The Business Leadership Podcast

You are listening to the Business
Leadership Podcast with Edwin.

Paul Newton: Hello.

I'm Paul Newton, creative producer of
the Future Narrator miniseries, and

I'm joined by Edwin Frondozo, the host
of the Business Leadership Podcast.

here with the top three finalists from
the Web Summit Vancouver 2025 Pitch

Competition, where we're exploring how
today's leaders shape the future, not

just through strategy, but through story.

We believe that a strong point of
view is what inspires communities,

builds movements, and cuts through
the noise in uncertain times.

So let's dive into this conversation.

Today's guest is Ann Hunger, co-founder
and chief product Officer of GlüxKind

Technologies, a Vancouver startup
re-imagining mobility for young families,

inspired by her own journey into
parenthood and led the creation of a

smart baby stroller that brings safety
and convenience to the modern urban life.

a background in engineering and
design and experience in programs like

MIT, sandbox Next, AI and Techstars,
and Blends technical depth with

user-driven innovation to solve real
world problems for today's parents.

Over to you, equity.

Edwin: Welcome to the
Business Leadership Podcast.

Anne, how?

How are you doing today?

Anne Hunger: Well thank you
and thanks for having me.

Um, just.

Uh, running the day trying to
balance the family life and

Edwin: I.

Anne Hunger: founder life, so.

Edwin: Yeah, no, it's, um, I, I could
relate and I'm uber excited to connect

with you and congrats on the successes
within your company and also the

showing up in, uh, web Summit Vancouver.

So we're really excited to have you.

And, um, I guess just jumping in and
a little backstory, I'm, I'm uber

geek to find out because I have a
2-year-old and seeing your products,

um, people will hear more about, but
tell us, tell us more about Glucan.

Did I say it right?

Uh, I'll, we will cut that out.

Anne Hunger: I, I'll do it.

The name is always a good starting
point to explain what we're doing

and why we're doing it anyways,
so the brand is called Goodkin.

Goodkin is a German word, and uh,
literally translated means lucky child,

but it's really a figure of speech and
it means that everything's gonna be fine.

And that's really the feeling that
we wanna get our, give our users and

customers as they venture into parenthood
because there's a lot of new things.

It can be scary, it's super exciting,
but there's definitely a lot of unknowns.

And, um, with our initial product
and kind of the platform that

we're, that we're building, um.

We just wanna give parents the, the
certainty that they're gonna be okay.

They have the right tools, um, on
hand that supports them throughout

that journey, from the newborn
days into toddlerhood and beyond.

And we currently started with like our
initial product, the Smart Baby stroll.

Edwin: Smart baby.

Yeah.

For, so for those who are listening, and
even if the people are watching this,

this, uh, interview with Anne here, te
tell us a little more about what, what

does that smart, uh, stroller mean to us?

And, and, and how is it
changing the lives right now?

I.

Anne Hunger: Yeah.

So what does smart baby stroller mean?

That is always the big question.

So on a very basic level, they're
motorized and power assisted.

So you can compare it to e-bikes,
like what does e-bikes mean

to the bike industry, right?

Like it makes it a lot more inclusive.

You get to run further
distances, you rely on.

Can rely on the stroll for, for much more
in your neighborhood, run more errands.

You don't have to get in
and out of the car as much.

But a lot of the feedback that
we're getting from our users,

um, they're also self breaking.

So if you let go of the handlebar
on the downhill and nothing happens,

the stroll stays right there,
which makes it also more inclusive.

So if you have people who have issues with
grip strength, which is also very common,

like postpartum, don't have to worry
about it, you can steer this roller with.

Literally one finger or two fingers,
um, and go uphill downhill, no problem.

And then if you get to your favorite
restaurant, to a buffet to park and

take a break, the stroller can rock
itself with your sleeping child.

And we have also as the cherry on
top it and speakers for white noise,

story time or lullaby, that's really
kind of the all in sleep solution

on the go, as well as at home.

Edwin: Yeah, it's, that's amazing.

I mean, it sounds like a dream.

I wish, I wish I had it for my son like
a year and a half ago, but, uh, that's

amazing and I'm super excited to see
this product come to market and really.

You know, change an industry, not change,
but really innovate within an industry

that you didn't think needed innovation.

