I Never Set Out to Start a Business: Building a Coworking Space with Childcare for Parents

I never set out to start a business. I just needed help.

I was a new mom, a working professional, and—like so many others—completely overwhelmed. The systems that were supposed to support working parents didn’t. Traditional daycare didn’t fit my schedule. Coworking spaces weren’t built for people with babies in tow. And most of all, I was craving a sense of community—of not doing this alone.

So I built the thing I needed.

Not a daycare. Not an office. Something in between.

A space for parents to work, raise their kids, and find one another.

We called it Le Village.

When CBS showed up to film at our Lakeview location last week, I had a moment. The space was bustling—parents grabbing coffee, kids waving to teachers, my team gently guiding babies into their classrooms while toddlers circled up for sensory play. It was one of those rare days when everything feels like it’s clicking.

And I realized: we’ve come so far.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6f0657_a1d71fc44e974366840f0b4b64ed1824/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

From an idea that many thought was impossible, we’ve grown into a network of family-focused coworking spaces—now six locations strong across Chicagoland and Milwaukee. We’ve welcomed hundreds of families, built the kind of workplace I always dreamed of, and now we’re franchising with other parent-owners across the Midwest.

What’s most special about this moment is the people I’m building alongside. My role looks completely different than it did when I started our coworking space with childcare. These days, I spend much of my time coaching and supporting our franchise owners—helping them learn how to market, brand, and build in their own communities. I work closely with each one to ensure their teachers feel supported, their kids are growing, and their programs are developmentally aligned.

We’ve opened three new locations in just eight months. That is no small feat for a young organization, and I want to take a moment to shout out the women who are making it happen. Liz opened her location in Des Plaines in January. Annie just launched Lakeview in early June. And Abbey is on the cusp of opening hers in the west suburbs near the Brookfield Zoo in just a few short weeks. Kellie in Milwaukee is on her third year. These women are powerful, dedicated, and deeply committed to their neighborhoods. Opening one of these spaces is not easy. If it were, everyone would do it. But they are doing it with grace, grit, and heart.

And I couldn’t do any of this without Julia and Lilly, who continue to anchor and grow our corporate-owned spaces in Irving Park (6 years strong) and Le Village Learners (3 years already!) Their dedication makes this kind of scaling even possible.

It’s a special time at Le Village. It’s a special time for me.

Even as I wear my founder hat, I’m still momming. I’m still showing up for Vivie. I still have the flexibility that was the whole reason I started Le Village in the first place. Somehow, I really am doing it all. Or at least, I’m doing the version of "it all" that feels right for me. So Cheers! I’m proud of what we’re building.

The CBS feature is a big deal—but the real story is what’s happening behind the scenes, every day in our classrooms, coworking spaces, and conference calls. It's the invisible labor we’re finally naming. The mental load we’re lightening. The community we’re rebuilding, one parent at a time.

If you're curious what it looks like, you can watch the full segment here or come take a tour.

If you’re dreaming about bringing something like this to your own community, let’s talk about franchising.

And if you’re just here to feel less alone—We see you. You’re not.

—Daniella