Jacqueline Perrottet’s Post

Exciting times for Hoopla (Techstars FC23)! We're honored to be selected as a finalist and look forward to pitch next week!

As a start-up founder and a mom, I don’t try to balance both roles—instead, I integrate them when I can and make time for consistent self-care. I'm thrilled to be featured in Authority Magazine's interview series, where female executives reveal their strategies and practical tips for managing careers and motherhood. Check out my insights in the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d4zS74tR #WomenInBusiness #StartupLife #WorkLifeIntegration #SelfCare #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #MentalWellness #Inspiration #CareerAdvice #AuthorityMagazine

This past weekend, a friend who specializes in Feng Shui came over, and what began as a simple task to relocate a plant quickly evolved into a full-house reorganization! Although I've always been curious about Feng Shui, experiencing its intentional placement and mindful decluttering firsthand was unexpectedly enlightening. It also sparked some reflective thoughts regarding Hoopla: ✨ Embracing Simplicity: In both our app and business strategies, just like in a Feng Shui-guided space, there’s profound value in simplicity.  It’s not about adding more features or content, but rather enhancing what truly adds value and removing distractions. ✨ Repair or Remove: Feng Shui promotes addressing or releasing what’s broken. Reflecting on this, I see a parallel in iterating product features. Sometimes, it's essential to decide whether to repair a feature or retire it to optimize our development efforts and enhance user experience. ✨ Finding Balance: In Feng Shui, balance is achieved through a thoughtful mix of elements. Similarly, in app design, finding the right mix of innovation and usability is key. It’s about wisely managing our resources, listening to our customers, and investing in innovation, but without overextending our capabilities. ✨ Continuous Improvement: Just like Feng Shui is a practice of continuous realignment and adjustment, refining a digital product or service is an ongoing process. The environment changes, user needs evolve, and maintaining alignment requires constant attention and adaptation. This weekend's deep dive into Feng Shui turned out to be more than just spatial reorganization—it sparked a wave of inspiration for refining Hoopla. Now, we just need to paint the walls this weekend to finish the job. If only choosing paint colors was as enlightening as rearranging furniture! #Reflections #BusinessStrategy #FengShui #StartupLife #Innovation

Last night I had the opportunity to participate in Encubay's panel discussion on Smart Scaling. It was a great event with a great platform (thank you Avneet Kohli 😄 ). The event was scheduled from 6 to 8:00 PM and went a little over. When the networking started, I quickly looked at my phone at 8:15 PM and saw this message (see photo). First of all, my kids were OK. I knew they were OK. I've caught my youngest in the photo practicing pretend cries in the mirror many times before. The thing is, as a parent, even if you know they're safe, not really scared, and with a loving caregiver they're comfortable with, messages like this still pull at your heartstrings. Guilt kicked in, and I immediately thought, "Is this all worth it?" This entrepreneurial journey is super hard. But I stand behind what I said on the panel: when you believe in something, and it comes from a place of impact and purpose, you figure it out, you make it work, and you find the money. I've brought my kids along on this journey, and usually, they understand when I have to skip out on a weekend lunch or travel for an event. They get it. They know what I'm doing. They've come along with me to the Gold Souk as I've sold jewelry that I love to make sure I can make payroll. They know, even at 5 and 7 years old, that you make sacrifices when you believe in something bigger than yourself. I went to the panel discussion last night knowing my kids would get it, even though my husband was away on travel. I knew we had this as a family. But sacrifice goes both ways, and even if I knew their messages were an act, I still left quickly after the event without goodbyes, making sure my kids knew that I sacrificed for them when I could. I hear them. They come first, too. It's about balance, sacrifice, and knowing when to blur those lines and when to distinguish between the two. I loved being on the panel. I also loved giving my kids a big hug and feeling them melt into my arms when I got home. I loved both equally and separately. Being a parent and a startup founder is hard, but I'm on this journey for the long run—both of them. Encubay Avneet Kohli Shreya Pattar Ishneet Kaur #StartupLife #DreamBigStartSmall #WorkLifeBalance #Parenting #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #ScalingUp #MentalWellness #BusinessJourney #FamilyFirst #Inspiration #Motivation #FounderLife #DubaiStartUp #WomenInTech

I'm looking forward to sharing my insights as a start-up founder at Encubay's Power Circle next week. "Smart Scaling: How to do More with Less" is a topic I know a lot about! Join me next week at Encubay's Power Circle at In5. Register below.

