At FamTech.org, our members are reimagining what care can look like—through innovation, lived experience, and purpose-driven action.
This spotlight features one of the founders shaping the future of the Care Economy, sharing the personal story behind their startup, the challenges they’re tackling, and how this community has helped along the way.
Meet Brood
Lizzy Karp is a co-founder of Brood, a full-spectrum doula care collective based in Western Canada. Rooted in personal experience and community-driven values, Brood delivers wraparound care across pregnancy, postpartum, fertility, abortion, and loss—while creating sustainable, dignified career paths for doulas. At the heart of Brood’s model is a belief that care work should be joyful, equitable, and structurally supported—not invisible, isolating, or unsustainable.
What inspired you to start your company?
We launched Brood Care Inc. out of a shared conviction that doula care is deeply family care—and that this work deserves to be rooted in sustainability, equity, and joy. Our inspiration grew during the pandemic, when the isolation and fragmentation of support made it clear that families and care workers needed something more connected, more nourishing, and more resilient.
One of our earliest and most personal connections came when Emma, one of our co-founders, provided doula support for Gill and Lizzy during their pregnancies. That support turned into friendship, collaboration, and eventually co-leadership.
We saw that families craved continuity and community—and that doulas were too often undervalued, overworked, and isolated. So we built Brood to respond to both sides of that equation: a collective offering wraparound care for families, and sustainable careers for care workers.
From our founding in Western Canada, Brood has grown to more than 50 doulas across multiple cities. We’re proud to be one of the first doula agencies in British Columbia to become a certified Living Wage Employer—because care work deserves fair compensation and long-term viability.
In short, Brood was inspired by real people asking for something better. We started it because we needed it ourselves—and we’ve built it together so that care can be more than survival.
What core problem are you solving, and for whom?
Brood solves a dual-sided problem: families struggle to access consistent, inclusive care during life-changing transitions, while doulas face burnout, isolation, and unsustainable conditions.
The perinatal system is often fragmented, leaving families without emotional, identity-affirming, or continuity-based support. Brood fills that gap with full-spectrum care that is relational, responsive, and grounded in community.
For doulas, we offer a collaborative model with mentorship, fair pay, and a clear path toward sustainable work.
Rooted in our values—care, clarity, and collectivity—we’re not just patching holes, we’re redesigning the foundation of how care is delivered.
What’s your solution, and how is it different?
Brood is a full-spectrum doula agency offering wraparound care across fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, abortion, and loss. We match families with experienced, values-aligned doulas—and support those doulas with mentorship, fair pay, and a collaborative community.
Unlike solo models, we operate as a care collective. Families benefit from continuity and shared knowledge, while doulas are supported by systems, backup, and peer learning. Our care is also inclusive and grounded in lived experience, with trauma-informed, anti-racist, and gender-affirming practices throughout.
Brood is building care infrastructure from the inside out—because when caregivers are well, families flourish.
What’s a milestone or moment you’re proud of?
One milestone we’re incredibly proud of is surpassing $1 million in revenue—a reflection of the trust families place in us and the sustainability we’re building for our doulas. We’re now providing over 1,000 hours of care each month to hundreds of families across Western Canada. Behind every hour is a moment of support, presence, and connection. This growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s about proving that care work can be both impactful and viable. It’s a testament to our team’s dedication and to the possibility of building a thriving ecosystem rooted in care, equity, and community.
How has FamTech.org supported your journey?
FamTech.org has given us visibility beyond our immediate community and inspired us to see our work as part of a growing, values-driven industry. It’s helped us frame doula care as essential family infrastructure and connected us with like-minded innovators who are reimagining support for caregivers and families at every stage.
Have you raised funding? If so, how has that impacted your growth?
Yes, we completed a friends and family round of $275K, which gave us the early traction to grow our team and deepen our care infrastructure. We also receive ongoing support from Coralus, whose radically generous model aligns beautifully with our values. Their trust and ecosystem have helped us grow with intention.
What feels like the biggest challenge or opportunity in the Care Economy right now?
One of the biggest challenges, and opportunities, in the Care Economy is building systems that value care work as essential, not optional. Families need reliable, culturally safe, and emotionally intelligent support, but most care remains underpaid, informal, and invisibilized. The opportunity lies in creating infrastructure that centers both the people receiving care and the people providing it. Technology, policy shifts, and new business models can all play a role, but only if we prioritize sustainability, equity, and lived experience. The Care Economy has the potential to be a powerful engine for social and economic change, if we choose to build it that way.
What’s next for you—and what do you need?
Next up for Brood is our expansion to Calgary, with more markets on the horizon. We’re focused on growing our impact while staying grounded in sustainable, inclusive care. As we scale, we’re looking to connect with investors and partners who understand the value of home care, postpartum care, and care infrastructure more broadly. We’re seeking aligned support that helps us deepen our impact, strengthen our systems, and bring our model to more communities across Canada and beyond. If you believe in a future where caregivers are supported and families are held with intention, we’d love to be in conversation.
Want more?
Inspired by this story? Explore other case studies to see how FamTech.org members are shaping the future of care.
If you’re a member and would like to be featured, reach out to us at marketing@famtech.org—we’d love to hear your story.