So, um, and I'm curious, um, what is
your unique point of view, your POV,

that, that, that you bring to this, this
problem when it comes to, um, I guess

the safety or, or the care of children?

Anne Hunger: I.

Uh, like we're parents ourselves, which is
not super unique, but we started, um, the

company when we had our first daughter.

My husband is my co-founder and that's.

Like we discovered strollers
like everybody else at the

time where we needed one.

And with our backgrounds in technology
and engineering, we thought there should

be like smarter products out there that
support parents in a more comprehensive

way than the current products do.

And then when it comes to Goodkin, we're
really a tech first company, so we're very

much focused on the technology and um.

A lot of the other stroller brands,
they differentiate on branding to a very

large extent, extent, but we actually
offer very differentiated product on

the functionality and feature side.

Edwin: So, I mean, being a young
family and understanding this, and

also I'm a technology entrepreneur,
so it, it's really cool how you're

like merging this and stuff.

And because you have that unique point
of view of being a parent and, and, and

really just trying to merge and change
things as well, I guess, what do you

see when it comes to like, the solution?

I know you have, you, you mentioned
the breaking, I think there was

assisted going uphill as well, I
think is what I, what I saw as well.

Um, like where, where
do you see this going

Anne Hunger: Yeah.

Edwin: the industry, in terms
of the uptake and what are,

what are people asking for?

Anne Hunger: Um, I mean the, the industry,
like this roller industry is definitely,

um, ripe for some more innovation.

Um, the manufacturers are
definitely on the side of.

Looking for new things.

There's a lot of acquisitions happening
right now where the traditional companies

acquire more smaller companies because
they do see the need and the trends in,

on the consumer side that, that people are
looking for more integrated products that

match their lifestyle and the level of
convenience that they used from other used

to, from other products in their life.

Um, like for us, we're really here to.

To improve not just mobility but
build out and a smarter, like a

platform of smart parenting products.

Um, we do have the companion app that
gives us a direct, uh, connection to

parents where we can support them.

Um.

As their needs evolve and their
kids grow and, um, like definitely

beyond the solar product.

And then when it comes to the technology
that we developed, that's definitely

applicable to other industries as well.

So, um, we often get the requests
for whether the dads can use it

for their golf carts as well,
which is definitely possible.

Or, um, as.

Kind of converted into like a
shopping cart for seniors or like

generally in the senior care space.

So that's definitely something that
we're, um, exploring in parallel.

But like our current focus is definitely
on the parenting baby space and developing

that ecosystem, bringing in more
partners so that we can provide more

comprehensive products and services.

Edwin: Where, where is it available now?

Anne Hunger: So currently we're selling
direct to consumer on our website.

Um, so that's our pri
primary sales channel.

Um, but we're in conversations with
different retailers and other outlets,

uh, 'cause every, everything's going
omni-channel where there's no way out.

Do you find your customers
in different spots?

Um, we usually show up at tech conferences
because we're looking for the tech savvy.

Um, innovators, the people who
who are looking for technology

enhanced, uh, products, and that's
where we can really stand out.

So that's definitely a
spot where you can find us.

Edwin: Yeah,

Anne Hunger: Um, and, um, yeah,
again, like currently it can be

ordered on directly on our website.

Edwin: it's, it's funny and,
and I imagine because I was out

at Web Summit as well, that.

Just the nature of these tech conferences
where you're, where you're going

out, a lot of these people are early,
early innovators or early adopters.

Are you finding, in terms of
your demographics right now,

that it is, it's really these
tech first type, uh, personas?

Anne Hunger: For sure.

Yeah, I mean, there's, there's people
come to, to us from two angles.

They're either looking for tech products
where chat GBT actually helps us a lot

in terms of sales funnel, which is,

Paul Newton: Yeah.

Anne Hunger: um, we wouldn't
have expected to that extent.

But it's, uh, we do have kind
of a form on our website to ask

where pe, how people find us.

And I would say about a third literally
comes from chat PT looking for.

Baby tech products, um, and or they really
come from the benefits side where they.

Usually have a second child.

They remember what it was like, um,
to, to run around with traditional

strollers with their first, and now
they're looking for better products.

So tho that group doesn't have to
be the super tech savvy, but they

really come from a pain perspective.

They're like, we're not doing this
again as we did with our first child.

And we're looking for a product
that's, that supports us.

