From Vision to Reality: Our KindHaus building Journey

Creating an oasis for modern parents, one step at a time

Hi, Mobsters, I'm Mob Member Ann-Marie, founder of KindHaus – the parent oasis that's reimagining the high street for modern families. We're building something special for mums and dads: a space where flexible childcare meets co-working, wellness, and genuine community. Because parents deserve more.

Meet MOB member Ann-Marie

Where It All Began

KindHaus started with a simple observation – there was nowhere for parents to go that truly understood their needs. We wanted proper coffee, beautiful spaces, and somewhere that felt like home rather than an afterthought. So we created it.

My journey began with a Virgin Startup Loan and what felt like an impossible property search. Then serendipity struck. After running community events in a local space, the owner asked if we'd consider a longer-term arrangement. With help from an incredible team of local parents, we transformed the space into something magical.

Our launch party was proof we were onto something special – 250 parents showed up, and the energy was electric.

Solving Real Problems

Through countless conversations with parents, one need kept surfacing: accessible, flexible childcare that actually works for modern life. Having struggled with this myself, I was determined to create something different – childcare you could book in minutes, not months.

The response was immediate. Parents were hungry for this solution.

At a Virgin pitch event, an investor asked about our subscriber base. We had none – yet. That night, I stayed up until 3am designing subscription packages and updating our website. Within a week of launching, we had subscribers. Sometimes the best solutions are born from necessity and a little bit of panic.

Building the Dream Team

Every startup needs its village. One of our early subscribers introduced us to Jem the founder of Daring Capital - an investment syndicate designed to level the playing filed for diverse founders.  He became instrumental in shaping our business model and connecting us with the investment community. Jem's first business showcase was my first real pitch – I was terrified, barely slept, but showed up with pure passion.

The interest was immediate and completely surreal.

The Investment Journey

What followed was an intensive education in startup fundraising. Investor calls, due diligence, term sheets and more – raising investment became a full-time commitment. We made the difficult decision to close our pilot to focus entirely on securing our future.

2024 was our year of preparation, pitching, and persistence. We found what seemed like the perfect property in N16, investors were committed, and everything was falling into place.

Then, on the week of exchange, everything changed. The landlord withdrew access to the outdoor space – a non-negotiable for our vision. We lost nearly £20,000 in fees, but more importantly, we lost momentum.

Christmas 2024 became my sanctuary – Bailey's, 80s movies, and a stack of gluten-free mince pies helped heal the heartbreak.

The Phoenix Moment

February 2025 bought the first close on our investment round. We raised £250,000 SEIS. We were back, stronger and wiser.

The property hunt continues, but now we're armed with something powerful – a team of angel investors, advisors and institutions who truly understand our vision. The fire burns brighter than ever.

What's Next

Our first KindHaus will open in Stoke Newington this year, then we'll scale across East London and beyond. With our incredible parent community and platforms like Mums Who Build supporting female founders, who knows how far we'll go?

Picture this: a KindHaus parent oasis on every high street. A place where being a parent doesn't mean compromising on quality, community, or career.

That's not just our dream – it's our mission.

Ready to work flexibly with your little one nearby? Join our waitlist here!

With love and kindness,
Ann-Marie
Founder, KindHaus