Today we’d like to introduce you to Randa Bedair.
Hi Randa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a wife and a mother of three with years of managing a business, but my journey into parenthood started with a rough beginning. I moved to cold, icy Michigan and had my first child in the midst of a blizzard. At this time, we did not have family nearby to help and my husband was in law-school, held down a job and worked internships to top it all off. Needless to say, I found myself alone with a newborn and no support. From these days of sleep deprivation, exhaustion and isolation, I dreamed of an app that could connect me with an experienced mom nearby to help take the baby off my hands for a break and various things, like buying diapers and formula. After moving back to my hometown in Arlington, Texas and having 2 more children, I held onto this dream. After seeing more families becoming accepting of ordering services from strangers through Ubers and Instacart during the pandemic, I then decided to turn this dream into a reality. I found myself lying awake at night, dreaming of the endless ways my app idea would help parents all over the US. I’d spend the next two years building an app, a community and an amazing team, including my tech cofounder, to help make Our Village come go from a little idea to a big reality.
Fast forward to 2025, Our Village, a service marketplace app for parents, to help them find safe, reliable help with everyday family life is in full swing. Parents can sign up to offer services to other families, or sign up to get help for themselves. We have a place for all kinds of providers, from the moms who like to help out their communities, to professionals who have their own small service business.
Our categories range from Child, pet and senior care to transportation, tutoring, event help, home upkeep and so much more. We are tackling the bigger issue at hand, that our modern day parents are struggling with the load of parenthood without much support, especially for single parents and families who have moved from other parts of the US. We’ve since launched our pilot in January and spent a few months getting feedback and making improvements. Our metrics show the value from the parents who have used the app to find help with everyday services.
We are expanding in the coming months through much more marketing and events, and plan to really dig deep into the DFW mom communities throughout the DFW to let all parents know, you’re not alone. Our Village is here and we’re here to help you get your time and sanity back. Modern day parenting requires so much of a mental load now. From the household duties, to driving and attending activities and planning events. And when you don’t have a support system where you can ask for help, parenting can be isolating, stressful and lonely.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I have zero technical background, so me finding a reliable developer to help me build the app was a nightmare on its own. I had to hire 3 different developers in the beginning, which took me a year to finally build out the app. I’d say this has been the biggest struggle. Another thing, which is a bit ironic, is that while I’ve been working on a startup for parents to make life easier, I’ve been struggling with time management in my own family and household. I’m a mom who likes to do it all for her kids, and me being present, attending school functions and activities, while building this business has been tasking. But I do use the app to find help when I need it, and it’s been the best part of this journey.
Another challenge was cracking the chicken and egg problem, which is expected in any marketplace. Who do you onboard first? Service providers or parents? Both? Luckily, I had a short testing period prior to our launch, so we had a good number of service providers onboard and ready when we first launched. But it did take a bit of a push to get things going.
Another thing that’s challenging while running a startup, is that you’re creating a business that doesn’t necessarily have guidelines or previous standard to follow. As a founder, you have to figure out these guidelines and it takes a lot of trial and error. It can be expensive and time-consuming but all worth the while when you find what works! I look for these highs along this journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Our Village?
Our Village has come a long way. I specialize in business operations, as I’ve spent the last 20 years running my family business. I took what I’ve learned here, and applied it to building Our Village. I’ve connected with so many amazing entrepreneurs and parents alike, who are so supportive and genuinely interested in the success of Our Village, because they genuinely believe our mission is valuable and needed.
I am proud that what I’m doing is meaningful and helpful to others. I am grateful for the time I’m able to spend now on the front of the business; I get to speak directly to moms from different situations and backgrounds and hear how the app has helped them. It helps me align with their needs and see just how unique everyone’s story is.
One thing I’m doing with the app is making sure all users have easy access to reach out to me for any needs or questions. I have a business phone line and a chat button directly in the app that allows users to open a chat with me or my co-founder, and we make sure one of us can respond immediately. Nowadays, AI bots and emails are the standard for customer service for tech companies, and as a millennial, I truly miss the direct communication we used to have with real people. It shows that we care about our users and are there when they need help.
Another thing about Our Village brand is that we are aligned with the needs of both users of the marketplace. We want parents to be able to have a good and safe experience in the app, as well as the service providers. We have it set up to where both parents and providers are able to rate one another, based off communication, timeliness, and professionalism, as well as a cancellation rate. A lot of the marketplace apps usually cater to one side over the other, and I wanted to be sure that everyone felt seen and heard through our app.
As a parent using Our Village app, we want you to be able to use the app when you feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, or under supported. When you need a break from the chaos of the home, or if you need a sitter for a last minute schedule change, or a cleaner for your home, a landscaper, a tutor or even a doula. Our Village offers services for every stage of parenting and every kind of parent. You can find providers to fill in jobs that on the lower budgeting end, as these providers are parents themselves, and look to serve and help their fellow parents out. We also have professional service providers who charge a bit more, but have more skills, experience and qualifications.
We also have a special category for Pregnancy and Postpartum, which is near and dear to me, as this was the stage I personally felt I needed the most support. We have birth workers, night nannies, lactation support and so many amazing entrepreneurs who are here to support you.
A few things I’d love for readers to know about Our Village is that we have so much more in store up ahead. We are rolling new things out every month, like new features, programs and services. We recently added on Business Listings to our app, where local businesses can get listed and contacted in the app…We are also working on gamifying the app, where parents can get rewarded with a discount or gift card after reaching a number of points. I believe our vision for Our Village to become the backup for all parents, our constant improvement and great customer service are our best assets.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The parent-tech sector has really started taking off in the last few years, as it’s a newer space in tech. So many entrepreneurs, who are mothers, are finding solutions to many modern day parenting struggles. At the same time, gig-work has become increasingly popular and normalized in our family homes. Now that inflation has taken ahold of our economy, we’re seeing families opt to earning extra income through gig-platforms, like Uber, Instacart, Poplin, and so many more. I envision Our Village being that means of extra income and support for all families alike. A space where they feel comfortable and safe, knowing that safety is one of the pillars of Our Village.
We’re aiming to expand to all major Texas metropolitan areas in the next 2 years, and all US cities in the next 7 years. I do plan on getting investor funding in the near future, but for now we’re focused on providing a valuable experience for parents and service providers on a more personable level.
I have so many ideas for Our Village! The hardest part of running this business is to not put the cart before the horse. The thing about startup businesses is trial and error. You have to see what works and what doesn’t, and move froward from there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ourvillageapp.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ourvillage_dfw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OurVillageDFW
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randa-bedair/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurVillageDFW
Image Credits
Yuriko Aretha, YM Photography
