Our Story
From Donuts to Timbaland
It all started in Dr. Tiffany Green’s research lab. Maryam, Maria, and Jessy were undergrads diving into tough questions about health equity, why discrimination impacts health, and why Black mothers face the worst outcomes in reproductive care. Dr. Green pushed her students to think bigger, encouraging them to dream up bold, tech-based solutions for perinatal health.
That’s how the first idea was born: a pregnancy app built for minority women, culturally relevant, multilingual, and filling the gaps left by mainstream apps designed for white moms. The grant proposal didn’t win, but the seed was planted.
Then came the donuts.
On a bumpy VCU bus ride, Maria waved a flyer in the air: “Free Donuts + Startup Contest.” The plan was simple: grab a strawberry frosted and bounce. But instead, Maryam scribbled the app idea on a slip of paper. Telemedicine. Community support. Pregnancy care made for everyone.
When the votes were tallied, their idea came out on top.
“You have to apply,” the organizer grinned. “Seriously. Join Pre-X.”
And just like that, a donut run turned into the first step of a startup journey that would one day reach Timbaland.
VCU da Vinci Center & Pre-X
After our donut-fueled startup spark, the next stop was VCU’s Pre-X program, a pre-accelerator run by the da Vinci Center for Innovation. Pre-X helps students take raw ideas and turn them into real ventures through mentorship, funding opportunities, and a semester-long competition that ends with Demo Day pitches to judges.
Maryam, with her premedicine background, suddenly found herself collaborating with business majors, engineers, and designers. While she brought healthcare insight, she was also learning an entirely new language: pitch decks, funding models, and market validation. The team spent late nights reworking slides, practicing pitches, and figuring out how to make an app idea for minority moms stand out.
By the end of the program, they were not just students with an idea anymore. They were entrepreneurs in training. On Demo Day, their pitch resonated. Out of all the teams, they placed second and won a prize, proving that even an idea scribbled down at a donut giveaway could grow into something real.
SITW COMPETITION
Because I’m Happy 🎵 Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water festival partnered with Old Dominion University and Cox Communications in 2019 to host a high profile business pitch competition for college students. Bebé Listo was one of the student startups invited to compete, and our idea, a telehealth pregnancy app designed to support minority mothers, took us to the main stage as finalists.
This was no ordinary pitch day. The judges and guests brought powerhouse experience from entertainment, business, and sports:
Pharrell Williams – Grammy winning artist, producer, and entrepreneur, founder of Something in the Water and global lifestyle brands like Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream.
Timbaland – Legendary producer and music executive, recognized for reshaping modern music and also known for his ventures in media and tech startups.
Neka Smith – Communications leader at Cox Communications, bringing expertise in public relations and brand strategy.
Bruce Smith – NFL Hall of Famer, real estate developer, and businessman, who has successfully transitioned from the football field to major development projects and investments.
Standing in front of them, alongside other student teams, Maryam pitched Bebé Listo to a packed audience. Although we did not take home the top prize, we were honored to be chosen as one of the top six finalists out of all competing teams. The feedback we received was invaluable, and the experience gave us national exposure, confidence, and the belief that our idea could resonate far beyond campus walls.
What began with free donuts at VCU had now grown into a pitch in front of Pharrell, Timbaland, and industry leaders, a true full circle moment in our journey.
Giving Back with Bebé Listo
While the pregnancy app remains a long term project, Bebé Listo is currently focused on giving back to the community. The team partners with local nonprofits that support minority families before, during, and after pregnancy. By contributing resources, raising awareness, and supporting programs that improve maternal and family health outcomes, Bebé Listo is turning its vision into action today while continuing to develop the app for the future.