Susan Testaguzza of LifeCubby
Meet Susan Testaguzza, CEO of
LifeCubby, a parenting tool for organizing and storing a comprehensive child’s biography.
What is LifeCubby?
LifeCubby is a child's virtual "cubby." Or more technically, LifeCubby is an integration of mobile apps and a robust website used by both parents and teachers to store, organize and manage a child's photos, videos and developmental data from birth to high school graduation.
How did you come up with the idea?
I have been the owner of childcare centers for 19 years, and the genesis of LifeCubby came out of the challenge of my staff to provide meaningful documentation for parents regarding their children's developmental milestones. We always took photos and we would right things down, but ultimately we were providing the parents these elements on paper instead of in a digital format that they could take and continue to use beyond their child's time in childcare. We developed LifeCubby to marry the concept of the "cubby" children have in childcare and "mom's box" that she keeps up on a shelf at home with all the precious mementos!
What was the biggest surprise in starting your business?
Since I have been a business owner for 19 years, I mostly knew what to expect from the mechanics of running a business. What has been surprising is how fast this past year has flown. Is it really June already?
What are some of the advantages to doing business in Ohio?
I love Ohio! It's such a great place to live and do business. There is a lot happening in the tech community – a lot of good energy and momentum. We also were invited to be a part of the IT Martini program and won the Community Choice Award.
What resources or organizations in Ohio did you take advantage of and how did they help?
I've had the opportunity to receive some fabulous coaching and office space at Tech Columbus, which is a tech incubator managed by The Ohio State University and sponsored through the state of Ohio. The advice and connections I've been able to receive at Tech Columbus have been invaluable.
Can you share a funny or amazing entrepreneurial experience with our readers?
19 years ago I became an entrepreneur when I started a day care center because at the time I felt like there wasn't sufficient day care in my area for my children, then 2 and 4. Today those same children, now college graduates at
24 and 22, are helping me launch my new business which was inspired by my day care business.
What inspires you?
I love using technology in a new and exciting way.
What founders do you admire and why?
I am totally inspired by Benjamin Franklin. The list of his accomplishments is so random and varied. He was forever curious, and always seemed to have a good
Idea. I love that.
What’s next for you?
Right now, I'm not thinking past the next few months with LifeCubby. We still have a ways to go regarding the additional features and functionalities being worked on, so for now I'm totally focused on finishing the job at hand.
Interview by Joe Baur