Customer-Centric Innovation

When she first became a mother, Maribel Angulo was living far from the rest of her family. The isolation she experienced during that exhausting time was difficult enough on its own. "But the hardest part," she says, "was watching my daughter cry when she finally saw her grandparents, because she didn't recognize them." Determined to make sure her relatives' faces became familiar to her daughter, Angulo invented Peek-A-Photo, an interactive storybook that lets parents insert images of loved ones who live far away, who are deployed or who are otherwise stuck at a distance from a growing child they adore. The patent-pending innovation offers "a screen-free solution that fits naturally into the ritual families already cherish, turning reading time into relationship building." Editor’s Note: Peek-A-Photo has been named to The Story Exchange’s 2026 list of 15 Brilliant Business Ideas. Here's our lightly edited Q&A, with Angulo. How is your business different from others in your industry? We're the first company to combine personalized photos with interactive board books for babies and toddlers. Tell us about your biggest success so far. Selling out of inventory twice before we reached the one-year mark, purely through word of mouth and organic social media growth. What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? Marketing. I'm bootstrapping everything while working full-time and raising two kids under the age of 3, so I've been learning as I go through trial and error. I'm trying to pay more attention to metrics and understand what messaging resonates, which channels convert, and who my audience really is beyond the people I meet face-to-face. But honestly, it's still too early to assess what's truly working. I know our organic growth and word of mouth prove the product resonates, but scaling that into a sustainable marketing strategy requires resources and expertise I simply don't have yet. That's the gap I'm working to close. What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs? Don't wait for the perfect moment. Perfection does not exist. How do you find inspiration on your darkest days? I remember the version of me who sat crying after my daughter screamed at her own grandparents. That mom who felt like she was failing because she couldn't give her child what she deserved: A relationship with family who adored her. I remember that guilt, that helplessness, that heartbreak of watching distance steal something precious. I don't want other moms to carry that weight alone. What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days? "The Man" by Taylor Swift Who is your most important role model? My father. Instagram: @peek.a.photo Share your story! Check out our Advice + Tips for entrepreneurs starting-upWatch our latest videosSubscribe to our podcast

Customer-Centric Innovation

Storybooks for Kids, Starring Grandma Who Lives Far Away or Dad Who’s Deployed

The Story Exchange

Follow