The fab new app for mums
What do you get when you cross 2 enterprising Mums with a comms crisis? MumRadar! Silvia Wetherell and Rita Silva are the clever duo behind this fab new app that is practically a cross between Tinder and Trip Advisor for Mums. Their nifty platform revolutionises parenthood in Singapore: from meeting mums on your wavelength, to locating kid-related services on a map, to buying and selling children’s items, this app is packed with all you need to survive and succeed in life with little ones. We chatted to Silvia and Rita about MumRadar on the eve of their free launch event happening this Thursday 18 September from 10am, at The City Interactive Playground.
The MumRadar app is such a clever idea. How did that light-bulb moment strike?
S: It was the solution to a problem that a lot of mums in Singapore face – being at home with a child or children and feeling disconnected. I was actually counselling a mother who was new to Singapore and feeling isolated, not knowing where she could go to breastfeed, change nappies and meet people, and I realised there was a perfect solution. There is Tinder for dating and Trip Advisor for travelling. Now there is MumRadar, which combines the best of those apps so you can find people and places in Singapore that get you more connected. We created something that has Pins on a map indicating everything you need nearby as well as a great “Mums – Near Me” function where users can see mums nearest to them and send a message to say hi.
Is this your normal background?
S: I initially worked in business management and then retrained as a professional counsellor, but I have no background in app development – it’s been quite a learning experience! I have used my background in running support groups for mothers for some of the concepts in the app and that’s also reflected in the Blog section where we have lots of helpful articles.
R: I never thought I would be doing something like this. My background is in organizing Sporting Events, such as the Macau Grand Prix. I do have a Masters in Finance, which I am now putting to good use.
Can you tell us how the ‘pin’ function works? We’re predicting this bit is going to get a work out!
S: Yes, it’s already taking off. The Pins indicate places on a map such baby rooms, schools, kid friendly cafes, playgrounds and many other categories. Mums can see facilities nearby, they can add their own pins for other mums, and they can also review places, just like TripAdvisor. This means you can read real reviews by other mums and get the lowdown on what’s great and what’s not. We already have over 2,000 Pins marked on the Singapore map!
MumRadar creators, Silvia and Rita, with HoneyKids Asia partner, Chris Edwards
Once people find out about it, it’s going to go nuts! How big is the network already and where do you think it will end up.
S: Although MumRadar has just launched we have built up a database of over 800 users already. The plan is to spread the word about MumRadar in Singapore first and then gradually expand to other countries. We have users in Australia, US, UK and even some in remote places that I had to look up on the net…
What’s your favourite feature of the app? And the one you use most?
S: I have to say that I like to browse the PreLoved section just in case a good bargain pops up. I’m also keen on the Mumpreneurs feature where I can see which entrepreneurial mums have posted a free advertisement on the app – I can relate to that as a working mum.
R: I love the Pin function, I’m addicted! I’ve been pinning places in Europe throughout my holidays there this summer and left reviews to help other mums who might be planning trips.
The Pins screen and Chat screen of the user-friendly MumRadar app
You’ve got so many handy places ‘pinned’. What’s your favourite place to go with your own kids?
S: I like going to Horse City and the Grandstand: my little one can ride a horse, go to one of the indoor playgrounds and there are lots of family friendly eateries.
R: With 3 kids under 3 at one point, I was continually scouting for new places close to where I lived. Just when I thought I’d exhausted optioned, a new pin would pop up. My kids do love Watten Estate playground (and Baker&Cook for me!).
You’re brave taking on a Forum! But we love that all the comments are helpful and supportive. How do you keep this going?
S: It’s one of the reasons for creating MumRadar – helping mothers connect and support each other both online and in person. Mums also have the option to post anonymously if they wish to ask something of a more sensitive nature or are concerned about being judged. Users have been really supportive of each other and it’s great to see that interaction right before your eyes.
R: When pregnant and with young kids I always found that chat forums are a great source of support. We do monitor the forum so it can keep its original purpose of supporting mums.
You’ve both lived in lots of different countries. What is being a mum in Singapore like compared to your experience in other countries?
S: I love being a mum in Singapore because it’s such a safe and clean country with welcoming people who have made me feel very much at home. There are great places to visit as a family and we manage to spend quite a lot of quality time together as there is little commuting here, unlike London!
R: I’ve lived in Macau and Hong Kong and have now been in Singapore for 2 and a half years. Singapore is a wonderful place to raise kids because there is somuch going on and the network of mums is amazing.
Picked up any bargains on the buy and sell section yet?
S: Oh yes, I managed to get a great wooden puzzle set at a really reasonable price. My daughter and I spend ages on the floor trying to piece it together – I think she may be better at it than me though…
R: I was very glad to get a good deal on disposable nappies – with 3 kids not yet toilet-trained, I’ve saved quite a bit!
We love the app and we’ll be spreading the word. What’s next for MumRadar?
MumRadar is such a dynamic online community and its growing stronger everyday. But we firmly believe that there is nothing better than a face-to-face chat (preferably with cup of coffee and cake in hand). We want to meet our users and find out how best to support their needs, so MumRadar are partnering with HoneyKids to run monthly Mums Meet-Ups. We’re really looking forward to meeting our community of Mums at one of those soon. We’re also officially launching the app on Thursday 18 September from 10am to 12pm, with a free event for mums and children at The City Interactive Learning Playground. We’re ready to put our socks on and celebrate!
Images courtesy of Juan Pablo, Memory Lane Pix