England, Sosnowiec, Poland and Aneby Sweden. PlayPower, Inc's. goal is to lead the market in all areas in which it competes and to continue to bring innovation and fun to the marketplace.