Edwin: And, and there's definitely
a big difference between like

some of the entry level strollers
versus the high end strollers.

Like even myself, like I've had, I've,
I've had experience from that in.

The big clunky, like entry level.

Yeah, it does the job, but man, they're
a headache moving things around.

So I imagine this is a lot of that
comes into the design criteria as

well, that, that, that you folks
are bringing to the table as well.

Anne Hunger: Yeah, I mean we, we really
designed the product from the ground up.

Um.

Paul Newton: saying, uh, as parents
yourselves, like that, uh, oh,

it looks like, uh, we're having a

Anne Hunger: Sorry.

Paul Newton: Freezing
issue on and side now.

Anne Hunger: Hello?

Edwin: Let me see if I see her.

No, her internet says it's good.

Paul Newton: Okay.

Anne Hunger: you hear me?

Okay.

Edwin: I dunno if she sees this.

Paul Newton: screen's frozen on
my, yeah, and I heard some breaking

Edwin: Let me chat with her
to see if, do Do you hear us?

Oh,

Paul Newton: She dropped.

Edwin: she dropped.

It's okay.

She'll be back.

Paul Newton: Yeah, I'll
get more into the problem.

You've just,

Edwin: Did you?

I was realizing,

Paul Newton: experience.

Edwin: today, we were in
Vancouver almost four weeks ago.

Paul Newton: Yeah,

Edwin: It's the end of June.

Paul Newton: I know.

We, uh, we need to get some of
those things kind of rolling.

Just

Edwin: My chat bot's almost done.

Paul Newton: That's

Edwin: I worked on it last night.

Paul Newton: I.

I put, uh, or I know, I, I, I saw your,
uh, what do you call it, WhatsApp message.

I was like, sure, let's,

I did, um, like for one of
the employment brand, um,

or the employment brand client, I had,
I did stream of consciousness stuff.

It was great.

Like, okay, this chat thing is amazing.

Edwin: Lemme see if she's messaging me.

Uh oh.

Nothing, no email, nothing.

Paul Newton: Lost it together.

Maybe on LinkedIn.

She, like, we have chatted there,

Edwin: Oh, you didn't?

Paul Newton: uh, but she's not there.

Or I can ask her if she says.

Edwin: Nothing.

Paul Newton: I wonder, I mean maybe,
maybe her internet just kind of.

Edwin: Possible.

It's weird though.

Paul Newton: Because, I mean, well,
especially when, uh, she knows that

we're, we're doing all three of them.

Edwin: No, I mean, it's weird that
the internet would walk, walk out.

Paul Newton: Yeah.

Yeah.

Edwin: Let me message her.

I don't think, did I ask
for her phone number?

Let me call her.

I have her phone number.

We might have to reschedule.

I have a call at, uh.

Paul Newton: Yeah.

Edwin: Someone has a landline.

See, that's how I roll old school.

Hey Anne, it's Edwin.

Oh, I didn't get a,

Paul Newton: the

Edwin: I didn't get an, I
didn't get a notification.

Hold on.

Gimme a sec.

Here.

We didn't.

It's so funny.

So you, you've been there.

Hold on, let me double check.

Where did you go?

Here?

Ah, there you go.

No problem.

It could be, it could, oh, here we go.

Okay, Paul, go ahead.

Go ahead.

We're still recording.

We had, we, we, no, you know what,
Paul, I left her in the waiting room.

I didn't even realize.

Paul Newton: Oh no.

Oh

Edwin: Sorry about that, Ann.

Paul Newton: And my apologies.

So I was, I was just going to say, um,
I mean your, you and your husband just

being, uh, being intact and, um, I.

You just thought, well, a stroller could
use some smarter options, then it's

time to upgrade this or bring it into,
you know, 25 or whatever year it was.

But, um, what about your experience as
parents and what, you know, what, what

did you feel was like, this is really a
problem and nobody's ever addressed it?

Anne Hunger: Um, I think

originally it was more kind of the.

The very first thought of having to
do something more for parents in that

space is that, was that sticker shock
of the price tag on strollers without

them doing, like having any technology.

Like they're literally more expensive
than the newest iPhone at the

time, but like, it's just like a
frame with wheels in a seat on it.

Um, and then, uh, we walked around
and I was like, this doesn't even have

like the, the basic safety features
that we're so used to at cars.

