We were lucky to catch up with Ming Hui recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ming, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

At Mobabbi, we’re pioneering an early potty training solution that begins from birth. In the United States, children typically start learning to use the potty around the age of 2. Consequently, potties are primarily designed for toddlers. However, the Mobabbi solution is a potty designed specifically for infants to initiate and practice using the potty at an early age, right from birth. Our approach involves sound association techniques aimed at completing potty training by around age 2.

In addition to offering an infant-sized potty, we provide comprehensive methodologies on how to teach infants to use the potty effectively. Unlike purchasing a potty from a store, where instructions on potty training are typically absent, our solution includes tailored methodologies for teaching infants. It’s important to note that training and teaching an infant differs significantly from training a toddler; toddlers can communicate their needs or desires to use the potty, whereas infants cannot.

Mobabbi’s solution integrates the potty with specialized teaching methodologies to provide a holistic solution for busy parents. Through surveys, we’ve identified that one of the biggest challenges parents face is a lack of time for potty training. Our solution directly addresses this challenge by streamlining the potty training process for infants.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

With 15 years of investment experience, I’ve honed my skills in analyzing companies to identify investment opportunities in bonds and stocks. Additionally, I’ve worked in private equity, where I served as a strategic partner to portfolio companies, assisting them in growing their businesses. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Babson College and an MBA from Dartmouth College.

After a successful career in business and investment, I embarked on the journey to build my own business. The concept of Mobabbi stemmed from my experience potty training my first child. I began potty training my daughter at just 9 months old. Surprisingly, she consistently used the potty for nearly 2 months, sparing me from changing any dirty diapers. However, as she learned to walk, she went on a potty strike. Determined to find a solution, I delved into numerous potty training books to understand the underlying dynamics. This learning process fueled my inspiration to create Mobabbi and develop an innovative potty training solution.

During my research, I uncovered the significant environmental impact of disposable diapers. These diapers take 500 years to decompose, contributing 3 million tons of waste to landfills annually. Mobabbi not only addresses the needs of parents and children but also provides a sustainable solution for the environment. By accelerating the transition out of diapers, we aim to reduce the environmental footprint caused by diaper waste. Additionally, considering the financial strain of diapers, with parents spending an average of $1000 annually, Mobabbi’s solution offers savings in time, money, and environmental resources.

I founded Mobabbi two years ago and developed our first prototype last year. Our product is patent pending, and we are preparing for product testing this year. In recognition of our innovation, we won an award at the FORGE Impact new product competition and secured two grants for product development. Currently, we are participating in the Accelerator for Biosciences in Connecticut (ABCT), a competitive-entry, six-month program tailored for first-time founders of bioscience ventures focused on healthcare innovation in Connecticut.

For those interested in learning more about Mobabbi as potential customers, investors, or for product testing opportunities, please reach out to us at [email protected]

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

Last year, I acquired Mathnasium of Milford, a math learning center in Milford, CT. The center is part of the Mathnasium national franchise, of which I am one of the franchise owners. The decision to invest in a Mathnasium franchise was driven by my desire to gain hands-on business experience while developing Mobabbi from scratch. Being a franchise owner provides me with valuable training and tools from Mathnasium Corporate, enabling me to dive straight into business operations.

Operating a Mathnasium center geared toward children’s math education offers numerous opportunities to engage with parents and kids directly. The skills and insights I am acquiring through this experience are directly transferable to my work with Mobabbi. Both businesses share synergies, targeting parents and children as their primary audiences and emphasizing education and training.

The process of acquiring the Mathnasium franchise took nearly a year of meticulous research and due diligence. I spent around four months studying the business, industry, and engaging with other franchise owners before committing. While exploring various franchise opportunities, including those in education and the food and beverage sector, I realized that the food industry’s demanding schedule wouldn’t align with my lifestyle goals. Educational franchises, such as Mathnasium, typically operate during after-school hours, providing me with the flexibility to manage the business while dedicating time to develop Mobabbi.

After deciding to focus on the education sector, I conducted thorough research on Mathnasium’s competitors and created a model to compare their income statements and profit margins with Mathnasium’s under similar scenarios. I determined that Mathnasium’s focused approach on math education, coupled with its favorable financial margins, made it the ideal choice.

During my discussions with existing Mathnasium owners, I discovered that one of them was looking to sell their center, which I eventually purchased. The process involved extensive negotiations and legal procedures, including drafting agreements with the help of a lawyer. As part of a franchise, obtaining franchise approval required training to understand business operations and engaging with the management team.

I had the fortunate opportunity to gain hands-on experience running the business before finalizing the transaction. The business I acquired was struggling, and I knew this going in, especially considering the challenges it faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when students shifted away from in-person supplemental learning. Despite the anticipated difficulties, I embraced the challenge of turning the business around.

Since taking over, I’ve enjoyed immersing myself in building brand awareness within the community, forging relationships with local partners, and witnessing a remarkable 30% growth in the business. There’s still plenty of potential for further expansion, which excites me.

The state of math education in the US has lagged behind that of many other countries, exacerbated by the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Recent data from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) underscores this concerning trend, with U.S. students experiencing a significant 13-point drop in math scores compared to 2018, placing them among the lowest ever measured by PISA. Out of the 81 countries that participated in the assessment, the US ranked 26th in math proficiency.

In this landscape, Mathnasium plays a vital role as a leader in supplemental education, helping children improve their math skills. To learn more about Mathnasium and its impact, please visit www.mathnasium.com

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I’ve personally funded the initial capital for launching Mobabbi, covering expenses such as developing the first prototype and filing a full non-provisional patent. Even in the early stages, when the potty training idea was just taking shape and before it had a name, I was fortunate to be accepted into the Collab Accelerator program. This 12-session hybrid program caters to entrepreneurs aiming to make a positive impact in their communities through innovative businesses and organizations. Through Collab, I gained access to non-dilutive funding opportunities and participated in two product pitch contests, receiving two grants that facilitated further progress in prototyping.

Currently, I’m working with the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to navigate the application process for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. Additionally, I’ve been accepted into the Accelerator for Biosciences in Connecticut (ABCT) program this year, which has provided me with a robust network of coaches and mentors to enhance my business idea. At the end of the program, I’ll have the opportunity to pitch to investors and secure funding to bring my idea to market.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mathnasium.com/milford
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathnasium_milford/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551795571279
• Other: [email protected]