Lela Dritsa, Managing Partner and Founder of Nannuka, has redefined the way families approach childcare. Inspired by her own experiences as a working mother, she created Nannuka to bridge the gap between the rising demand for reliable childcare and the availability of professional, trustworthy caregivers.
Combining technology with a personal touch, Nannuka stands as a pioneer in the childcare industry, offering families peace of mind and empowering caregivers with meaningful opportunities. In this interview, Lela shares her journey, the challenges of expanding into London, and her vision for the future of childcare.
What inspired you to start Nannuka, and what was the initial vision behind the platform?
Nannuka was inspired by a deeply personal experience. As a working mother, I often found myself struggling to juggle professional responsibilities while ensuring my children were in safe, capable hands. I realised this wasn’t just my challenge—it was a universal struggle for families everywhere. This gap in accessible, trustworthy childcare sparked the idea for Nannuka.
The initial vision was clear: to create a comprehensive platform where families could find vetted, professional caregivers easily and confidently. I wanted Nannuka to go beyond solving logistical problems—it needed to be a support system that empowered both parents and caregivers. Our aim was to combine technology and human touch, ensuring families have access to a network of caregivers tailored to their specific needs while also providing meaningful opportunities for professionals in the care industry.
From the beginning, Nannuka was designed as more than just a service. It’s a community where parents find solutions and caregivers find recognition and growth, ultimately bridging the gap between work-life balance and quality care.
How does Nannuka ensure the safety and reliability of the babysitters it connects with parents?
At Nannuka, safety is non-negotiable. Ensuring that families can trust the professionals they hire is the foundation of our platform. We achieve this through a rigorous multi-step vetting process:
Background Checks: Every caregiver undergoes an in-depth background check, including verification of identity and credentials.
Reference Verification: We reach out to previous employers or families they’ve worked with to validate their experience and reliability.
Personal Interviews: Each professional is interviewed by our team to assess their skills, qualifications, and suitability for working with families.
To maintain transparency, we provide families with detailed caregiver profiles, including qualifications, certifications, and reviews from other parents. Families can also access ratings and feedback left by those who have previously worked with the caregiver, creating an additional layer of confidence.
Beyond these initial measures, we continuously invest in advanced technological tools to enhance safety, including AI tools, a payment system that safeguards both parties, and ongoing support for families to ensure peace of mind throughout the caregiving relationship.
Nannuka doesn’t just connect families and caregivers—it creates trust-based relationships that prioritize the safety and well-being of children above all else.
Can you share some of the biggest challenges you faced in launching and growing Nannuka, particularly in London?
Expanding Nannuka to London was an exciting yet challenging endeavor. Entering a highly competitive market like the UK meant competing with established platforms and gaining visibility among a diverse and sophisticated audience. Building brand awareness from scratch required significant effort and investment in localised marketing strategies, partnerships, and outreach.
Another hurdle was adapting to cultural differences. Parenting norms, expectations of childcare, and even communication styles differ from country to country. Operationally, understanding the regulatory landscape for childcare in the UK and aligning our processes accordingly was a steep learning curve. Hiring local talent who understood the market proved invaluable, helping us navigate these challenges with insight and expertise.
The experience taught us resilience and the importance of staying true to our mission while remaining flexible. By deeply understanding local needs and emphasizing our values of trust and quality care, we gradually earned the confidence of local families, proving that our model could succeed beyond our borders.
What role does technology play in Nannuka’s operations and customer experience?
Technology is the core engine driving Nannuka’s operations and delivering a seamless customer experience. Our platform integrates smart features that simplify the process of finding and hiring caregivers while maintaining safety and trust as top priorities.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed for intuitive navigation, enabling families to easily browse caregiver profiles, filter by specific needs, and book services.
Real-Time Availability: Families can view and book caregivers based on their live schedules, eliminating delays and last-minute stress.
Secure Payments: Technology powers our streamlined payment system, ensuring fast, secure, and transparent transactions between families and caregivers.
Safety Features: Tools such as ID verification, background checks, and secure messaging ensure a high standard of reliability and trust.
Beyond functionality, technology allows us to continuously innovate and improve services. For instance, we’re leveraging data analytics to better understand user needs and refine our matching algorithms. It also enables us to expand our offerings, such as providing virtual tutoring and care services during the pandemic, ensuring we remain relevant in evolving times.
Technology doesn’t replace the human touch at Nannuka—it enhances it, ensuring families and caregivers connect seamlessly and confidently while we continue to uphold our values of safety, trust, and convenience.
How has the demand for babysitting services evolved since you launched Nannuka, and how have you adapted to those changes?
Since its inception, Nannuka has witnessed a significant evolution in the demand for babysitting services. Initially, families primarily sought babysitting for occasional needs or evening hours. However, over time, societal and economic changes, such as the rising participation of women in the workforce, have led to increased demand for flexible and consistent childcare solutions.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a pivotal shift. Parents faced challenges with school closures, limited access to daycare, and remote work. This period saw a surge in requests for backup childcare, at-home educational support, and even hybrid roles that combined tutoring with caregiving. To address these changes, Nannuka expanded its services beyond traditional babysitting. We introduced offerings such as virtual tutoring, at-home educational support, and online creative play sessions. This adaptability ensured we could meet diverse family needs while staying relevant in a shifting landscape.
Looking ahead, we are focusing on developing even more customized services, leveraging feedback from families to anticipate trends, and ensuring we cater to both immediate and long-term childcare needs.
