For the last three years, Birdhouse has made a name for itself as a startup that helps the loved ones of people with autism with a behavior tracking app. Now the downtown Detroit-based company has its sights set on a bigger audience.
"We have expanded beyond autism," says Ben Chutz, co-founder of
Birdhouse. "That's the easiest way to put it."
Chutz launched Birdhouse after spending time with his girlfriend and her autistic daughter. The startup’s platform helps track the behavior of autistic children so the people taking care of them can better manage the disorder. Birdhouse graduated from
Bizdom last year and landed a $250,000 angel round to help it scale its online/mobile technology. That work inspired Chutz to expand its reach.
"We saw all sorts of different diagnoses coming in," Chutz says. "We saw ADHD and epilepsy and everything else under the sun."
Birdhouse is working to expand its mobile app to include a wide variety of disorders and chronic conditions -- everything from developmental disabilities to chronic illnesses. The idea is to enable the caregivers to better help the people who need it. Chutz can even see it being used by special education teachers.
"That way teachers can work with parents on providing the best care for their child," Chutz says.
Birdhouse currently has a staff of three employees and a handful of independent contractors. Chutz and his team are in the midst of raising a $250,000 seed round for Birdhouse.
Source: Ben Chutz, co-founder of Birdhouse
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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