A Peoria startup that sells a subscription box full of helpful items for new and expecting mothers has a new offering for moms: startup funding.
Bump Boxes announced Wednesday that it plans to invest up to $1 million this year in "mom-focused companies." Through its Bump Fund, the company says it will invest in early stage startups that sell to moms or moms-to-be, or simply companies that are founded by a mom.
“We’re intentionally interpreting ‘mom-focused’ as broadly as possible,” Bump Boxes co-founder Leland Deehring said in a statement. "What’s important is that the entrepreneurs are ambitious about their own growth."
The goal is to increase the amount of funding that's available to female founders and women-focused businesses, Bump Boxes said. The company said it will invest in startups regardless of location.
Founded in 2014, Bump Boxes offers subscription boxes full of fun and healthy items for pregnant women and new moms, like bath bombs, hair wraps, massagers and products for morning sickness relief. It also offers a Dad Box for men and a box for newborns.
Bump Boxes, headquartered in downstate Peoria, has grown to nearly 50 employees. The startup says it has doubled revenue for three consecutive years.
“As we enter our fifth year at Bump Boxes, our continued growth enables us to solve even larger challenges across our industry, including the lack of investment capital for women-focused and even women-owned businesses,” CEO and co-founder Christine Deehring said.
