Birdhouse for Autism is looking to set itself apart from other autism technologies by not only helping the person living with the condition but the loved ones taking care of them.
"Unfortunately there isn't much focus on the family involvement," says Ben Chutz, co-founder of
Birdhouse for Autism. "The parent is the center of the child’s development."
The downtown Detroit-based startup -- it graduated from
Bizdom in September -- has created a mobile app that helps track the behavior of autistic children so the people taking care of them can better manage the disorder.
The Birdhouse for Autism app is available in both laptop software and for mobile devices. Thousands of families have downloaded it as the startup works through its public beta and prepares for larger releases.
"I like to say we're outgrowing our prototype," Chutz says. "We're redesigning everything at the moment."
Birdhouse for Autism has landed a $250,000 angel round this spring, using the funds to grow its team to three full-time people (Chutz plus co-founders Dani Gillman and Adam Milgrom) and seven part-timers.
Source: Ben Chutz, co-founder of Birdhouse for Autism
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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