Press Release provided by: Hannah Day
Kelowna BC: The business world isn’t often inviting to women who have to balance motherhood and work. Canada’s Total Mom Pitch, presented by Scotiabank and GoDaddy, is looking to change that by offering a $30K grand prize to one deserving mompreneur! Along with crucial education and networking opportunities to top 100 qualifiers.
Three local Kelowna moms, chosen from hundreds of applications across Canada, are in the running to be crowned Canada’s Total Mom; Ashley Stone, founder of The Village App, Hannah Day, founder of BirthPrep Yoga™ and Alex Carnio, founder of ProducKIDvity.
“Being a public health nurse, previously working in labor & delivery and having a family of my own, I know how exhausting it can be managing mom/work balance. I’m thrilled that there’s a competition that recognizes and honors our unique challenges,” says Stone, who founded The Village App when her surprise third pregnancy turned out to be twins. Unsatisfied with available options due to the public nature and frequent toxicity of social media, Stone set out to create a platform focused on intention vs attention. Launched locally last summer, The Village App makes it easy to give, get and gather through peer to peer support.
Day, a mother of two, has been teaching prenatal yoga for over a decade, with sold out classes in Kelowna. When the pandemic hit (and kept going), she knew she had to pivot her business and go online. Through BirthPrep Yoga™, expecting moms are able to connect from all parts of Canada and time-zones, all the while moving their bodies and feeling empowered for birth. “My biggest issue is getting the word out” says Day, “with a small marketing budget, it’s hard to get your offering out into the world. Students at the end of their pregnancies tell me they wish they found me sooner. Being one of the top 100 Canadian businesses in Total Mom Pitch means so much to me.”
Carnio echoes Stone and Day’s sentiments, "I’m extremely grateful to have been selected as a Top 100 in the Total Mom Pitch. Opening a new business is never easy, especially with a three year old and newborn twins! This pool of women understand the trials and tribulations of what it's like to try to "balance it all” and I couldn't be more honoured to join them in this adventure!" ProducKIDvity was founded when Carnio realized how inefficient her day was driving to and from daycare—only to be able to spend a few good hours working before she had to head back for pick-up! This, coupled with her desire to spend more time with her children and the COVID shift to remote work amplified her desire to open ProducKIDvity. ProducKIDvity currently offers 50 daycare spots, 4000 square feet of office space and allows parents to share their days with their kids.
All three moms are hoping to garner votes through the competition’s website. It’s fast and easy to register to vote for your favourite mompreneur. Voting resets each night at midnight so you can vote for each mom everyday.
The winner of Canada’s Total Mom Pitch will be revealed on May 30, 2022