FamilyLink

FamilyLink is an early-stage startup building a care coordination and communication platform designed specifically for Adult Family Homes (AFHs). It empowers caregivers to manage daily responsibilities more efficiently while giving families real-time visibility into the care of their loved ones.

From logging vitals and managing medications to sharing meaningful updates and automating tasks, FamilyLink brings everything into one easy-to-use system. It replaces fragmented paperwork and disjointed apps with a connected experience that supports both quality care and emotional connection.

For caregivers, it reduces the burden of documentation, simplifies compliance, and keeps them organized with smart reminders and dashboards. For families, it brings reassurance and involvement through a dedicated feed of updates, health trends, and memory moments. It ensures no one feels left out of the circle of care.

The idea for FamilyLink began when my friend started founding his own Adult Family Home, and I joined him as a co-founder. As we worked together to understand the business and prepare for launch, we spoke with dozens of AFH owners to learn from their day-to-day experiences.

What we heard revealed a pattern. Many AFHs struggle with outdated systems, paperwork overload, and limited tools to help them run efficiently. Even more concerning, we saw how easily families can lose connection with their loved ones once they enter care. Caregivers often do their best, but there simply is not an easy way to keep everyone in the loop.

We realized there was a much bigger opportunity. What we were building for our own AFH could serve a broader purpose. There is a clear gap in the market for a comprehensive platform that not only supports AFH operations but also keeps families meaningfully connected. FamilyLink is our way of filling that gap, both for our future business and for a large, underserved community that deserves better care tools.

We first introduced FamilyLink at the UWB Hacks hackathon, where we were awarded first place in the Physical and Mental Health track. Out of more than 600 participants, our team was selected to pitch live in front of over 200 attendees.

The event gave us the chance to validate our idea with mentors, judges, and other innovators. The positive response confirmed what we had already sensed — that there is real need and real potential behind this product.

As the Founder and Product Manager of FamilyLink, I have led the vision and direction of the product since day one. My responsibilities have included:

• Defining the product vision and roadmap
• Conducting user interviews with AFH owners to identify needs and pain points
• Leading the design of early wireframes and prototypes
• Prioritizing features based on user research and feasibility
• Managing timelines and coordination between design and development
• Continuously validating decisions with real user feedback
• Representing the product during pitches, demos, and research meetings

My focus has been on building something that truly serves both caregivers and families while staying grounded in empathy, efficiency, and real-world workflows.

We are currently working toward building our final MVP. Our focus right now is on refining the feature set, finalizing the user experience, and preparing the platform for early testing. Once the MVP is complete, we plan to begin piloting FamilyLink with real users to validate and improve the product.

In the meantime, we are also exploring partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and early-stage funding to help us scale the product and serve a wider network of AFH providers and families.

FamilyLink is still growing, and we are committed to building a product that truly supports the people who provide care and the families who depend on it.