Our story

Hi, I'm Bethany.

Hey mama — I'm the founder of Neighborhood Mama Meetup, and this Finder is my love letter to every mom hunting for her next spot.

A few fun facts about me

I see a problem and immediately want to build something to fix it. (See: this entire community.)
By day, I work in edtech.
Baby #2 is on the way, so I'm building a village while growing a human. Pray for my ankles.
I'm learning AI, mostly so I can spend less time on spreadsheets and more time with actual people.
I'm digging into the systems that clearly weren't built for moms: leave, childcare, workplace policy. You'll hear more about that on my Substack.
Iced coffee, year-round, no exceptions. I'm a sucker for a sweet iced latte, if you're buying.

Bethany and her baby lying in bed together in matching white bathrobes, towel hair wraps and sunglasses — Spa day at home — matching robes, matching towels, matching sunglasses.

Nobody warns you how lonely it is to be the first.

I was the first mom in my family and the first in my friend group. They were planning brunch. I was googling "is this a normal amount of spit-up" at 3 a.m.

A baby bottle and an iced coffee on a coffee shop table, with an empty stroller behind

My baby was about 4 months old the random day I packed us up and went to a coffee shop. I ordered my iced coffee, sat down, and realized I'd showered and put on some color (I tend to dress very eclectic). It felt like it should count for something.

So I made a TikTok.

"Any other moms want to just meet up at a coffee shop?"

No idea it would blow up. Within 24 hours, my DMs were full with messages like:

“I’m isolated and have no friends.”
“I just moved here and I don’t know anyone.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I just got laid off and have nothing better to do.”

Everyone had a different story, but they were all saying the same thing. They didn't want advice. They wanted each other.

Just a mom with a Canva account and a hunch

I didn't have much to lose. Social media was already my happy place, so purely for fun, I made a logo, picked some colors, and gave this little idea a name. There was no five-year plan. No pitch deck.

I started posting, planning meetups, and inviting moms to just come. Our first meetup started at a library and ended at a coffee shop (no surprise there).

Today we're 2,000+ moms strong — in our newsletter and WhatsApp, 25K+ more on Instagram and Facebook — serving Fremont, San Jose, Milpitas & beyond, at meetups that MOMS host.

Visit neighborhoodmamameetup.com

Why this matters

A real need, from real mamas

Bay Area moms surveyed: 93; Bay Area moms surveyed
would add spots they love: 97%; would add spots they love
have toddlers at home: 59%; have toddlers at home

Their top three must-haves out with the kids? Age-appropriate places (55%), free or low-cost (54%), and easy parking (49%) — so those are the first three filters in this Finder.

Moms told us the same things over and over: Is there a clean bathroom and changing table? Somewhere quiet to nurse? Room for a stroller? Generic review apps rarely answer that. Other mamas do.

The best part: I'm not doing this alone.

A wall of photos from a year of Neighborhood Mama Meetup gatherings

Our community is designed for moms to shine. They lead, host events, and volunteer. We've done momfluencer meetups, AI-for-moms workshops, and plenty of moments celebrating and supporting local mompreneurs. Local, mom-friendly businesses have shown up too: family playspaces, coffee shops, music and ballet studios, all making room for moms to connect.

The culture is zero judgment. Show up 20 minutes late with a giant stain on your shirt and you're welcome here. Especially then.

Plot twist: I found my people too

The girl who didn't have mom friends has a whole crew now. Somewhere between planning meetups and running waitlists, I found my own core group — it really hit me when the mamas surprised me recently with a baby sprinkle!

Someone walks in nervous and leaves with a new friend's number. I still love these parts the most.

Two iced coffees in rhinestone-covered cups celebrating one year of Neighborhood Mama Meetup, one with a lit candle

Being part of this community will never have a cost. Come to every event or just one or two throughout the year — it's up to you.

Find your village.
Leave with a new connection, or a stronger one.
Feel a little more like yourself.

Always hunting for the next place

Every meetup starts with the same questions: Where can ten strollers park? Is there shade? Is it fenced? Where's the changing table? This Finder holds the answers our moms have learned together, so every mama can find a spot that works for her family.

It's not a directory. It's a 5-second reality check before you pack the diaper bag: Is there a changing table? Is the gate latched? Will a double stroller fit? Is parking close enough?

Read the full story on Substack

I Asked Social Media for Mom Friends

How Neighborhood Mama Meetup began ↗

She Builds · Season 4

Built in She Builds Season 4

I was accepted into She Builds Season 4, and this Finder is what I built: a mom with no coding background, turning years of meetup know-how into an app with Lovable.

Build your own app with Lovable

Come say hi

Building something for moms, or want to collaborate? I'd love to hear about it — brands, businesses, employers, mompreneurs.

bethanyjoyphilip@gmail.com

Find a place