The child care platform has evolved from a physical co-working space with on-site day care into a full-scale marketplace serving over 200 cities.
In a major boost for working families, Bumo, the tech-driven on-demand child care marketplace, has announced the close of a $10 million seed funding round.
Led by True Ventures and Offline Ventures, with participation from Goodwater Capital and Marketplace Capital, the investment underscores the need for flexible, accessible, and high-quality child care solutions.
Bumo aims to modernize the child care industry and position itself as the go-to platform for today’s parents—just as Airbnb redefined lodging and Uber reimagined transportation.
A Modern Solution to an Outdated System
Founded in 2019 by Joan Nguyen and Chriselle Lim, two working mothers and serial entrepreneurs, Bumo was born out of personal frustration with the traditional child care system.
Initially launched as a physical co-working space with on-site care, the company pivoted during the pandemic to develop BumoBrain, a virtual learning solution. In 2024, Bumo evolved again—this time into a full-scale child care marketplace platform, allowing instant, subscription-free bookings for parents and increased utilization for providers.
This latest round of seed funding for a child care startup reflects investor confidence in Bumo’s ambitious vision to be the backbone of child care infrastructure nationwide.
“We want Bumo to be as integral to family life as Airbnb, Uber, and Instacart are in their respective fields,” said Joan Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Bumo. “This funding empowers us to scale our operations and broaden our reach into new markets.”
Backed by Leading Venture Capital Firms
The $10 million round saw backing from a diverse array of investors:
True Ventures, known for supporting early-stage tech startups with bold visions
- Offline Ventures, a fund dedicated to real-world innovation
- Goodwater Capital, focused on consumer tech
- Marketplace Capital, aligned with Bumo’s platform approach
In addition, several high-profile angel investors joined the round, including:
- Jennifer Carolan, education-focused venture investor
- Jamie Chung, actress and working mother
- Ellen Chen, co-founder of Mendocino Farms
- Karina Kruse, leader in early education (Kinderzimmer)
- Vanessa Dew, co-founder of Health-Ade
- Rachel Barnes, social media influencer and entrepreneur
“The child care industry is ripe for innovation,” said Tony Conrad of True Ventures. “Bumo’s approach has the potential to reshape a $70 billion industry.”
The Rise of On-Demand Child Care
Bumo’s child care booking platform operates across nearly 200 cities, including Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Bay Area, providing over 17,000 searchable child care programs, including enrichment classes, seasonal camps, and microschools for kids ages 0–17.
The platform has already booked close to 500,000 hours of child care services—a clear sign that modern families are ready for a more efficient, tech-enabled solution.
Using Bumo, parents can:
- Instantly book child care with just three clicks
- Choose between full-time, part-time, backup, or seasonal care
- Access vetted and licensed child care providers
- Explore enrichment and educational programs from top partners like:
- Learning Care Group
- Boys & Girls Club of Metro Los Angeles
- FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich
- Drawn2Art
“Bumo transforms child care from an outdated, high-friction search into a seamless book-now experience,” said Brit Morin, Founding Partner at Offline Ventures. “This is a category-defining shift that changes everything for working families.”
Addressing a National Child Care Crisis
Child care remains one of the largest barriers to employment and economic mobility for millions of American families. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, more than half of parents report that child care issues impact their ability to work. With limited availability, high costs, and inflexible hours, the current model is unsustainable.
Bumo directly addresses these challenges through its AI-powered child care marketplace, which helps providers fill unused capacity and gives parents the flexibility to find trusted care when and where they need it.
“Our goal is to establish Bumo as the leading infrastructure for flexible child care,” added Nguyen. “We’re making high-quality care accessible and affordable for all.”
Rapid Growth and Future Expansion
With its new capital, Bumo plans to:
- Expand into additional U.S. cities
- Grow its engineering and operations teams
- Improve platform features for both parents and providers
- Form additional employer partnerships to offer child care benefits
- Continue building community and trust among parents and providers
The company anticipates a 15x growth trajectory in 2025, driven by demand from both consumers and child care providers eager to join a platform that improves access and utilization.
Empowering Families and Providers
Bumo’s mission goes beyond convenience. It is about supporting working parents, especially mothers, who are disproportionately affected by child care challenges.
At the same time, it empowers small businesses and early education providers by helping them connect with more families and improve their occupancy.
By combining technology, trust, and community, Bumo is not just building a marketplace—it’s creating the infrastructure for the future of care.
