Mama Space — a startup providing reliable support for every mom

Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, the founder of Mama Space, shared the story of how the startup was created and its achievements.

Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, Bishkek, Founder and CEO of Mama Space, Instagram

How it all started

I have been passionate about social projects since school, always finding creative solutions to various challenges. During my student years, I launched and managed several small ventures, ranging from a creative studio to a gift shop. I have a strong passion for organizing and optimizing processes.

“To a startup from under the operating table” — that is what I would call the story of our startup's creation.

For the past six years, I have been coordinating programs in an international organization. In addition to my main job, my curiosity and passion for creativity, as well as a desire to try new things and seek adventure, led me to create a startup.

The idea for the startup was born from my personal experience of motherhood. My first pregnancy was filled with anxiety and an endless search for information, and this inspired me to create a community of mothers in Bishkek and organize a large-scale event, Mama-Fest, with the best medical experts. I call Mama-Fest a bright celebration of pregnancy and motherhood. Recently, on April 21, my partners and I held the third Mama-Fest and gathered over 380 mothers and expectant mothers, where we presented our Mama Space app.

It was my second experience of pregnancy that prompted me to create the app. My second pregnancy was complicated and could have ended in tragedy. During one of the surgeries, in the fifth month of pregnancy, I promised myself that if everything went well for me and my unborn son, I would do everything possible to ensure that every mother could find support and not be left alone with her problems. This is how the idea of Mama Space was born — a platform designed so that every woman can go through the stages of motherhood with confidence and support.

Team

With each step, our idea became more clear and precise. Our team was formed on the basis of common values and aspirations, and this is our greatest strength.

“A human needs a human” — Chingiz Aitmatov.

We started with enthusiasm and determination, and in just three months, despite all of us having full-time jobs, we developed and launched the application. Imagine what we can achieve if we can fully dedicate ourselves to the startup, with the necessary funding. 

Of course, things have not always been smooth sailing, and I've had to learn a lot on the fly. Interestingly, in this startup, I use all my skills to the fullest: programming experience, business education, graphic design, and music arrangement. All these abilities definitely help save money, which is crucial for a startup in its launch phase.

Our entire group is fully committed to the project. For instance, Murat, our Technical Director, personally translated the app into Kyrgyz. Irina, our UX/UI Designer, represented the app at various exhibitions. Ilgiz, our Mobile Developer, despite not having personal experience with fatherhood, demonstrates a remarkable understanding of pregnancy and childbirth. Nurgul, our Obstetrician-Gynecologist, is personally developing the library's foundation.

Target audience 

Our users are women who are planning a pregnancy, are currently pregnant, or have recently given birth.

Mama Space is a reliable companion for every mom, providing both informational and emotional support.

Key features include:

— the “Ava” chatbot with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program and a knowledge base ready to answer any questions

— a library of up-to-date articles and helpful videos

— support tools tailored for every stage of motherhood

— an online community where every mom can find support and understanding.

We are still in the testing phase, but we already have over 600 downloads in four weeks and about 70 active users daily.

This statistic confirms that we are creating a much-needed and useful product. Recently, we also attracted four partners for B2B collaboration, which opens up new horizons for development. The application is available on both iOS and Android. 

Incubation programs 

After a long reflection, we took part in the startup battle in Bishkek and later joined the Prosperity Cup program from Accelerate Prosperity. Although we didn’t win a prize, we received plenty of questions and feedback.

Although we could not get the investment, we got important experiences and valuable feedback. This was the crucial moment: either we drop everything or go further. Together with co-founder Murat Zhumashev, we decided to take a risk and invest all our efforts and funds in the project. We went through the bootstrap phase.

I believe this was the most defining moment — a test of faith in the success of the startup.

Challenges

1. Criticism can be tough and sometimes makes you doubt yourself. But it is precisely thanks to it that we grow and develop. However, it is also important to accept feedback and remember that it is your business and you are responsible for every decision.
2. For me, it is crucial to choose teammates, partners, and investors who share our values and principles.
3. Difficulties make us stronger. I never thought that a tragic health experience during pregnancy could give me so much strength, motivation, and drive. And so, the idea that came to me on the operating table is gradually being realized.

Achievements 

Our team has proven to be highly effective at the startup formation stage, I consider this a cool achievement. We launched the application in three months. We attracted our first B2B clients. For a whole week, we held the 11th place in the App Store in the region in the Health & Fitness rating. And all this without external funding. Currently, Mama Space is undergoing acceleration in the Investment Readiness Accelerator from MOST to attract investments.

Plans

We are actively engaging with our users to improve and enhance Mama Space. The next step will be to create an online community. We have our own “secret sauce” to make the community interesting, engaging, and supportive.

Our goal is to develop the №1 parenting product in Central Asia, including those living outside the region. Further, we plan to scale our product to new markets.