We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dayana Contreras. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dayana below.
Dayana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
During the pregnancy of my second son, I found myself on a roller coaster of emotional and physical pain. I had given up on myself and my needs, both emotionally and financially, to be there for others. This was usual for me. However, this time it hit me harder as I was going through a high-risk pregnancy, and the people I was showing up for took advantage of my kindness during my condition. At 39 weeks pregnant, my partner and I found ourselves needing to restart our lives with a baby due any day. After giving birth to my second son, my life felt empty, and not just because of the new rented apartment. I felt like my soul was aching, and all I could do was feel myself fall into a deep, dark hole. At times, I found myself calling the suicide hotline, only to be told I needed to find someone to talk to. After many suicidal thoughts, which I am thankful I never acted on, I began to think, “How can I fix myself because my kids need me?” Deep down, I knew I did not want to die; I just felt pain in my body, mind, and soul. It took time, but eventually, the love I have for my kids and the dreams I have for my future self gave me the fuel I needed to break up with the deep hold my depression had on me.
Realizing that I needed to save myself from myself was the first step in the creation of Siembra, a habit tracking app that was born out of a profound need in our society. I drew upon my behavior therapy background, love for learning and helping others to realize I had a valuable approach. I began to track my habits in other words my actions. The existing apps out there couldn’t fill the need I was looking for all the way, and going back and forth between different doctors, therapists and mental health apps can add up financially and feel overwhelming.
Siembra is not inventing habit tracking; we’re reinventing the way people show up for themselves. Recognizing the deep connection between emotional and physical pain, we developed an AI-integrated habit-tracking app to support personal growth. Even in its early stages, Siembra fulfills essential needs for self-improvement, offering an AI companion for venting and solution-finding, alongside a supportive community that guides and provides practical tips. We foster a sense of belonging, ensuring users never feel alone on their journey. We’re perfecting our habit-tracking feature to deliver a truly personalized experience, with a long-term goal to expand our tools for comprehensive wellness.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Dayana Contreras, and I’m the founder and CEO of Siembra, an innovative startup dedicated to supporting personal growth through an AI-integrated habit-tracking app. My journey into this industry began with a deep passion for mental health and well-being, stemming from my background as a behavior therapist in the applied behavior science field, where I have over 8 years of experience. Additionally, the idea for Siembra was born from my personal struggles after having my second child. I realized the profound connection between emotional and physical pain and how they affected each other deeply, inspiring me to create a tool to support wellness on a larger scale.
Siembra offers an AI-driven app designed to help users cultivate positive habits and improve their well-being. Our AI companion, Flor, provides a platform for users to express their thoughts and emotions, while our habit-tracking features ensure that each user’s experience is personalized and effective. We aim to solve the problem of feeling isolated during personal growth journeys by fostering a supportive community where members can guide, encourage, and share practical tips with each other.
One of the things that set Siembra apart is the team behind the brand. We are three co-founder friends, each with our own personal journeys and growth challenges we’ve had to overcome. We are also fortunate to have an advisor whose mission also takes him on the journey of helping others. We share a passion for entrepreneurship and are dedicated to supporting one another. Our internal drive to help others, combined with our entrepreneurial spirit, creates a perfect combination that propels us to continually strive and improve the app based on organic user and community feedback.
One of our proudest achievements is seeing the positive impact Siembra has had on our users. Even in its early stages, the app has helped many individuals show up for themselves and make meaningful changes in their lives. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that we are helping people feel supported and connected. The main thing we want potential users, followers, and fans to know about Siembra is our commitment to their well-being and our dedication to creating a transformative tool for personal growth. We are constantly working to improve and expand our offerings to provide comprehensive support for our users’ overall wellness. Our long-term goal is to develop an app of tools that play a significant role in helping individuals achieve their personal growth goals.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
At Siembra, maintaining strong connections with our users and fostering brand loyalty are top priorities. We believe that consistent, meaningful engagement is key to building a loyal community. We achieve this through personalized communication, actively engaging in our app’s community section where users share their progress and challenges, and regularly soliciting and incorporating user feedback because we care about their experiences. Transparent and authentic communication builds trust and deeper connections within our community.
Additionally, we collaborate with our community and local businesses, establishing partnerships with like-minded organizations that share our vision of helping others. We aim to be a tool that users can access and learn from, no matter what stage of life they are in—whether they are students, young adults, or adults who feel the need to start over.
These strategies create a loyal user base that feels seen, supported, and valued. We are committed to continuously improving our app and services to meet the evolving needs of our community, building lasting relationships, and providing a transformative experience that empowers users to achieve their personal growth goals.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the most significant lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that asking for help was a sign of weakness. Growing up, I internalized the idea that self-reliance and independence were paramount, and that seeking assistance meant I wasn’t capable or strong enough. This lesson deeply influenced the development of Siembra. The app emphasizes community support and the importance of reaching out for help. We designed features that encourage users to share their journeys, seek advice, and support one another. This community-driven approach has become a cornerstone of our mission to foster personal growth and well-being.
In addition, I had to learn how to show up for myself, leaving behind the victim mentality that blamed those who had hurt me. I realized that I could heal myself by doing the things that were meant to help my body and mind. Understanding that no one was coming to save me was a pivotal moment. Even though some support came with good intentions, it was not always helpful, especially advice from those who had never experienced depression, anxiety, or similar struggles. Unlearning the belief that asking for help is a weakness and learning to take responsibility for my healing has been transformative for me personally and professionally. It has allowed me to build a stronger, more collaborative team and create a product that truly supports our users in their own journeys of self-improvement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tusiembra.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tusiembraapp?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
- Other: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tu-siembra/id6467408339