I'm excited to announce that Hoopla (Techstars FC23) has been selected as one of the 20 MBRIF Accelerator Cohort 8 start-ups. It's an honor to join such an exceptional group and a significant milestone for us! It's important to acknowledge that for every win like this, there are so many more setbacks, failures, and frustrations. But last year, I made a pact with a friend to celebrate every success, big or small, because it’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands and overlook these moments of achievement. The reality is that each success brings a combination of excitement and fear, knowing the pressure to succeed and the immense workload ahead. The six-month application process for this program was filled with forms, interviews, and pitches, and it is just one example of the perseverance required behind the scenes. Today I'm enjoying this achievement while mentally preparing for the next stages of this journey. I look forward to sharing our progress along the way! #Hoopla #DubaiStartup #MBRIF #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #CelebrateSuccess #StartupJourney #DreamBigStartSmall

We recently celebrated our first anniversary since Hoopla's incorporation—what a year it has been! Starting with just a few scribbles, I created Hoopla's logo on Canva. Simple, fun, and perfectly imperfect, it captured the company's spirit and was perfect for our beginnings. As Hoopla began achieving key milestones, including booths at major startup events, exclusive investor pitches, and participation in prestigious accelerator programs, it became clear that it was time for a change. Change is never easy, especially when it means reimagining something as fundamental as our logo. Yet, as I saw Hoopla's presence expand, it was clear that our initial logo didn't quite capture the evolving essence of our app anymore. I'm excited to unveil Hoopla's new logo! It retains the fun and spirit of the original but with some polish that reflects our growth and direction.🚀 And there's more good news! A new version of our app is almost ready to launch, featuring a revamped UI/UX and enriched content. This update has been coming for a long time, with its fair share of roadblocks and hiccups, but the result is something special. Stay tuned for the app update and a few more exciting announcements. Hoopla's journey is just beginning, and I am so grateful for the support I have received. Thank you! #StartupJourney #Innovation #TechForGood #Hoopla #MentalWellness #NewBeginnings #BrandEvolution #TechInnovation #DreamBigStartSmall

Today, I had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone... I was on the radio! The invitation from DubaiEye 103.8 came at the last minute, and despite it being my first time and having no clue about the questions I would face, I said yes. As soon as I committed, my heart started racing. Anxiety kicked in, morphing my initial excitement into nerves. I stumbled over my words and felt like I hadn’t said anything I intended to. Reflecting on this, I realized this is exactly how my anxiety manifests—turning excitement into a cycle of stress and self-critique. But here’s what I learned from jumping into the deep end: ⭐ It's okay not to have all the answers. ⭐ It's okay to be imperfect. ⭐ What matters is showing up and doing your best. I answered all of the questions, and although I didn't deliver my thoughts as I had hoped, I faced my anxiety head-on. I want to revisit one last question properly here: “How do I manage screen time with my kids?” There isn’t one right answer. In our house, it’s about flexibility and setting realistic boundaries based on factors like weather, mood, and the type of content. For my family, it's about balance and open discussions, not strict rules. So, I didn’t say everything I wanted to on the radio. But I did step up, and I’m proud of that. Just like I would tell my children, facing your fears and doing your best is all you can ask of yourself. Thanks for the experience, DubaiEye 103.8! Here’s to many more opportunities to speak about Hoopla and my startup journey! #RadioInterview #Anxiety #Parenting #ScreenTimeManagement #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth #DubaiEye1038 #FacingFears

🌟 Big news! Hoopla is featured in The National! 🌟 As the founder of Hoopla (Techstars FC23)), I’m thrilled to see our mission recognized. 💖 While screen time often raises concerns, we use it as a joyful, preventative tool for young children, teaching healthy mental wellness habits. Our multi-sensory tool focuses on mindful interactions, emotional bonding, and creating positive, immersive experiences that reduce screen dependency. Check out The National's feature on our journey and exciting future plans. 🚀 Since our launch, we've seen great growth and engagement. We’re now raising a pre-seed round to expand and reach more families globally. 🌍 Read the full article to learn more. Download the app, invest, partner, and share our story. Your support means the world to us. Let’s create a community that values mental wellness for our children and ourselves. 🌈✨ #MentalWellness #Parenting #StartUp #Dubai #Hoopla #PositiveScreenTime #EmotionalRegulation #MentalHealthAwareness #InvestmentOpportunity #thenationalnews #childrensmentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth