Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Brichter, Founder of Birthsmarter, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

There's never been a harder time to be a parent! We're fielding unprecedented decision fatigue and societal pressure from the Parenting Industrial Complex and Social Media while navigating existential threats such as climate change, systemic racism, and gun violence. All without a social safety net in the form of universal health insurance, parental leave, or affordable childcare. Birthsmarter is an educational community on a mission to help parents navigate the overwhelming, intense, and isolating experience of having a baby and becoming a better version of themselves. We provide practical wisdom and guidance to new and expectant parents through classes, support groups, and curated resources. Our unbiased, inclusive, and award-winning platform operates in person in New York, Utah, and Arizona and offers classes on-demand and live online.

Tell us about yourself

Immigrant-entrepreneurial parents raised me in a multi-generational-matriarchal family, and I have always been that person that's attracted to babies and families. Birthsmarter is the marriage between my entrepreneurial spirit and my passion for supporting little ones and their parents. In college, I pursued my passion for education and social justice. I planned on teaching but encountered hiring freezes on the heels of the Great Recession and turned to doula work. I loved supporting families through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum but could tell the 1:1 model was not ideal for me. As an educator, I wanted to be in front of more people at once.
When I got pregnant in 2014, I began working exclusively as a childbirth educator. I knew as much as anyone could about childbirth; however, I developed severe internal bleeding after my birth. I questioned everything I learned and taught. Many students communicated similar sentiments: "Ashley, my birth didn't go as planned!" When too many students fail a test, you must reassess your teaching.
I knew I had to quit working for others and launched Birthsmarter in May of 2019 to offer a higher level of birth education than what previously existed. We combine the best elements of Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, and the Bradley Method into one class and provide a fun, engaging environment for students.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

There are two. One is the product we've created. The curriculum at Birthsmarter is unlike anything else on the market for expectant families. Instead of reiterating basic information about labor and delivery like out-of-date hospital classes or selling the false promise. There's a "one-right way to give birth" – Birthsmarter's course is open to all families. Our curriculum is informative and approachable and makes clients feel confident and excited while keeping an open mind.
I'm also thrilled to say we just hit our three-year mark. It is an extraordinary accomplishment for any business, let alone a female-founded company, where I am the sole operator with two kids at home in a global pandemic.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I think this depends on the type of business you have. Most of what's been hard has been the learning curve of business administration, finance, and strategic decision-making. I come to the business as the "artist" or someone who excels at her craft. Making sure the company is functioning well has required getting the right support from folks who are more knowledgeable in that area of administration. However, as a solo entrepreneur, the hardest thing does not to have anyone to rely on when you're sick, sad, or want to step away. Eventually, hiring good people can help alleviate some of that. However, I still think there's loneliness and pressure when you're in charge.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make sure you have a product/market fit. Positive feedback from our community has always kept us going!
  2. Find 2-3 mentors willing to help advise you on the business areas you're less familiar with and who are eager to cheer you on when you hit a wall. You can't do it alone.
  3. Make sure to take care of your physical and emotional health, so you're in it for the long game.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://birthsmarter.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthsmarter/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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