6 years of Charly Cares & the crowdfunding: everything you want to know
It has been 6 years since Charly and Xander started working on realising their dream: expanding Charly Cares. With the current crowdfunding campaign, they are one step closer to making that dream a reality. In this interview, founders Charly and Xander will update you and tell you everything you want to know about the past 6 years and the crowdfunding campaign.
6 years ago, you came up with the idea of starting Charly Cares together at the kitchen table. Now, you work with a strong team on expanding Charly Cares. What has been you experience these past six years and what are you most proud of?
Charly: “Those 6 years have really flown by. Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster full of trial and error, highs and lows. If I had to pick one highlight, it is that we have convinced both parents and Angels of our right to exist. In the early years, we were very innovative - we even made the NOS news with this new type of childcare. Nowadays, Charly Cares is indispensable in the daily life of over ten thousand families.”
Charly thinks for a moment and continues: “Fun fact: I regularly receive messages from our first Angels who are now mothers themselves and experience the contribution an Angel can make to a family. It's great to see that Charly Cares continues to play such an important role in someone's life.”
Xander: “What I am most proud of? Good question! If I had to pick one thing, it would definitely be Charly Cares Business. I had been considering offering Charly Cares as a B2B solution for quite some time. Due to the second lockdown at the start of 2021, our concept of the ‘business babysitter’ gained momentum and has now transformed into a structural solution. Over 60 companies, from start-ups to large corporations, offer Charly Cares Business as a fringe benefit. A milestone for working parents and for Charly Cares.”
Where does the name for your ‘Angels’ come from?
Charly: “Our Angels are engaged caretakers who either take on a permanent role in the life of a family, or provide flexible assistance. Our Angels live in the same fast-paced world as ‘our’ parents and children. As a result, they know better than anyone how precious time is. They choose to spend this precious time taking care of children. Because it's fun work and generates income, but above all: because they care! That is why we rightly call our Angels Angels.”
Charly: "One of the hardest puzzles for parents now is: how do I organise my childcare? This is why we founded Charly Cares. Childcare that adapts to your family’s schedule."
Hot topic! Charly Cares is in the middle of a crowdfunding campaign. Why have you started one?
Charly explains: “Our dream is to make Charly Cares thé childcare platform of the Netherlands and to launch in the rest of Europe. We believe that every family deserves childcare that adapts to their busy family schedule. Due to the growing demand for our types of services within the Netherlands and the success of Charly Cares Business, this is the time to grow. That requires capital.”
Exciting! Where do you see Charly Cares in 2 years?
Xander: “We have some important points to focus on these coming 1 to 2 years, during which we hope to be able to take some great steps. We want to expand Charly Cares within the Netherlands and launch in new cities. We also want to expand our new B2B market by connecting new employers to Charly Cares Business. These are important steps towards realising our big dream: launching Charly Cares in Europe. Ambitious, but we dare to dream big. Together with our team and ‘the crowd’, we want to make the Charly Cares dream come true!”
Charly: “We want to join forces with ‘the crowd’ and work towards a bright future for a new generation.”
Want to read more about the crowdfunding? Here you go: find all the ins and outs on this crowdfunding page.