Hidden Gems: Meet Willow Li of AyiConnect

Willow Li

Hi Willow, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

As an immigrant and mother of two living in the US,  I understand how hard it can be to find people to care for your children or family members when you speak a different language and have different customs. I had trouble finding someone to take care of and teach my kids Mandarin Chinese, and also a companion caregiver for my dad who could speak his home language
It took me a long time to find the right people, and I thought there had to be an easier way. I did some research and found out that many other people were having the same problem as me. I also learned about different groups of people who provide care for others who speak different languages. They want more opportunities to contribute to the local community.

So, I launched AyiConnect. It’s an app where families can post jobs, caregivers can post their availability, and both sides can post questions for each other.

The current app is in English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting AyiConnect hasn’t been a smooth road. There were many challenges, but I am grateful for each one of them.One of the biggest challenges was building a tech platform as someone who was not technical. We wanted to make something that was simple for families and caregivers to use, so we took a long time refining it to make sure it was as easy as possible. We first worked with an agency to help us with the MVP, but we had to part ways because they were not as invested in our mission as we were.

Another challenge was our team. We went through a COVID death, which took a toll on our tech team. But we didn’t give up, and we found people who were excited about our mission and wanted to work hard to make AyiConnect a success. I’m lucky to have a team of smart and dedicated people who are all about helping families and caregivers find each other.

Even though there were challenges, I’m proud of what we’ve done with AyiConnect. We’ve helped many families and caregivers find the perfect match, and we’re making a real difference in the lives of people all over the world.

I am grateful for the struggles that I have faced along the way. They have made me stronger and more resilient. I am confident that AyiConnect will continue to grow and succeed in the years to come.Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.

AyiConnect is a multilingual app to help families find people to take care of their kids, family members, or housework. Our current focused languages of our caregivers are English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Indonesian. We are looking to add more based on demand.

We’re different from other platforms in a few ways. First, we make sure families find caregivers who speak their language. This is important because it allows families to communicate with their caregivers easily and trust them. Second, we think about the cultural needs of families. This means families find caregivers who understand their customs and traditions. Third, we have a community feature where people can support each other with questions and answers.

We are most proud of how AyiConnect is committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe that everyone should be able to find the care they need, no matter what language they speak or what their culture is.

We are also proud of our commitment to serving our customers. We work hard to make sure both families and caregivers have a good experience using our platform.

Here are some examples of what AyiConnect can help with:

• Childcare providers who speak Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Spanish, French, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or other languages
• Elder care for seniors who need caregivers who speak their language and help them with daily tasks and socializing
• Domestic care for families who need help with daily tasks from someone who is from a similar culture and background

If you are looking for a qualified and culturally competent caregiver, we encourage you to visit AyiConnect.com. We also have a variety of resources to help families learn more about caregiving and find the right caregiver for their needs, and we have a team of dedicated professionals who are here to support you.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe risk-taking is essential for growth. It is how we learn and grow, and it is how we reach our full potential. I have taken many major risks in my life, both personal and professional.

One of the biggest risks I ever took was leaving my job as a product and deployment lead to start AyiConnect. I had a comfortable arrangement, but the passing of my father made me realize that I wanted to do something more meaningful with my life. I wanted to find a way to help people and make a difference in the world, and AyiConnect was the perfect vehicle to do that.

It was a risky decision, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Starting AyiConnect has been a challenging but rewarding journey. The personal growth has been tremendous. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help families and caregivers connect and find the right care for their loved ones.

Uncertainty is not the same as risk. Uncertainty is simply the lack of knowledge about a future event. Risk is the possibility of a negative outcome in a future event. Not all risks are bad. Some risks are worth taking, while others are not. It is important to weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before making a decision.

Risks can be managed. There are things we can do to reduce the risk of negative outcomes. For example, we can do our research, gather information, and consult with experts.

I don’t know if I would call myself a risk-taker. I am definitely not reckless, but I am also not afraid to take calculated risks. I believe that risk-taking is essential for growth, and I am willing to take risks to achieve my goals.