Like if you, if you like,
stop at a hill and you let go

of the brakes, it doesn't go

Edwin: Mm-hmm.

Anne Hunger: And that should be like a.

Pretty simple functionality when
it comes to like a newborn or, or

kids to integrate into a stroller.

And then we kinda had a lot of
conversations with other parents

around more of the, pain points
that they're experiencing.

'cause at the time we were just
kind of entering parenthood and kind

getting started using a stroller.

Um, so we had like probably
over 500 conversations with

other parents, um, during COVID.

We had time, other

Paul Newton: Yeah.

Edwin: Yeah, I imagine.

Anne Hunger: um, and um,
that's how we ended up with the

product that we develop now.

And we're constantly releasing
new features as we get, uh,

feedback from our users.

Um, and yeah, like the, the
next feature that we're actually

releasing for our Rosa Roller.

Is, um, kind of cruise control,
meaning that roller can

actually roll in front of you.

You still have to like monitor the
surroundings and steer it, but you

actually don't have to touch it as
long as you're kinda walking, um,

straight ahead on the sidewalk.

Um, and yeah, just kind of touch
the handle or to steer, but it

doesn't require you to hold it the
entire time and you have your hands

free to entertain your child or to.

Drink your coffee or just put
yourself in a position that's

not the most ergonomical.

So, um, yeah, there's constantly
innovation and new, features

being pushed out to our users.

Paul Newton: So, I mean, that's changing,
changing the whole experience of, of

getting around with, with the baby
or, um, doing anything with the baby.

And so it, it's almost like
instead of just having to.

Move your baby from point A
to point B, you can actually

experience life or something.

I mean, what, what is this
opening up for parents?

Anne Hunger: I mean, like, something
that's been very important to us right

from the beginning is to make it more
inclusive and more accessible to parents

with physical limitations as well.

And I just recently

Paul Newton: I.

Anne Hunger: a chat with,
with, uh, with a lady.

They were looking for innovative strollers
that would enable them to go outside,

by themselves without having to bring
another person along, even before they

were pregnant, to see how feasible
it is for them to, to have a child

themselves and, and get around and, um.

But the technology that we've built
today, it would actually be possible

for them to go outside unassisted
without having to worry that, um, like

a simple kind of user error or for
them, like their own kind of, um, would

get them into very risky situations.

So right now a lot of parents with
disabilities or other physical

limitations are kind of left with.

Self-made solutions.

Um, they, they shouldn't be
a position where they have to

put in that additional effort.

The products that are out there should
just be able to support them and pick,

get them, meet them where they are.

And those conversations are just
very rewarding and, um, they

make a lot of the effort that
we go through are very worth it.

Paul Newton: And I mean, I see like, it,
it can, it can rock your baby, it can

play music, it can create white noise.

So are, are you hearing back any, um, any
sort of new experiences from say second

time parents and what, what life is like?

Uh, maybe going, uh, going
out to eat or doing something.

Is it changing that?

Anne Hunger: Yeah.

Yeah, like the, the ability to enjoy
more, like whether it's couple of time

or like one-on-one time with the older
child, um, definitely increases because.

Like initially, babies obviously
sleep a lot, but they, it doesn't

have to happen at at home.

It can happen at your favorite
restaurant at a cafe or at a park

where you get to play with, with
your like first child that's out of

this stroll age while the other, um,
the younger one is taken care of.

peacefully asleep in this stroll.

Um, which is actually something
that I used a lot as well.

Like we have a 5-year-old and
a one and a half year old.

And, um.

I can go to the, to walk with my daughter
to the park and bring the stroller along.

The little guy falls asleep in
the stroller and I can park him

somewhere where I can see him.

But I have him rock.

He's comfortable, he gets the sleep
he needs, and I can fully focus on the

interaction with, with my daughter, who
definitely had to, uh, kinda step back

a little bit during the newborn days.

Paul Newton: Wow.

Because I mean, I know in a, in a lot
of cases, that's a critical factor that,

you know, this walk better put that
baby to sleep or else we're gonna have

a hell of a, an evening or something.

Right?

It's, uh, so,

Anne Hunger: Yeah.

I mean it's, it's a very common experience
that babies sleep well outside, but

the, as soon as you stop, there're like,
oh, we're doing something else now.

