Get All Access for $5/mo

How This Working Mom Figured Out The Future of Parenting With the rise of these "Uber for X" companies, it's clear that parents across the country will soon have these options.

By David Wither

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

If summer means extra stress, there's a good chance that you're a working parent.

The employment market is competitive and benefits are on the decline (BI, Fortune, Forbes). Full-time nannies charge up to $20/hour. If you're feeling the heat, you are not alone. Last year, more than half of family households reported that they worked full-time. In the wake of this culture shift, at least one working mother has figured out how to lend a hand to more than just her neighbors. In doing so, she is reshaping what it means to parent in the 21 century.

Sara Schaer, founder and CEO of Kango, the care and transportation service for children, says that she never set out to create an "uber for kids." As a working parent herself, Sara created an app to help organize her local carpool 4 years ago.

"Back in 2012, as a working parent, smartphones helped me juggle my work-related tasks, but when it came to providing transportation and care for my children, a mobile device alone couldn't solve the problem. I needed trustworthy people to help me with my kids. It takes a village, but that village needed to go digital!"

Four years later, Sara's "virtual village" has grown to cover SF and the Bay Area.

"At first the app only allowed parents to help each other with carpools. When we realized parents wanted us to screen and find trustworthy drivers for their kids, we added our Rides and Care service, providing safe rides (and childcare) for kids from pre-screened, background checked, fingerprinted drivers and sitters. We expanded the service outward from SF in January of this year, and now cover the entire Bay Area. We're the only licensed service insured to drive kids of any age, and we provide a booster seat or car seat on request. You can even browse driver profiles or request your preferred driver if available."

Not surprisingly, Kango has found that a majority of its customers are working parents, and this new trend of childcare "on-demand" is following suit.

Sara says that her company is especially appealing because working parents can get their kids safely where they need to go, despite conflicting priorities at work such as a late meeting, or a business trip. She says a key is that the app allows parents to schedule rides days or weeks in advance, but also on demand for same-day needs.

"We allow their kids to sign up for and enjoy after school activities early in the afternoon, when parents are still at the office and help save money on childcare, because they no longer need to hire a nanny in order to get part-time coverage - Kango drivers can also babysit before or after a ride, oversee homework until parents return home, etc."

With the rise of these "Uber for X" companies, it's clear that parents across the country will soon have these options.

As of now, Kango is the leader in the Bay Area, HopSkipDrive serves Los Angeles, Orange County and San Francisco, Helpr services Los Angeles and Hello Sitter just launched in NYC.

David Wither

Team and Startup Management Coach, Wither Leadership Consulting

News and Trends

Indigrid Technology and Hour4u Raise Early-Stage Funding

Here are the Indian startups that announced early-stage funding rounds.

Growing a Business

He Immigrated to the U.S. and Got a Job at McDonald's — Then His Aversion to Being 'Too Comfortable' Led to a Fast-Growing Company That's Hard to Miss

Voyo Popovic launched his moving and storage company in 2018 — and he's been innovating in the industry ever since.

Starting a Business

I Left the Corporate World to Start a Chicken Coop Business — Here Are 3 Valuable Lessons I Learned Along the Way

Board meetings were traded for barnyards as a thriving new venture hatched.

Business News

Joey Chestnut Is Going From Nathan's to Netflix for a Competition 15 Years in the Making

Chestnut was banned from this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest due to a "rival" contract. Now, he'll compete in a Netflix special instead.

Health & Wellness

Get a Year of Unlimited Yoga Class Downloads for Only $23 Through June 17

Regular exercise has been proven to increase energy and focus, both of which are valuable to entrepreneurs and well-known benefits of yoga.

Business Culture

Why Remote Work Policies Are Good For the Environment

Remote work policies are crucial for ESG guidelines. Embracing remote work can positively impact your business and employees.