Raising a child together isn’t always fun, so two children alone… Nathalie found herself in this situation in 2015 with two 3-year-old girls. “I was overwhelmed by the daily routine,” says the 45-year-old mother. I had primary custody, but I had no support as my family was not nearby. “Even if she is not the only one in this situation, she does not find platforms for mutual aid between single mothers.
“If it doesn’t exist, then I said to myself that it had to be created,” says Nathalie. Thus July 1, 2019 was born the Mama Bears Facebook group. “From the first day it has 500 subscribers, Nathalie having had the good idea to announce the creation on other Facebook pages. Today Mama Bears has just over 50,000 subscribers on Mark Zuckerberg’s social network. “It shows that the group meets a real need, comments its founder. Moms have a real challenge to come out of isolation, especially after a separation. »
An app with subscription
Then Nathalie said to herself that there might be a way to turn this into an entrepreneurial adventure. “As I come from marketing and it was a Tech project, I joined an incubator. This allowed me to better identify the needs, namely to break the loneliness of single mothers and allow them to rebuild a social network through mutual aid and solidarity. This is how the Mama Bears app was born last January. Several services are offered there for a monthly subscription (from 1.99 euros to 7 euros). Thus a geolocation system makes it possible to meet mothers around you, like a dating app but without matching, in order to recreate social ties. Membership also offers discounts from Mama Bears partners.
On the other hand, the app provides access to “90-minute online workshops on blocking subjects for mothers with experts, coaches in parenting, in well-being, explains Nathalie. For example, we held a workshop with a lawyer on the subject of support payments. But the registration cost 5 euros [pour l’abonnement de base] when it’s nearly 150 euros when you request an individual appointment. If the entrepreneur can offer such attractive prices, it is because she has sponsors like Kiabi or Contrex. Supported by the Apple Foundation and the Entreprendre du Val-d’Oise network, this company of four associates already has nearly 500 paying subscribers.
undercover men
The profile of the latter varies a lot even if they are concentrated in the 35-50 age group. “There are women in shared custody, widows, women whose ex-spouse is absent, mothers in a relationship who feel lonely and who hesitate to separate”, list Nathalie who also indicates the presence of a few men on a seduction mission and whose account is generally quickly deactivated. “I do not favor diversity to avoid falling into the dating site and for women to feel more secure,” says the business manager. Last weekend, a man sent 400 messages to subscribers to the page! »
Moderation is essential in the face of the trolls and insults that Nathalie receives daily, who must also respond to those who accuse her of recovery. “This project is built for single mothers and by single mothers, defends the forties, who sees herself in a supporting role. Without the community, I would not have advanced. “For the future, it plans, before the summer, to complete its app with an offer for the exchange of accommodation between solo mothers, and to expand internationally, in particular to strengthen this exchange offer. Finally, she does not rule out addressing a male audience since she has already registered the name “Papa Bears”. But it won’t be right away.