Kimberly Jolasun, the founder of Villie, created a platform that enables Black mothers to create online fundraisers for their baby’s needs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate in the country—almost three times the rate for white women. This inspired Jolasun to create a platform to support mothers, especially Black mothers through pregnancy, birth and after birth.
Located in Atlanta, Jolasun’s organization brings together a community of mothers across the country, providing support for their newborn or soon-to-be-born babies. The platform is backed by venture capital and has received investments from notable investors such as Fearless Fund, XRC Ventures, and TxO by a16z.
According to Black News, Villie is modernizing the way expectant and new parents connect, raise funds, receive gifts, and bring their community together in the digital age. The platform is committed to making help easier to access by providing tools that allow parents to effortlessly engage their community.
Driven by their understanding that support means different things to every mom, Villie continually develops new features and functions to meet the diverse needs of its users. “We believe that no parent should have to navigate parenthood alone, and our mission at Villie.com is to empower every family to get support from their village with ease,” Jolasun shared.
Villie has successfully raised over $1 million for Black moms from the contributions of their loved ones, and the platform continues to grow as more people learn about its mission. Jolasun’s vision for the organization incorporates deeply rooted West African principles, such as the need for community support in the parenting process.
Her own experiences with a supportive community as a mother of two inspired her to create a platform that encompasses the assistance that families provide to new parents.
“Villie is here to bridge the geographical gaps, reconnecting families and friends in an immersive digital village where each shared moment becomes a cherished memory,” she noted.
