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Australian startup rebuilding "the village" for modern motherhood

Villagehood

Key Facts:

• Villagehood app connects local mothers using geo-location technology, facilitating real-world meetups and community building
• Founded by Brittany Bloomer after experiencing isolation as an expat mother, the platform has grown from small meetups to over 1,000 active users on beta mode with thousands on waitlist
• Research indicates 80-90% of new mothers experience loneliness, highlighting significant need for local support networks
• App features include discovering nearby mums, hosting/joining local meetups, and attending events, with focus on driving offline connections
• App software developed by Baron Bloomer (brother) former tech lead at Shopify & Soho House London

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Villagehood is reimagining the “village” for modern motherhood - using a geo-location app to turn neighbourhoods into communities.

The app connects mums based on their location, surfacing other mothers nearby and making it simple to move from online to offline - whether that’s a spontaneous coffee, a pram walk, or a pilates class they can join together.

In a world of global social networks, Villagehood is intentionally local - built on the idea that the most meaningful support often lives just around the corner.

A growing problem — and market opportunity

Despite being more digitally connected than ever, research suggests up to 80–90% of new mothers experience loneliness. The shift away from traditional support systems, combined with modern lifestyles, has created what some describe as a “friendship recession” - particularly acute during early motherhood. 

At the same time, offline-first social models - from run clubs to speed dating are rapidly gaining traction, signalling a broader behavioural shift away from purely digital connection.

Villagehood enters this space as a purpose-built solution for mothers.

From grassroots meetups to scalable platform

Founder Brittany Bloomer began building communities organically after experiencing isolation as a first-time mum living overseas in Estonia.

What started as a small coffee meetup with seven women quickly grew into a network of over hundreds of expat mothers. Back in Australia, she replicated the model - growing local communities to thousands through picnics, pram walks and events. 

“That experience showed me how powerful in-person connection is and how difficult it can be to access,” Bloomer says. 

"After experiencing deep isolation and anxiety as a first-time mum overseas, I often think about how different my experience could have been if I’d had a village around me. No mother should have to go through that alone — every mum deserves access to real support and connection.”

Villagehood is the productisation of that insight.

Product: an ‘offline-first’ social platform

The app connects mothers based on location, allowing them to:

• Discover nearby mums

• Join or host local meetups

• Attend events like walks, coffee catch-ups and classes

• Build real-world friendships

Unlike traditional social platforms, Villagehood is intentionally designed to drive offline behaviour.

Built in-house alongside Bloomer’s brother - a former tech lead at Shopify and Soho House London, the app focuses on a set of intentional features - geo-based discovery, simple event creation, and low-pressure prompts that make it easier to say yes to a coffee, a walk or a picnic nearby.

“The goal was to design a platform that supports real life, not replaces it, scalable to the masses” Baron says

The result is a platform that combines top tier engineering with a deliberately soft user experience - designed to grow suburb by suburb, allowing communities to form organically without losing the intimacy that makes them meaningful.

Early traction and rollout strategy

The platform is currently in BETA, with:

• 1,000+ active mums engaging on the app

• Thousands more on the waitlist

• Strong early adoption driven by in-person events rather than paid acquisition 

Villagehood is rolling out suburb-by-suburb, focusing on density and local activation to ensure meaningful connections - a strategy that differentiates it from broader social platforms.

A broader vision

Bloomer sees Villagehood as part of a wider shift in how people seek connection - moving away from passive digital interaction toward intentional, local communities.

“Motherhood was never meant to be done alone,” she says.
“We’re rebuilding what used to exist naturally — but in a way that fits modern life.”

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Bringing the village to life

To mark the launch, Villagehood will host a Mother’s Day picnic in Sydney’s Centennial Park on Monday 4th May, bringing together over 100 local mothers for a morning of connection, support, and community.

Designed as a real-life expression of “the village,” the experience will feature thoughtful activations including doula support, sound healing, a curated nourishment table, complimentary self-care gifting, and personal styling for mothers navigating this transformative stage of life - creating a space where women feel held, supported, and truly seen.

The BETA app is already live, with more than 1,000 mums actively engaging on the platform and helping shape it through real-time feedback. Meanwhile, thousands more across Australia are on the waitlist — eager to find their village.

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A mission to change motherhood

“Motherhood was never meant to be done alone,” Brittany says.

“But for many women today, it feels that way. We’re trying to rebuild what used to exist naturally.”

My goal is simple:

“To make sure no mum goes into motherhood feeling alone - because having a village around you can change everything.”

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About us:

Villagehood is a geo-based community app helping mums connect locally through real-time meet-ups, picnics, pram walks and shared experiences. Built to “bring back the village,” Villagehood creates simple, meaningful ways for mothers to find support, friendship and belonging in their neighbourhood.

Contact details:

Media Contact:
Brittany Bloomer
[email protected]
0401046799
Image gallery can be accessed here:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lYo5K7GM9QeoH3etdmY-yPmFXhnzKPLP?usp=share_link