BrainSTEM Edtech Awarded Niantic Studio Developer Accelerator Fund to Create Immersive AR Game Encouraging Outdoor Exploration

Louisville, KY – October 28, 2024 – BrainSTEM Edtech, a Louisville-based leader in immersive educational technology, has been selected as one of the recipients of the Niantic Studio Developer Accelerator Fund. Through this prestigious program, BrainSTEM Edtech will develop Flower Fairy Finder, a mobile augmented reality (AR) game that blends outdoor exploration with gamified learning. The innovative experience aims to foster a love for nature by guiding players through local parks in search of captivating flower fairies.

Flower Fairy Finder is designed to inspire a sense of adventure, drawing players of all ages out to nearby parks, trails, and natural spaces. With the aid of Niantic’s Virtual Positioning System (VPS), the app will guide users to areas of heightened fairy activity where players can capture unique, collectible flower fairies, each boasting its own distinctive appearance and animations. Rarer fairies await in more secluded or challenging locations, encouraging users to venture further to complete their collection.

“We are thrilled to be selected for the Niantic Studio Developer Accelerator Fund,” says Kara Mason, COO of BrainSTEM Edtech. “Our goal with Flower Fairy Finder is to create a unique, interactive experience that deepens users’ connection with their local environment. With the support of Niantic’s Accelerator, we are able to combine cutting-edge AR technology with outdoor play, helping users discover the hidden magic in everyday nature.”

Flower Fairy Finder integrates mini-puzzles into gameplay, allowing users to rescue trapped flower fairies by solving matching challenges. Each unlocked fairy adds to the user’s collection, with various levels of rarity incentivizing players to explore new parks and green spaces to uncover rare fairies. Players can even plant “flower fairy bait” in transparent areas on the map to draw fairies to that location, creating custom hotspot areas and promoting sustained engagement in outdoor spaces.

The Flower Fairy Finder app will be developed as a half-mile interactive trail, offering users an opportunity to discover the beauty and biodiversity of their local parks in an engaging, educational, and environmentally conscious way. With this project, BrainSTEM Edtech and Niantic together pave the way for a new model of digital engagement, where virtual experiences augment and enrich the natural world.

For more information on Flower Fairy Finder and updates on the development process, please visit BrainSTEM Edtech’s website or follow their social media channels.

About

About BrainSTEM Edtech
BrainSTEM Edtech is a Louisville-based educational technology company that develops immersive AR and VR experiences designed to make learning interactive and engaging for K-12 students and beyond. BrainSTEM’s portfolio includes STEM and literacy-focused XR materials, custom virtual reality experiences, and innovative tools that bridge technology and education.

About Niantic Studio Developer Accelerator Fund
The Niantic Studio Developer Accelerator Fund supports a new generation of AR developers creating experiences that inspire exploration, connection, and interaction with the real world. Selected developers receive funding, resources, and access to Niantic’s cutting-edge technology to bring their projects to life.