The women-led Warsaw-based The Village Network aims to improve childhood experiences for enhanced development, to support parents, and, to support early educators.
Childcare tends to fall on the shoulders of women more often than not.
With a notable shortage of affordable childcare options, women are disproportionately impacted and often left with the impossible task of deciding between prioritizing their careers or childcare.
The Polish platform has now raised €3.4 million to create an all-in-one marketplace to encourage child development.
The funding was backed by Movens Capital, 500 Startups, Tilia Impact Ventures, and Credo Ventures.
The women-run company offers edtech products, an application for running nurseries, preschools, and schools, and The Village marketplace.
So how does the model work?
The Village Network creates quality centers for childcare that are empathy and creativity centric.
The nanny-shares, micro-nurseries, and preschools are parent-led in so-called ‘villages’ – based in community hubs.
Parents and teachers working in the villages participate in the original The Village Way courses and regularly improve their qualifications according to the philosophy of nonviolent communication and Reggio Emilia pedagogy.
Aside from forming quality childcare and education, the startup is focused on supporting women’s professional development and fostering gender equity in parenthood and entrepreneurship.
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