When Dominique Elkind became a mother, she noticed a lack of third spaces available to parents of very young children. While on her second maternity leave, Dominique decided to take on a entrepreneurial venture vastly different from her career as a UX Designer, by founding Nixi City, a play centre for children aged 0-5. Not only is Nixi City a space for children, but includes a cafe for parents to meet and connect.

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[00:01:35] Dominique’s Design Background

[00:02:25] Side Hustling During Maternity Leave

[00:03:30] Entrepreneurial Experience at Google

[00:06:25] Founding Nixi City, a Children’s Play Space

[00:08:35] Identifying a Market Gap

[00:11:15] Scaling and Franchising

[00:12:37] Balancing Work and Family

[00:14:05] Setting Boundaries 

[00:17:25] Sleep and Wellness

[00:19:48] Challenges of a Physical Space 

[00:22:55] Finding Product/Market Fit

[00:24:35] Selecting Real Estate for Nixi City

[00:26:33] Dominique’s Advice: Find a Community of Potential Customers

[00:27:36] Utilizing Design Skills

[00:29:31] Connect with Dominque