What sets Nannuka apart from other childcare service platforms in the market?
Nannuka stands out because of its holistic and human-centric approach. While we embrace technology to deliver convenience and efficiency, the heart of our platform is the emphasis on trust and personal connection. Here’s what sets us apart:
Tailored Matching Process: Unlike generic marketplaces, Nannuka uses advanced matching algorithms alongside human insights to connect families with caregivers who align with their specific needs, values, and schedules.
Rigorous Vetting and Transparency: All professionals undergo a detailed vetting process, including background checks, interviews, and reference validation. Families can access comprehensive profiles, reviews, and ratings to make informed decisions.
Community and Support System: Nannuka goes beyond a transactional model. We are a partner to families, offering guidance and personalized support to ensure seamless childcare experiences.
Adaptability and Local Expertise: As a platform created by parents for parents, Nannuka understands the unique challenges of family life. We continuously evolve our services, whether through backup care, elder care, childcare, pet care or support for working parents, ensuring relevance in different contexts.
Focus on Empowering Caregivers: We value our professionals and invest in their development. By offering training opportunities and fair compensation, we foster a community where both families and caregivers thrive.
Nannuka is more than a service-it’s a solution designed to simplify family life while maintaining the highest standards of care and trust.
One thing I have learned while building Nannuka is this: success often depends on solving problems people don’t even realise they need a solution for. When we first launched, parents didn’t just need childcare—they needed trust, flexibility, and peace of mind. By addressing these unspoken needs, we created a service that resonates with families on a deeper level. My advice? Always dig deeper into what your audience truly values. The more human your approach, the stronger your impact.
Can you share a success story or feedback from a parent that highlights the impact of Nannuka?
One story that truly reflects Nannuka’s mission is that of a single mother who had recently relocated to Athens from New York for work. She faced the daunting challenge of balancing her demanding job with the need to find trustworthy care for her 4-year-old son. Being new to the area, she had no personal network to rely on and felt overwhelmed.
Through Nannuka, she quickly found a caregiver who not only met her practical needs but also provided emotional support for her child, helping him adjust to the new environment. The babysitter became a consistent and reassuring presence, creating a bond that gave the mother peace of mind. In her feedback, she shared how this experience transformed her perspective—not only was she able to focus on her career with confidence, but she also felt empowered as a parent, knowing her child was safe, happy, and cared for.
Her story highlights how Nannuka is more than a platform; it’s a lifeline for families navigating the complexities of modern life. By offering transparency, rigorous vetting, and personalized matching, we provide parents the tools they need to create stability in their homes.
Stories like hers remind us why we do what we do. Every match we facilitate is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life, whether it’s helping a parent pursue their professional goals or ensuring a child feels loved and supported in their caregiver’s care.
What are your future plans for Nannuka? Do you see an exit strategy in the near future?
At Nannuka, our primary focus is on growth that is both impactful and sustainable. We aim to solidify our presence in existing markets while actively exploring new ones where families face challenges in accessing reliable childcare solutions. The increasing global awareness of the importance of work-life balance and the rising demand for high-quality family care services create significant opportunities for us to expand our offerings and reach.
Innovation is central to our plans. We’re investing in technology-driven features to enhance user experience, such as smarter matching algorithms, improved safety protocols, and tools for better caregiver management. Additionally, we’re always exploring partnerships with businesses to expand our B2B services, Nannuka@Work, which provides tailored care benefits for employees. This approach not only meets the evolving needs of families but also positions Nannuka as a key player in corporate family support initiatives.
While an exit strategy may naturally become part of the journey as the company grows, it’s not our immediate priority. Our focus is on building a robust, scalable business model that prioritizes customer trust, innovation, and social impact. When the time comes, any decisions regarding an exit will align with our mission to ensure that the platform continues to provide value to families and caregivers globally.
Ultimately, the vision for Nannuka is to become synonymous with reliable, accessible, and innovative childcare solutions worldwide, creating a lasting impact in the lives of families and caregivers alike.
Personal future goals? How do you see yourself a year from now?
A year from now, I envision Nannuka continuing to thrive, having expanded into new markets and reached even more families and caregivers. Our core mission of improving work-life balance for parents and offering meaningful opportunities for caregivers will remain central to everything we do. I’m particularly excited about scaling our platform while ensuring we maintain the high standards of care and service that have built our reputation.
On a personal level, my goal is to continue evolving as both a business leader and a mother. I’ve learned that balance is not just about managing time but aligning your priorities with your values. Over the next year, I hope to nurture both my professional growth and family life, ensuring that I remain connected to the passion that inspired Nannuka—empowering parents to focus on their careers without the worry of childcare.
As we grow, I also aim to mentor and support other entrepreneurs, especially women, who are navigating the challenges of balancing business with family. Being a mother and a founder has taught me that leadership is not just about success in business, but also about creating a sustainable, meaningful life.
In short, in a year’s time, I hope to have not only helped Nannuka grow but also set an example for other women and families, showing that with the right support systems, both personal and professional goals are achievable.
From the interviewer:
Through her unwavering commitment to quality and trust, Lela Dritsa has made Nannuka more than a childcare platform—it’s a lifeline for modern families navigating the complexities of work-life balance. Her vision for a safe, human-centric, and innovative childcare solution continues to shape the industry, setting a new standard for family support. As Nannuka grows, Lela’s passion for empowering parents and caregivers remains at the core, inspiring others to create meaningful change in their own lives and communities. Learn more and visit Nannuka here.
