Launching a new business in the midst of a maternity leave
When Dominique Elkind became a mother, she noticed a lack of third spaces available to parents of very young children. While on her second maternity leave, Dominique decided to take on a entrepreneurial venture vastly different from her career as a UX Designer, by founding Nixi City, a play centre for children aged 0-5. Not only is Nixi City a space for children, but includes a cafe for parents to meet and connect. --- [00:01:35] Dominique’s Design Background [00:02:25] Side Hustling During Maternity Leave [00:03:30] Entrepreneurial Experience at Google [00:06:25] Founding Nixi City, a Children’s Play Space [00:08:35] Identifying a Market Gap [00:11:15] Scaling and Franchising [00:12:37] Balancing Work and Family [00:14:05] Setting Boundaries [00:17:25] Sleep and Wellness [00:19:48] Challenges of a Physical Space [00:22:55] Finding Product/Market Fit [00:24:35] Selecting Real Estate for Nixi City [00:26:33] Dominique’s Advice: Find a Community of Potential Customers [00:27:36] Utilizing Design Skills [00:29:31] Connect with Dominque