Greylock Backs Tin Can, Screen-Free Device Targeting Kid Communication Market
Greylock Partners announced an investment in Tin Can, a screen-free communication device designed for children that functions as a standalone network rather than a smartphone alternative. The device enables kids and families to stay connected while encouraging real conversation, according to the announcement published December 18, 2025.
The investment reflects growing parental concern about children's screen time and the search for middle-ground solutions between no phone and full smartphone access. Tin Can's adoption pattern shows clustering behavior typical of successful consumer networks, with early adoption spreading through neighborhoods, the announcement states.
The timing aligns with broader cultural shifts: phone-free schools are expanding, and Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation" has articulated concerns many families already held about overprotection in the physical world and underprotection online. Greylock characterized Tin Can as occupying the compromise space parents are actively seeking.
The company positions the offering as a network-based model rather than a device-plus-subscription play, though specific pricing, feature details, and rollout timeline were not disclosed in the announcement.
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