We recently connected with Ashley Stone and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In 2018, my life took an unexpected turn. I discovered I was expecting twins during a surprise third pregnancy, while simultaneously receiving news of my mother’s cancer diagnosis. On top of that, my son was facing challenges fitting in at kindergarten. It was a whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities.

When my identical twins were born on April Fool’s Day 2019, I realized I would need support once my husband returned to work. Although many people offered their help, I struggled to ask for it and found it challenging to reach the right individuals at the right time. However, when I finally gathered the courage to ask, I was amazed by the willingness of others to show up for me. It became evident that there are countless people who genuinely want to help, if only they know how.

That’s when the idea for The Village App was born—a solution to easily build and connect with a support network away from the noise and toxicity of social media. I wanted to create a platform where I had control over who could see what I shared.

Since then, The Village App has evolved into a powerful community-building platform, facilitating connections through asks, offers, and events within local communities and organizations.

I firmly believe that everyone deserves a support network they can rely on. When we support each other, it has a profound impact on our overall health and well-being. Life is not meant to be lived in isolation; we thrive when we come together.

Ashley, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I come from a long line of entrepreneurs; including my brother, parents, and grandparents, who have all ventured into the business world. However, in 2009, I took a different path and became a registered nurse, seeking a departure from that lifestyle. I specialized in labor and delivery as well as public health, where I encountered a recurring issue: the lack of tangible support for individuals. While there are organizations and hired assistance available, people often face daily logistical challenges that can be solved through a strong and connected community. It was only when I experienced this need firsthand, after having my twins (in addition to my two other children), that I truly understood the significance of this issue in my own life.

I have always lived by the motto, “Don’t complain about something unless you’ve tried to fix it.” This mindset drove me to address this issue head-on. When I reached a point where I could no longer avoid asking for help, I crossed the invisible threshold of fear and found myself immersed in a space of community and togetherness. I discovered that incredible things can happen when we simply ask for support. This is how I connected with my co-founder, Karen Olsson. Initially, I contacted her for a quote to build the app, but our partnership grew organically, and we have been working tirelessly together ever since.

At The Village App, our passion lies in creating ethical and purposeful technology that brings people together in the real world. We are not driven by the principles of surveillance capitalism; instead, we intend to utilize the data we generate to drive policy changes and provide valuable insights to the decision-makers within the organizations we collaborate with.

Currently, we are working closely with nonprofit organizations and municipalities to enhance the well-being of their communities through genuine connections and effective resource coordination.

At The Village App, we believe in the power of authentic connection and are dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and communities alike.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As I reflect on my upbringing, I realize that I never truly experienced a sense of belonging to a community. Sundays were often spent in church, going through the motions without any deeper involvement. Living far away from friends, family, and other children meant that spontaneous play or visiting a friend’s house was a rarity. Playdates were meticulously scheduled, and hosting guests meant an entire day dedicated to cleaning and preparing the house.

Over time, I had to unlearn this structured way of interacting with others and embrace a new perspective. I had to welcome people into my home, even when it was messy, and embrace the idea of authentic connections. I discovered that it is in our realness and vulnerability that true community flourishes.

Now, I cherish the fact that my lawn may be covered with a pile of nine bikes at any given time. I appreciate having a network of people within a few blocks, whom I can count on in any situation. The freedom to let go of the need for perfection and embrace the beauty of genuine connections has transformed my understanding of community.

Today, I celebrate the messy, imperfect moments that bring people together, fostering a sense of belonging and support. It is in these moments that I find the true essence of community—a tapestry of shared experiences, mutual support, and a genuine sense of belonging.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Our journey with The Village App has been filled with strategic pivots and valuable learnings. Initially, our focus was on individuals, but we quickly realized that onboarding one person at a time would require significant time, effort, and resources, making the business model unsustainable. Understanding the importance of finding the right market fit, we conducted extensive research and identified the nonprofit sector as a promising target.

Collaborating with nonprofits throughout 2022, we conducted pilot programs to better understand their needs and refine our offering. While the interest from nonprofits was substantial, we recognized a common challenge they faced—limited human capital to fully adopt and leverage our app. This realization prompted us to pivot once again, this time toward municipalities.

By shifting our approach to encompass a holistic community perspective, we began partnering with municipalities. This strategic move allowed us to engage key stakeholders who could support the onboarding process for organizations and the wider community. By collaborating closely with municipalities, we have discovered a remarkable product-market fit that aligns with our vision of empowering communities through meaningful connections and efficient resource coordination.

Through these strategic shifts and continuous iteration, we have refined our direction, focusing on serving municipalities as our primary market. This evolution has been instrumental in optimizing our value proposition and ensuring that we address the needs of both municipalities and the communities they serve.

As we move forward, we are committed to building strong partnerships with municipalities, enabling them to foster thriving communities and establish robust support systems. Our journey of exploration and adaptation has led us to this exciting point, where we are poised to make a significant impact in enhancing community well-being and fostering meaningful connections through The Village App.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thevillageapp.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thevillageapp.co
• Facebook: www.fb.com/thevillageapp.co
• Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ashley-stone-390380114?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/thevillageappco