Choremonster, a Web-based service and mobile app that lets parents and children interact to complete and enjoy chores, has received a $200,000 investment from CincyTech.

The investments are part of a $350,000 seed-stage funding round led by CincyTech and completed by private angel investors. CincyTech has committed an additional $300,000.

Choremonster is one of eight graduates of the 2011 Brandery class. Choremonster founders Chris Bergman and Paul Armstrong are experienced technologists and designers as well as Cincinnati natives.

"Technology is a huge part of family life these days and can give parents an advantage that my parents didn't have when trying to get me to do chores," says Bergman, CEO and co-founder of Choremonster. "We use the psychology of gaming incentives and rewards to motivate kids and give them a sense of accomplishment when they complete a chore."

Choremonster's product includes two separate applications: one for parents and one for children. The parents create a chore list for their children and assign real-life rewards that can be obtained by trading in Choremonster points.

The children use the application to mark their chores completed, gain points and collect monsters. The randomized collection of monsters then interact, play games and teach children specific lessons on responsibility and completing tasks.

"It's allowance meets Pokemon," says Bergman.

Bergman and Armstrong have been working together for several years at Wiseacre Digital in Over-the-Rhine on Web development, mobile strategy, social media and digital design projects for clients such as Sam Adams Brewery, Bridge Worldwide (now Possible Worldwide) and The Flying Pig Marathon.

"As of 2010, 51 percent of children between 4 and 12 years old had digital devices that could run the Choremonster app, and we know that number is growing," says Mike Venerable, CincyTech Managing Director of Digital, Software and Health Tech. "By incorporating a Web-based service into its platform as well, Choremonster has a strong market on which it can capitalize."

About Choremonster
Choremonster combines digital gaming with a Web-services facet through a suite of mobile and Web applications that allows parents and children ages 6-12 to collaborate interactively to complete household tasks. Parents assign real-life rewards for completing chores and gaining points. Choremonster was founded by two Cincinnati digital pros, Chris Bergman and Paul Armstrong, and is a graduate of the 2011 Brandery accelerator class.

About CincyTech
CincyTech is a public-private venture development organization that invests in startup businesses in high-tech industries in Southwest Ohio. With substantial support from Ohio Third Frontier and corporations, foundations, civic organizations and individuals here, it is stimulating the growth of venture-worthy companies in information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing.