Parenting Support

Kelly Cox, founder of Share the Drop. (Credit: Courtesy of Share the Drop) Over the course of her career, Kelly Cox has helped thousands of families through pregnancies, births and parenthood. Before launching her current venture, Cox owned a pre- and postnatal yoga studio, while also working as a registered birth doula. As she watched her clients connect over the trials and tribulations of new parenthood, she noticed that feeding newborns was a particular pain point for them. Through her yoga studio, she began to match local families who had an excess supply of breastmilk with those who were in need. During Covid lockdowns, Cox closed her studio for good and launched Share the Drop, a platform facilitating breastmilk exchanges in communities across the country. Here's our lightly edited Q&A, from The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project. How is your business different from others in your industry? We are the first commerce-free app for informal milk sharing – donors are never paid for their milk. I saw rising stress, anxiety and depression among parents who struggled to produce breastmilk for their infants. I am keenly aware that not every parent has the ability to produce, and watched as they tried to utilize antiquated and time-consuming forum-based methods. And as a breast cancer survivor myself, I was struck by the depression fellow survivors endured when considering how to feed their infants. In a world of constant formula recalls and disruptions to the supply chain, I saw a big gap in the market. Tell us about your biggest success so far. Getting emails from users telling me the app has worked for them, and that they were able to find milk in their communities. What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? This concept is a very difficult thing to pitch to investors. Our society is quite shy when it comes to openly discussing breastfeeding, let alone listening to women who have issues around breastfeeding. In fact, any talk of breasts tends to make people uncomfortable. But despite these challenges, I have managed to build a for-profit business that helps others. Have you experienced any significant personal situations that affected your business decisions? In my pre- and postnatal yoga studio, I surrounded myself daily with women who were excited about being pregnant, or were navigating the early days of motherhood – and they shared everything with me. I worked a lot those years, but never felt like I worked hard. I simply showed up and held space. After I closed the studio, I found day-to-day work very difficult. I was no longer surrounded by the energy of mothers, and I worried I would never find that joy in my efforts again. Creating Share the Drop has brought me back to my purpose. What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs? Early on, a tech advisor told me to minimize costs by first developing the web version of my business, before building a mobile app. I ignored this, because I felt pressure to build something prospective customers could find on major app platforms. In hindsight, however, I wish I had listened to him. Apple continuously rejected my concept, despite having similar apps on their platform. I recently pivoted, and am about to launch a PWA (progressive web app) that can be downloaded directly from my site. Not only does this give me full control, I am able to keep the 30% cut of revenue Apple would have taken. Lesson learned: Listen to those who have gone before you! How do you find inspiration on your darkest days? I remind myself of the difference I’ve made working with families in my community. And, I’m always rejuvenated by seeing how far I can spread my business’ reach. I have a daily yoga practice as well – it is the best way, I’ve found, to put my mind at ease, and my anxiety at bay. What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days? "Sleeping Lessons” by The Shins. Who is your most important role model? My dad. He was a quiet, simple man who instilled in me the value of community. He was nowhere near as outgoing and gregarious as I am – in fact I think that scared him about me! But he led by example. He told me to make sure the work I do benefits others, rather than simply working for a paycheck. Instagram: @sharethedropFacebook: @sharethedropLinkedIn: @sharethedrop Share your story! Check out more stories about women in businessWatch our latest videosSubscribe to our podcast

Parenting Support

A Breastmilk Collaborative Helping Out New Parents

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