Paul Newton: yeah.

Anne Hunger: is exactly when we come in.

Like, parents don't
have to do that workout.

They're already tired, they're exhausted.

'cause nights are exhausting.

And then, uh, you're, during
the day, you can kind of.

Rely on the stroller to a certain
extent, to, to keep the baby

happy and sleeping in, in the
bassinet or in the stroller seat.

and they get to take a break, do some
of the errands around the house or in

my case, get some work done as well.

Um, yeah, it's just to free up the,
a bit of their time and enhance and

just give them an extra set of hands.

Paul Newton: What it really sounds like
you're, um, you're changing the experience

of parenthood here and, um, you know, the,
and the experience of your family too,

just, uh, in all, in all shapes and forms.

Anne Hunger: Mm-hmm.

we definitely had a, had a different
experience the second time around.

Paul Newton: Great.

Um, yeah, Edwin, um, any, do
you have any other questions?

Edwin: I mean, just, just a
thought and then, and then, um.

And then, and a question to
before we let you go, Anne, today.

I mean, it's, uh, you know, what
is coming to mind with your use

case, Anne, about having more
time with your, your elder child.

I mean, like, you're like saving
some future trauma between

the two siblings too, right?

Because I mean, my daughter
is, my daughter's nine, my son

is two, and my daughter still
yearns for time with her mother.

Right.

Even though my son is
out of the stroller now.

But it's, uh, I think
that's a very important.

Important like aspect or dynamic or
a huge benefit that may not, that may

be overlooked by parents even, even
as they're going through the second

child, um, expecting like, it's,
it's just something that really hit

home for me as I was listening to you
talk about that and allowing you to.

Be with your firstborn
and, and have that time.

Like that's a, that's a huge
benefit aside from all the

amazing technologies you have.

It as Paul is, you know, alluding to, is
that you're really changing the dynamics

of parenthood and, and families and,
and young childrens in their lives.

So that's, uh, that, that, that's amazing
and I'm really, really proud, really

excited to see, you know, the platform
grow and, and get distribution out there.

But, um, but, but.

Anne Hunger: are we, I mean, yeah,
it's, it's definitely there's a

lot of depth to the actual benefits
that you get, uh, from the.

Um,

Edwin: Yeah.

No, I, I,

Anne Hunger: pure, like motorization
and mobility assistance.

Edwin: yeah, no, I just, I didn't
think about it as I was prepping and

seeing the product about that aspect,
that point you just talked about.

You know, it's not, it's something
that people don't realize, parents

don't realize when they're having
their second child, how much time.

Is taken away from the firstborn.

It's a lot.

Um, but, um, you know, I would love it.

You know, we appreciate your time,
but I'd love it if you could share any

final thoughts, um, recommendations
or even advice to whether there other

founders or entrepreneurs that are
listening tonight or even those that

are parents and thing, like, uh,
anything that first comes to mind.

I'd love it if you could share
it to the audience today.

Anne Hunger: So super open question.

I.

Uh, if there are founders who are thinking
about a hardware product, um, which

is super challenging, it's challenging
to start a company in, in any way.

But hardware is hard for multiple reasons.

I think for us, what helped was I.

Kind of the naivete at the

Edwin: Hmm.

Anne Hunger: that we, um, didn't
really know what's coming.

Um, but then really prototyping with off
the shelf products, like really quick

iterations and getting feedback on that
people, from users, um, being, getting a

lot of certainty around the pain points.

You're solving and then figuring out
what's the fastest way get a prototype

or like a proof of concept, uh, into
people's hands and iterate that way.

would be my recommendation to
hardware founders because there's

a lot of problems to be solved,
but hardware can be, um, seem like.

Very unapproachable.

Um, but there's definitely once
who dip your feet into that space,

a lot of tools and partners around
that can help you to get there.

And, um, yeah,

Edwin: I mean, that's, um, thank
you for the advice and, and I'm

sure I come from the software side.

I'm sure it's a.

Little more rewarding that you could
heavily touch and feel and push

that hardware, that, that product
that you've brought to life as well.

You and you and your partner,
you and your husband.

So thank you.

Thank you for doing that.

And thank you for joining us on
the Business Leadership Podcast.

You are listening to the Business
Leadership Podcast with Edwin.