About Peko Pal

I have two young children who love stories. They’ve been asking me to tell them stories since shortly after they began talking. Each night when I put them to bed, I tell stories from my childhood, or make up something entirely new (creative Paw Patrol stories are often suggested). Sometimes they’re just my fond memories. Sometimes I relate them to something we’re doing the next day, or a vacation we’re planning. I love telling stories, and they love hearing them.

It was during these bedtime stories that the idea for Peko Pal began to take shape. I wanted to create something that could bring the magic of storytelling into the hands of kids everywhere: something fun, interactive and capable of sparking their imaginations, just like my stories do for my kids.

I also remembered something else from my own childhood: picking up the phone to call a friend, just to talk. Kids today rarely get to do that until they have a phone of their own, and a phone brings scrolling and social media along with it. I wanted my kids to be able to call and message their friends and family without any of that.

And AI is here to stay. My kids will grow up with it, so I wanted to give them a safe way to learn about it, ask questions and explore.

I have a background in computer engineering, enjoy 3D modeling and… let’s just say I have quite a bit of experience programming. So I started designing the early versions of what would become Peko Pal. There were dozens of 3D-printed prototypes and plenty of trial and error, and with each one I saw new possibilities for kids to communicate, create, grow more independent and stay connected to the people who matter most.

The heart of Peko Pal is simple: it’s about creating lasting memories, through stories and through time with the people we love, just like the ones I’ve made with my kids. I hope it brings as much joy to your family as it has to mine.

—Mike