UPBOUNDERS® AT THE 2026 WOMEN IN TOYS WONDER WOMEN AWARDS
Turning meaningful stories into play children can hold
Upbounders® creates premium, screen-free toys and licensed play experiences that translate children’s stories, everyday worlds, and learning into products made for real play.
UPBOUNDERS® AT THE 2026 WIT WONDER WOMEN AWARDS
We’re delighted to attend the 2026 Wonder Women Awards as an invited guest of Amazon - and we’re especially interested in meeting retail, licensing, distribution, operating, education, and institutional partners ready to help scale what is already working.
With thanks to Amazon for inviting Upbounders® to join the Women in Toys community at this year’s Wonder Women Awards.
meet upbounders®
Screen-free, skill-building play designed to build confidence, belonging, and joyful learning - at home, in classrooms, and in communities nationwide.
Let’s Build What’s Next
Upbounders® has no shortage of ideas, intellectual property, product opportunities, or market interest. At this stage of our growth, we are especially interested in partnerships that add execution, operating capacity, distribution, and scale.
retailers
Retailers looking for meaningful differentiation in preschool and screen-free play
operating partners
Toy, distribution, and operating partners with the infrastructure to expand retail reach and execute at scale
licensing + Entertanment partners
Licensing and entertainment partners with stories and properties that deserve thoughtful translation into physical play
institutional partners
Education, museum, nonprofit, community, and institutional partners looking for compelling play products and programs for children and families
Built Since 2018. Proven in the Market.
Founded in Washington DC, 2018
Experience with national retail, including Target, Nordstrom and Indigo Canada, alongside independent specialty toy, bookstore, museum, zoo, and cultural-institution channels
National promotional/licensing experience through a Chick-fil-A Kids’ Meal toy program
Products used in preschool and educational settings, including Boise County Public Schools and Duval County Public Schools, as well as a growing number of head start classrooms.
Recognition including Good Morning America, Parents, The Wall Street Journal, The View, and ASTRA Best Toys for Kids
Experience taking products from concept through manufacturing and successful delivery for major partners
We turn stories, communities, and learning into play
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Thoughtful physical products that extend characters, stories, and worlds into play.
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Premium puzzles, games, busy boards, and hands-on products rooted in children’s everyday experiences.
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Products and play solutions for classrooms, museums, nonprofits, community programs, and other institutional buyers.
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Retail-ready products with experience across national, specialty, independent, museum, education, and online channels.
Alma’s Way™: From Story to Play
Upbounders® is an official toy licensee of Fred Rogers Productions for Alma’s Way™, the acclaimed PBS KIDS preschool series created by Sonia Manzano, beloved by generations for her work on Sesame Street, and produced by Fred Rogers Productions in association with Pipeline Studios. The series’ title theme was written and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bill Sherman.
Our growing Alma’s Way™ toy collection brings Alma’s neighborhood, family, language, food, and everyday experiences into tactile, screen-free play—and the first Upbounders® products are in production now.
Alma’s Way™ “How Do You Say?” Bilingual Magnetic Maze
Alma’s Way™ Two-Sided 48-Piece Puzzle – Bomba or Baseball?
Alma’s Way™ Mofongo on the Go Go 48 PC Wooden Puzzle in Storage Tray
Coconuts - Alma’s Way™ Wooden Pinball
Baseball - Alma’s Way™ Wooden Pinball
Bodega - Alma’s Way™ Wooden PinballInterested in differentiated preschool product for retail, education, community programming, or institutional purchasing?
Let’s talk.
meet us in Los Angeles
Kemi Tignor
Founder & CEO, Upbounders® Kemi Tignor founded Upbounders® in Washington, DC in 2018 to create premium toys that reflect children’s everyday worlds and turn meaningful stories into joyful, hands-on play. Under her leadership, Upbounders has built relationships across retail, licensing, education, institutional sales, and national promotional programs while remaining focused on thoughtful product development and partnerships that can scale.
Candace Cooper williams
Advisory Committee Chair, Upbounders® Candace Cooper Williams is a seasoned business strategist with more than two decades of experience across consumer brands, luxury goods, healthcare, and consulting. As Chair of the Upbounders® Advisory Committee, she works with the company’s leadership on growth strategy, strategic partnerships, fundraising, and the priorities required to scale.
Candace brings deep experience connecting commercial opportunity with execution, building relationships, and helping organizations navigate growth and transformation. Based in Washington, DC, she brings a global perspective and a strong understanding of consumer brands and business development.
Get in Touch
Interested in differentiated preschool product for retail, education, community programming, or institutional purchasing?
Fill out the form or email us : operations@upbounders.com
