What inspired you to establish a platform like MommyKidz?
MommyKidz is a first of its kind social well-being community in Bangladesh that supports women through puberty, pregnancy, and parenthood. But it is not just confined to mothers; it is open to all caretakers, be it fathers or male family members. We are committed to helping families grow together. The idea for MommyKidz stemmed from personal challenges and a deep understanding of the needs of parents in our country. During my first pregnancy in 2018, I couldn’t find any resources in Bangladesh that provided the information I was seeking. International apps offered advice that didn’t align with our cultural context. I became very cautious about the smallest of issues and visited the doctor frequently despite transportation challenges and long wait times. The hardships continued after my daughter was born on May 12, 2019, which also happened to be Mother’s Day. Everyone started giving me different suggestions on how to care for my baby, which left me feeling confused and overwhelmed. It all escalated when I experienced postpartum depression, something I had no idea about. Realising the lack of support and information for mothers like me, I decided to create a platform where no woman would feel alone or left behind in their journey of pregnancy and motherhood. I believe in sympathy, empathy, and collaboration. I ensure that everyone on my team feels valued and enthusiastic about their work. As a first-time founder, each day presents new challenges and learning opportunities for me. We learn and grow together, remaining dedicated to our goals and making well-informed decisions in all we do.
What were some of the challenges you faced when launching MommyKidz?
Establishing a platform like MommyKidz in Bangladesh posed significant challenges due to the absence of an existing infrastructure and research on women’s health. We had to start from scratch, conducting time-consuming and financially demanding research. Finding team members who shared our passion for impactful healthcare innovation was also difficult. Initially, we focused on building a Facebook community of mothers, aiming for 5,000 members but exceeding expectations with over 11,000. With their input, we tailored our platform to address their needs, recognising the interconnectedness of puberty, pregnancy, and parenting. The launch of our app surpassed our expectations, reaching 40,000 users, validating our efforts. Witnessing mothers actively engaging with our platform and sharing their experiences fills us with pride. We’ve cultivated an interactive community of over 2,200 app users, which is a testament to the impact we are making. Additionally, We were awarded a $10,000 grant from the Bangabandhu Innovation Grant and I was recognised as one of the top 10 founders by the Westerwelle Foundation. Additionally, we received $25,000 in credits from Microsoft and $12,000 from Amazon Web Services. Our efforts have also earned recognition from Youth Co: Lab, She Loves Tech, the Sankalp Dhaka Awards, WeScale, and the Asia-Pacific Care Accelerator.
MommyKidz is a first of its kind social well-being community in Bangladesh that supports women through puberty, pregnancy, and parenthood. But it is not just confined to mothers; it is open to all caretakers, be it fathers or male family members.
How has user feedback shaped the evolution of this platform?
We get a lot of feedback from users, all giving us valuable insights for improving our platform. One standout request was for a direct communication channel with service providers in our app. So, we introduced a live chat feature where users can talk to shop assistants for product queries and purchases, and health assistants for medical advice and appointment bookings. The health assistant also helps users to manage their medical records, making everything smoother and more efficient. A vital aspect of our health assistant system is pre-scanning, which assesses if an issue can be addressed through online consultation. If suitable, the health assistant keeps the user’s data and arranges an appointment; if not, the user is directed to seek in-person care. This feature helps us ensure prompt and relevant medical guidance, boosting user satisfaction and safety by offering precise medical information and services. Furthermore, we’ve tackled minor feedback regarding our login system and user interface, streamlining our app for effortless navigation by all users. Certain female users voiced discomfort about posting in the presence of male users and wished for a women-only community. As a result, we’ve implemented a solution: now, women can post with privacy settings activated, ensuring that only fellow female users can view their personal posts within the community. However, male involvement in the pregnancy and parenting journey is highly encouraged, aligning with one of our primary goals. We aim to normalise conversations about pregnancy and parenthood, recognising that both genders are involved in these journeys. Men have a significant role to play, and it’s crucial for them to comprehend the different stages and challenges women experience. Through encouraging inclusive dialogue, we seek to foster understanding and support among all members of the community.
How does MommyKidz measure the impact of its services on the lives of its users?
A memorable success story involves a first-time mother residing in Chattogram who experienced frequent vomiting and difficulty eating properly during her pregnancy. Initially, she disregarded these symptoms as normal, influenced by advice from family members and relatives. However, after accessing content from MommyKidz’s library, she realised the severity of her condition and sought medical advice. Her doctor confirmed that her inadequate diet was a serious concern, resulting in weight loss that endangered her child’s health. Grateful for the guidance from MommyKidz, she shared her story with us, highlighting how our platform aided her in promptly recognising and addressing her health issues. Stories like hers underscore the significance of our initiative and demonstrate the tangible benefits people derive from our services. A 15-year-old girl from Sunamganj District who lacked understanding about menstrual cycles was faced with limited access to proper care in her area. She sought assistance from MommyKidz, paying only 100 taka for our service. Following guidance from MommyKidz, she offered positive feedback on how our platform aided her in addressing her concerns. This accomplishment holds particular significance for me, as it highlights our mission to reach individuals with limited knowledge about sexual health and menstrual cycles. These stories offer just a glimpse of MommyKidz’s impact across Bangladesh. Users frequently share their experiences in our community group, emphasising the significance of raising awareness about vital concepts like preconception consultation and pregnancy complications. Our goal is to empower people with knowledge about these topics and parenting, ultimately making a positive impact on their lives and their children’s lives. Through education and information, we strive to contribute to a more informed and healthier society.
The launch of our app surpassed our expectations, reaching 40,000 users, validating our efforts.
What are your aspirations for the future of MommyKidz?
At MommyKidz, we have two immediate goals. Firstly, we’re committed to enhancing the personal health and well-being content on our app.Our recent efforts involve launching a comprehensive parenting course, offering tailored guidelines to address parents’ needs, including those with children with special needs. We prioritise thorough research to ensure these services effectively benefit both parents and children. Secondly, we plan to integrate Artificial Intelligence into our platform to provide instant support and emergency response in critical situations. While we aim to build a global community, our current focus is on Bangla-speaking users, recognising the importance of language and cultural factors during pregnancy and parenting. Our app already serves users from 70 different countries, with a significant community in Kolkata, our second-largest user base. As we expand globally, we’re committed to delivering our services in languages such as Hindi and Tamil to effectively serve diverse cultural backgrounds. This emphasis on cultural sensitivity and language accessibility is our unique selling proposition, particularly as we target the vast potential of the Indian and broader South Asian markets. Moving forward, our aim is to customise content for each country, culture, and audience, ensuring MommyKidz becomes a successful and impactful global business. Our vision is to create a world where every woman and child thrives in safety, health, and shared well-being, covering a comprehensive range of topics from menstrual cycles and adolescent sexual and reproductive health to family planning, preconception counselling, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, and parenting.