Interviews with purpose-driven leaders who are dedicated to helping others and making a positive impact in the world.
December 18, 2023
Jessica Chang | Upwards (formerly WeeCare)
TELL US, WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
My name is Jessica Chang, and I am the proud CEO and co-founder of Upwards.com (formerly WeeCare). Upwards is a tech-driven care solutions company with the mission to make care accessible to all families and empower the caregivers who provide it. Our technology connects families, care providers, employers, and governments to create new care solutions in real time and utilizes a data-driven approach to enhance the supply and capacity of the childcare system. Families use Upwards to match with caregivers who are equipped to meet their unique needs and also to connect families with the resources they need to afford care, whether through government subsidies or workplace benefits.
HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
The Upwards journey began when I was pregnant with my first child and experienced firsthand how impossible it was to find childcare. Most of the options around me had long waitlists and the high cost of childcare made me question if it was even worthwhile for me to return to work. At the same time, childcare supply was decreasing year over year even in a vibrant and growing metropolitan area like Los Angeles. It bothered me and I decided to get to the bottom of it to truly understand what was happening. I left my job in tech and became a preschool owner/operator myself.
I learned that the problem was systemic for both care providers and parents. Providers were not able to keep up with business operations because of the long and active hours they were already working caring for children — and most care providers were paid below the livable wage! At the same time, the number of open childcare slots was decreasing every year, and prices for families were in the thousands of dollars each month per child — something most families cannot afford. I learned that if we wanted to make childcare sustainable, we had to build a solution for both families and providers.
Together with my co-founders Jesse Forrest and Matt Reilly we built Upwards (then WeeCare) to empower childcare providers to run their businesses more efficiently, stay in the industry, and grow. Simultaneously, we aimed to make it easier for parents to access and afford quality childcare. Our founding team brought together a unique blend of expertise across product, design, engineering, sales, and marketing. And our idea truly resonated with the market.
Six years later, we have more than two million families who have used Upwards to find childcare, and we’ve built the largest childcare network in the country. Our technology supports local and state governments in removing barriers to care, strengthens childcare providers, and enables major U.S. employers to offer quality childcare to their working families
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? WHY IS THIS WORK IMPORTANT TO YOU?
I believe that care is the bedrock of any thriving society. Care is the essential infrastructure that supports our daily lives, enabling families to pursue their dreams and contribute to their communities. Yet, care often goes unnoticed and underappreciated, despite the fact that almost everyone in their lives will either need care or become a caregiver at some point. Access to quality care is the only way that families can break free from poverty. Our mission-driven approach is deeply embedded in our company’s DNA, and it’s reflected in our very name. We are Upwards because we believe that care has the power to lift families up and empower them to reach their full potential.
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
What started as a childcare matching app is now a nationwide movement that unites families, caregivers, employers, and government agencies redefining the care landscape with Upwards’ technology at the center of it. For decades, employer-sponsored childcare benefits, if offered at all, were reserved for elite top talent, neglecting lower-paid workers, for whom childcare is a crucial enabler of employment. Upwards is shattering these outdated business standards, transforming childcare benefits from a privilege into a norm. In 2023, we secured groundbreaking deals with major U.S. employers and government agencies, competitively selected over organizations with decades of experience due to our innovative approach and commitment to providing access to high-quality care. Upwards’ platform now supports communities in all 50 states by strengthening childcare providers and empowering more than 100 employers like the U.S. Army, Chobani, Panasonic, and JCPenney, by offering childcare benefits to their working families (read about Upwards’ employer partnership with Amazon, here).
Through partnerships with the State of California, as well as multiple municipalities nationwide, we are fixing childcare subsidies. Our programs reduce placement time by 90%, ensuring swift support for families and providers in need.
Upwards is making a real difference in the lives of millions of families, and we are committed to continuing to expand our impact.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO DO THIS WORK?
My own family inspires me every day and the stories of people whose lives have been meaningfully impacted by Upwards. I think of a dedicated childcare provider in southern California who can now access government subsidy payments in a matter of hours through our technology, in contrast to the months-long process it used to be. I also think of a U.S. Army Reservist in Iowa, now assured that his child is in safe hands during his weekend drill training, thanks to our work with the U.S. Army, providing peace of mind to his whole family. The list goes on… I think of a mother in Tennessee, empowered to return to work post-pandemic, securing quality childcare through her employer’s partnership with us, along with a valuable care tuition stipend. An HR team at a grocery chain takes pride in supporting their employees with accessible childcare benefits, resulting in a 31% increase in employee retention. These stories speak louder than any numbers, but we have those, too.
WHAT’S YOUR VISION, YOUR BIG DREAM FOR THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
Solving care for good!
WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING?
Keeping up with our growth and ensuring that every new and existing team member is supported and set up for success.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAUSE AND/OR THE WORK YOU’RE DOING?
I want people to see childcare as more than just a social issue; it is also an economic issue. Take Upwards as an example. Our company is powered by childcare, just like our country. With a majority of our staff being women and nearly half of our team being parents, it is evident that without working families, we cannot be successful, and neither can the U.S. economy.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE OR WORDS OF INSPIRATION TO SHARE?
A famous quote from Maya Angelou, “Nothing will work unless you do.” No matter how daunting the task might be, like solving the care crisis, trust yourself to take the very first step, get things done every day, and develop discipline — every success is a process.
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
If you’re in HR/Benefits or a decision-maker in a company, assess whether you’re truly supporting your working families in a way that enhances productivity, retention, and hiring. Our team offers free feasibility studies as a tool to help employers understand unique workforce needs and determine effective care benefits that employees will actually utilize and benefit from.
If you are a working parent, initiate conversations with your coworkers, join an ESG for parents, ask questions about childcare benefits during the hiring process, and participate in advocacy campaigns like Moms First’s #ShowUsYourCare campaign because change starts from both the bottom up and the top down.
If you know wonderful care providers in your life or a family in need of care solutions, lead them to Upwards.com so they can get the support they deserve.
At Orapin, we believe those who are working for the greater good should be known, supported, and celebrated. We help purpose-driven organizations transform their random acts of PR into a strategic, consistent approach that generates greater awareness and impact. If would like to be featured in INSPIRED IMPACT™, reach out to hello@orapin.co.