Hands on with Stickerbox, the AI-powered sticker maker for kids

Stickerbox is an AI-powered sticker maker designed for children, developed by the Brooklyn-based startup Hapiko. The $99.99 device resembles a modern Etch A Sketch, featuring a bright red box with a black-and-white screen and a push-to-talk button. Kids use voice commands to describe images, which the AI then generates and prints as stickers using a thermal printer that requires no ink. The package includes three rolls of sticker paper (180 stickers) and colored pencils, allowing children to color their printed stickers, blending digital creativity with hands-on activity. This combination offers a balanced experience that encourages imagination while providing a calming, real-world engagement through coloring. Setup requires parental assistance to connect the device to home Wi-Fi, but the process is straightforward and quick. The AI can interpret complex, conversational prompts, accommodating the natural, often non-linear way children express ideas. Hapiko was founded in 2023 by Arun Gupta (CEO) and Bob Whitney (CTO), who previously worked together at Gra