Challenging Inequality with OYA

Being a woman in business is an ever-changing landscape where community can make a big difference. I’ve always searched for fellow businesswomen and have found it in local events and social media. But, knowing them isn’t supporting them financially. Dollars mean a lot and when I found out about OYA, I knew this was a way of making those dollars count the way I wanted them to.

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Tell us about how you got to where you are today.

I started OYA in 2017 with my co-founder, Jurriaan Bakker. My career of 20+ years as a woman in the tech world, gave me so many first hand experiences of inequality between the genders. And I wasn’t the only one. Our professional opportunities were and are far from the same as for men. With OYA, I wanted to create something that makes it really easy for people–women and men–to do something today to help close the gender pay gap. The OYA app makes it possible for consumers to find women-owned businesses and to vote with their wallet against gender inequality, and get rewarded for it as well.

What was the process of launching an app?

To create the app, and for it to launch on the App store we had to work with a team of developers. Creating an app is purely technical. I was able to supervise the team as I have 20 years of experience in the tech world. Before its launch, we had been able to create buzz and a good following through oyacard.com already, and we used that momentum. The app has been downloaded on a consistent basis ever since launching earlier in 2019. Working with an application is a never-ending process. Innovation happens fast and it takes a lot of attention to keep up with it. You need to have a team behind you that you can count on 24/7.

What was your team like when you first started? How has it evolved?

I started with my co-founders. Our combined backgrounds and skill set in business, marketing and technology was the perfect combination to create a strong foundation and get the ball rolling. Along the way we contracted tech teams and various advisors and freelancers.

How have you seen the affect of Oya on the women-owned business community?

With the OYA app we seek to connect all women-owned businesses with each other and their consumers. Our platform helps to get products and services by female founders in front of their consumers, and that is happening. Through our app, social media, and events we part-taking in, we are looking to create conversation starters between influential or resourceful women, and women that are starters in business. And that is happening too.

Where do you hope to see Oya in the coming years?

I have so many plans for OYA, and it’s a platform that offers me the possibility to execute them. We are constantly growing our community with our app being available for iOs and android users. The more women join, the better and stronger our community gets. I hope for more and more people to hear our collective voice, to elevate women in business, to help closing the wage gap and set new standards for upcoming generations of women, and to see great collaborations come to fruition. These are ongoing goals. More specific, next up we will launch a financial product with OYA.

Big thanks to Claudia for sharing her story with us. Find more about them on their website, Instagram, and of course, their app!

The OYA app is the first mobile app to find women-owned businesses near you. It features “women led companies, non-profits, freelancers, e-commerce and brick and mortar businesses” with the mission of “connecting the existing 11 million business led by badass women, conscious consumers and ambassadors.” Download the app HERE.