Modern life makes it easy to order late-night cars home, book spontaneous vacation rentals, and get lightning-fast takeout. But getting childcare on short notice? For many that’s still a pipe dream.
Joan Nguyen founded Bumo, an app that allows parents to book empty slots at local childcare centers, after starting two childcare ventures during the pandemic.
From working with parents, Nguyen said she realized that they often needed what she calls “fractional childcare,” such as when their nanny called in sick or something pressing came up at work.
“As a parent, I also felt the pain of not being able to get childcare when you absolutely needed it,” Nguyen told Business Insider. “Why is it easier for me to find a dog walker than it is to find a sitter or a nanny?”
Launched in 2024 after raising $10 million, the Bumo app was co-founded by Nguyen and Chriselle Lim. It’s a continuation of a joint co-working and childcare center they launched in late 2019, followed by BumoBrain, an online learning platform they created at the height of the pandemic to help working parents.
This week, Bumo is preparing to announce a $10 million seed funding round, led by venture capital firms Offline Ventures and True Ventures, Bumo shared exclusively with Business Insider.
The app, which has about 10,000 users and offers services in 200 locations within 13 states, works similarly to Airbnb. Parents can filter and sift through childcare options from drop-in daycares to summer camps, some of them offering same-day availability.
Nguyen said Bumo also fits in with the consumer demand “to want things instantly,” now accustomed to quick bookings and deliveries. Meanwhile, “you see childcare as this kind of monolithic thing that hasn’t really changed a lot,” she said.
Filling a gap in childcare demands
Bumo aims to offer more convenience and fill a gap in the US childcare system.
Parents are more isolated than they have been in generations, not always being able to rely on family members to help them. Many also can’t afford full-time daycare, but still need some part-time childcare options.
To ensure safety, Nguyen said every service listed on Bumo is licensed by their respective state and has a “digital footprint” including past reviews. Bumo staff also interviews with each facility at least once a year (sometimes virtually depending on the provider’s location) to make sure that they’re up-to-date on background checks and that all staff have proper certifications.
Nguyen said that Bumo only uses original photography and videos for each facility instead of stock photos. Parents can also upload photos in their reviews.
Bumo’s next step is to keep expanding in other cities; right now, Los Angeles has the highest number of childcare offerings on the app. The goal is to increase Bumo’s density in San Francisco and to introduce its service in New York City.
Read the 16-page pitch deck Bumo used to secure $10 million.
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