Using technology to help build real life connections.
Ashley Stone and Karen Olssen use each other’s strengths to address social isolation with their Village App.
The Village App is a connection tool designed to make it easy to ask for help. It’s not an online social network but rather a real time application to help those in need build real life connections. It’s a wonderful example of the power and trust of its creators - 2 women from different generations building a tool that can work for multiple generations for a myriad of tasks and community networks. It’s for new moms, seniors.
Three years ago, mid pandemic chaos, Karen Olsson felt alone caring for her aging mom in the mid stages of Alzheimer's — and all this while trying to run a business and raise a teenager. At the same time, a millennial mom of four faced her own challenges just x miles away. A public health nurse, Ashley Stone had just given birth to twins in a surprise third pregnancy. Both women struggled with isolation and finding meaningful help with their different challenges. That’s when the two connected. And immediately, they bonded over one big idea.
The Village App would be a go-to technology for creating kinder, more empathetic communities. Unlike other attention-based social platforms that can perpetuate isolation, this would be intention-based. It would push online connections into the real world, connecting real people with real actions and solutions.
“We were at very different stages of life, but feeling the same need for help and with no real easy, clear way to access it,” explains Karen. “Ashley's idea was to create a simple app that would allow people to give and get support where and when they needed it without the toxicity of traditional social media. I ran a technology consulting company and had the capacity to build the technology. Together we set out to create The Village App.”
Fast forward three years, the Village App launches. “A large part of our success is our age difference,” insists Karen. “I'm at a place in my life where I don't feel like I have to prove anything. I'm not in competition with Ashley. I'm smart, experienced. I know what it takes to get things done. I can see around corners to pitfalls that could impact our business and I know how to pivot when needed. Ashley appreciates those things about me. At the same time, Ashley is smart, focused and incredibly resilient. She brings big ideas and boundless vigor to move the needle on our business. Our ages are different. Our generational experiences are different. Even our energy levels are different, but our values align and operate around trust. It's one of the best partnerships that I've ever been a part of. Together, I think we’re unstoppable!”
We agree.
Twinquiry: What successes or obstacles have you had bridging generations — in work teams, a community group, in family, or just tackling any big new idea? Let’s get the conversation started. Reach out here.