Pumpspotting raises $1.15M, lands state of Maine as early customer

Pumpspotting, a startup building B2B software to support breastfeeding moms at home and work, recently closed on its $1.15 million seed round and announced a partnership with the state of Maine that will make its platform and support services available to state employees.

The company’s seed round was on a rolling close, meaning the company could accept investments while continuing to raise additional capital. The $1.15 million seed round includes the $537,000 the company raised last summer, which Maine Startups Insider reported on at the time. CEO Amy VanHaren said the company closed on the initial tranche of investment to fund the buildout of the company’s B2B platform before returning to close the round this summer with an additional $613,000.

MooDoo Investments, a venture capital fund with offices in Boston and San Diego, led the round. Maine Venture Fund, Maine Angels, Opus Ventures, Crystal McKellar, as well as strategic investor Punchbowl Inc. and angel investors from Boston-based Launchpad, also participated in the round.

This investment will fuel the company’s growth in the B2B channel, helping businesses develop supportive climates for breastfeeding and pumping moms.

“Feeding parents need support now more than ever,” VanHaren said. “We know that breastfeeding has a myriad of benefits for babies and parents alike, and that businesses benefit when they support breastfeeding.”

VanHaren said businesses that develop breastfeeding-supportive environments for employees and customers realize benefits such as reduced absenteeism, improved customer loyalty, and more than 600% ROI on their lactation programs.

“We see a tremendous opportunity to better serve families through community-driven tech with Pumpspotting,” said Caitlin Wege, managing partner of MooDoos. “Pumpspotting is leading the way towards enhanced family benefits that are going to be an essential part of corporate culture and retention strategies for both employees and shoppers, especially mothers. The benefits of supporting feeding parents are undeniable and we are pleased to be a part of the next generation of solutions.”

Recent companies signing on to the platform include the State of Maine, Portland-based Tilson Technology and Warner Norcross + Judd.

The state of Maine has selected Pumpspotting as one of the inaugural companies in its Early Adopter Pilot Program. As part of the partnership, Pumpspotting will work with the Maine Bureau of Human Resources to establish a breastfeeding-supportive climate for its more than 11,000 employees while also extending new lactation support benefits to an additional 20,000 employees of state-affiliated agencies.

State employees and their partners access to the company’s “pumpspotting” mobile app, which provides nursing, pumping, and breastfeeding parents with educational content and articles; a crowdsourced map of places to nurse and pump worldwide; one-on-one support from certified lactation consultants; and a social component allowing moms to connect with each other.

“We pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and look forward to building a breastfeeding-supportive climate that makes working for the State of Maine a top notch experience for our employees,” said Shonna Poulin, executive director of Maine’s Office of Employee Health & Benefits. “The initiative is doubly exciting as we partner with Pumpspotting, a startup from our very own Maine innovation community and a member of Maine’s Early Adopter Program, designed to accelerate innovative Maine startups. We look forward to showing the world how well Maine supports working parents.”