Jessica Chang of Upwards (formerly WeeCare) on Solving the Labor Shortage through Democratizing Child Care

The Capital Stack

When searching for determined founders, it's crucial to recognize individuals with a chip on their shoulders. Jessica Chang undoubtedly possesses this quality. She's fed up with witnessing mothers, who are deprived of opportunities, forced out of the workforce due to exorbitant childcare expenses. Discover how Jessica and the Upwards team are revolutionizing traditional childcare, catering to those who need it most and breaking the cycle of inequality. You can watch/listen to this podcast on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

Are you aware of the struggle parents and childcare providers are going through? How do we make care accessible for all and also support childcare providers to stay in the industry?

In this episode of The Capital Stack, we have Jessica Chang , CEO & Co-Founder at Upwards (formerly WeeCare). Upwards is a platform helping families, caregivers, employers, and local government all work together to make childcare accessible to all. Before Upwards, Jessica worked in finance and marketplace operations roles and also owned and operated preschools.

Listen in to learn about Upwards’s three-step process for government employers, which caters to placement, data measurement, and affordability. You will also learn how to strategically approach investors and market to individual target markets as a B2B early-stage startup.

What You Will Discover:

· [01:57] Jessica’s entrepreneurial background and how her experience with childcare inspired her to start Upwards.

· [05:44] How Upwards pivoted to ensure parents, care providers, and employers all benefit from affordable childcare.

· [10:47] Upwards’s three-step process for government employers – placement, data measurement, and affordability.

· [15:39] She explains how they strategically approached investors and built the company from the start.

· [18:30] We discuss the globalization of tech, politics, and what the tech community can learn from it.

· [23:17] How they approached the marketplace by focusing on acquiring and growing supply.

· [24:27] How they found success approaching care providers individually instead of general marketing.

· [26:14] Some random questions with Jessica!

Memorable Quote:

· “It becomes a national strain on the economy when we don’t have a childcare industry that works.”- Jessica Chan [10:04]

Connect with Jessica:

Website: https://www.upwards.com

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-chang-1010402/